Jennings not worried about contract

rockymountainnews.com By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News February 25, 2003

TUCSON - Right-handed pitcher Jason Jennings is among the unsigned players in the Colorado Rockies' spring camp.

Not that Jennings is concerned.

"I have only one year of experience," he said. "I know my position."

Jennings was chosen the National League Rookie of the Year in 2002, the first Rockies pitcher to claim a significant award.

But he has compiled only one year, 39 days of big-league service, which means he has two more years to pitch before he will have the leverage of arbitration in contract negotiations.

"I had a decent year (in 2002), but I'm not going to get ahead of myself and get big-headed," Jennings said. "I want to prove that I was not a one-time wonder. If you produce in this game, salary takes care of itself."

Jennings earned $206,000 as a rookie in 2002, $6,000 above the minimum. This season, all second-year players figure to get sizeable raises just because the minimum salary was increased to $300,000 as a result of the Basic Agreement that was finalized last summer.

Arizona second baseman Junior Spivey signed a two-year, $2.7 million deal this past weekend, but he was an All-Star last year and had played two-plus seasons, meaning he will be eligible for arbitration after this season.

Spivey's contract calls for a salary of $400,000 this season and $2.3 million in what would be his first year of arbitration eligibility.

MOVING: Brad Hawpe expects to get more playing time in the outfield this season.

He played in 22 games - six in left field - for Caracas this winter before returning to the United States because of a pulled rib-cage muscle and the growing unrest in Venezuela.

He figures to increase his outfield time in the minor leagues this season.

Hawpe is a left-handed-hitting first baseman. But with Todd Helton in the big leagues, Hawpe realizes it is wise to explore other options. He played a few games in the outfield at both Class A Asheville in 2001 and short-season Class A Portland in 2000.

"I am starting to get confident out there," said Hawpe, 23, an 11th-round pick from Louisiana State University in 2000. "I am looking forward to it. (Big-league coach) Davey Collins has helped me so much in just the week I've been (in spring training)."

Hawpe has shown signs he could make an impact with his offense. The most valuable player of the Class A Carolina League in 2002, he led the league with a .347 batting average, finishing second in the league with 97 RBI and third with 22 home runs at Salem. He also hit 22 home runs at Asheville in 2001.

ACED: The Rockies had some inside knowledge on the new pitching machine (ACE machine) they are using.

It was developed by Alan Cockrell, who has been in the organization as a player, coach or manager since 1994, and his father-in-law.

Rockies manager Clint Hurdle began endorsing the ACE last season. Hurdle said he likes the fact the machine can throw a 90-mph fastball, 75-mph curveball and 80-mph changeup, plus the pitches can be randomly mixed to better replicate at-bats.

"I've looked at so many pitching machines, and this one stands out," Hurdle said of the product developed by Cockrell, who will serve as hitting coach at Class AAA Colorado Springs this season. "It is able to create what pitchers try to do against hitters. It can mix up pitches, making hitters work on their timing."

TAKING THE FIFTH: Hurdle said the candidates for the fifth spot in the rotation - Shawn Chacon and Scott Elarton and dark horse Darren Oliver - will take regular turns this spring.

"We're not going to set a deadline for making a decision," Hurdle said. "I will make a decision based on what I see and what our pitching people see . . . It's always good to have good stats (in the spring), but at the same time, you can be misled this time of year. You have to look at who he's pitching against, what you see coming out of (the pitcher's hand), the kind of swings hitters are taking."