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Street, Betancourt making progress

Rockies relievers feel good after throwing Friday

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By Doug Miller / MLB.com

03/12/10 4:36 PM ET

TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Rockies are taking time with their key back-end relievers to make sure they're as healthy as possible when the season starts, and the strategy seems to be paying off.

Closer Huston Street and primary setup man Rafael Betancourt, both of whom have had shoulder tightness and inflammation that has prevented them from appearing in the Cactus League, each took steps back toward game action Friday.

Street said he was very excited after what he described as a "full-bore" workout in which he threw 16 pitches in the bullpen, four more on the mound and then a 20-pitch session against hitters. Street threw all fastballs, which he said is customary for his first two or three outings in the spring, even when he's healthy.

He emerged from the sessions fatigued but encouraged.

"I was hitting spots and getting good life on the ball," Street said. "It was by far the heaviest workload and by far the best results."

The plan for Street, according to pitching coach Bob Apodaca, is to pitch a simulated game Monday and possibly make his Cactus League debut "later on next week."

"Everything was coming out of his hand extremely well," Apodaca said. "He was fatigued after 20 pitches, but I wasn't concerned."

Street wasn't worried, either.

"Four days ago, there was anxiety," Street said. "But I came back today with a lot of confidence. Something clicks and you know you're ready to go."

Betancourt is about a week behind Street, according to head athletic trainer Keith Dugger, but the right-hander said he felt good after throwing a 30-pitch bullpen session that consisted only of fastballs and changeups. Betancourt will throw another bullpen session Sunday before the Rockies begin to get him in front of hitters in a simulated game or batting practice sometime next week.

"I feel very good," Betancourt said. "After how I felt last week, it's a lot different. We'll see how it feels Sunday."

Apodaca admitted that Betancourt might not be ready for Opening Day in Milwaukee on April 5, but the pitching coach did not mention the disabled list as a strong possibility.

"If it's not April 5," Apodaca said, "then hopefully shortly after."

Another banged-up reliever who hasn't pitched in a game this spring, Matt Belisle, rebounded from forearm stiffness with what Apodaca described as a "very aggressive" side session Thursday. He's on the slate for Sunday, most likely at home against the Mariners.

Meanwhile, lefty Jimmy Gobble spent Friday relaxing the left groin muscle he strained during Thursday's ninth inning, wondering how long it would take to feel better and hoping it would respond to icing quickly and he wouldn't need to undergo an MRI test to determine its severity.

"Hopefully there's no bruising," said Gobble, who said he had a similar injury eight or nine years ago. "I'd normally try to pitch through that stuff. Hopefully we caught it early enough."

Doug Miller is a national writer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.