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Rockies Avoiding Rust During Record Layoff

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The Associated Press

Published: October 18, 2007

DENVER - Todd Helton and the Rockies returned to work Wednesday a carefree bunch.

They're going to the World Series, that's for sure. Whether they're headed to Jacobs Field or Fenway Park next week, that can wait.

The Rockies took a much-needed break after clinching their first NL pennant Monday night with their 21st win in 22 games. Helton said he spent his day off 'basically sleeping.'

'We didn't get home until 2 or 3 in the morning. It wasn't too easy to sleep,' he said.

Helton said it's been such a whirlwind that he hasn't had time to savor what's ahead after a decade of disappointment in Denver.

'I don't even know if it's sunk in yet. It may take a little while longer,' he said. 'But I don't want to pinch myself. I don't want to wake up. It's a magical ride and I want to stay on it as long as possible.'

The Rockies practiced for two hours in 56-degree, partly cloudy weather, their last workout until a simulated game Friday at Coors Field.

Colorado will start the World Series on the road next Wednesday. With a record eight days off, the Rockies had plenty of time to get ready. Last year, Detroit had six days of rest, then played poorly in losing the Series in five games to St. Louis.

The Rockies will play simulated games of between four and eight innings Thursday through Sunday. They'll have a regular workout Monday before flying to the AL champion's city.

'This is groundbreaking,' Hurdle said. 'The other option is we could have lost a couple more games, we could have gotten on a plane, we could have made another flight and that would have really cut down on all this down time.

'And maybe put us in a position where we would have had four months of down time,' he said.

Rockies' Series Tickets Only Available Online

DENVER - The Rockies have changed their plans for selling World Series tickets, switching to online purchases only.

Tickets were originally scheduled to go on sale at Coors Field and Rockies Dugout stores in the Denver area on Monday using a lottery system for in-person transactions, as well as online.

Instead, all sales will be online, starting at 10 a.m. Monday.

Yankees Still Have No Decision On Torre's Fate

TAMPA - This business with Joe Torre is getting kind of bizarre.

After two days of much-hyped meetings, owner George Steinbrenner and the Yankees still won't say whether they plan to bring back Torre for a 13th season as their manager.

A person familiar with the meetings, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Yankees aren't making details public, said it was possible a decision would be made today or Friday.

In other Yankees news, General Manager Brian Cashman left no wiggle room in reiterating that the team will not negotiate with Alex Rodriguez if he exercises the opt-out clause in his contract next month.

The Yankees general manager has repeatedly said that it would be his recommendation not to negotiate with Rodriguez if he opts out of the contract, as they would lose the $22 million subsidy from the Rangers during the next three seasons.

ORIOLES: Rick Kranitz was hired as the Baltimore pitching coach, replacing Leo Mazzone.

Kranitz was the pitching coach for the Florida Marlins the past two seasons.

Mazzone was fired last week with one year left on his three-year contract. Kranitz inherits a young staff that finished second-to-last in the majors in ERA in each of the past two seasons.

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