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TUCSON -- Colorado Rockies pitcher Josh Fogg was not added
to the roster until just a few weeks ago, but he might make a quick
transition if he can move into the fifth starting job. That is the intent for the right-handed pitcher who signed Feb.
9 to a one-year contract after throwing the brunt of his major
league career with Pittsburgh. "He gives us an experienced starter, No. 1. He also has pitched
out of the bullpen. He has pitched some top shelf games throughout
this career," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said. "He had other
opportunities to go other places, but he hand picked coming here.
He wanted to be assured he would be given the opportunity to crack
the rotation, and he will." Fogg, who has a 39-42 major league career record with a
struggling Pirates team, will compete with Sunny Kim and Zach Day
for the last of the pitching spots. After being moved mostly to the bullpen at the end of last
season, Fogg is motivated to start again. "The last four years I have been mostly starting. I enjoy it,"
Fogg said. "There is not a better job in the world than being a
big league starter." Fogg was 6-11 during the 2005 season with a 5.05 ERA for his
first losing campaign. The 29-year old pitcher was 12-12 with
Pittsburgh in 2002, 10-9 in 2003 and 11-10 during the 2004 season. He has had success as a starter. If he does not claim that role
with the Rockies out of the gate, Colorado appears to be intrigued
by his versatility to come out of the pen. "The fifth spot, barring injuries, will be a very competitive
position for our ball club," Hurdle said. "If he doesn't start,
he will be a very valuable asset out of the bullpen as well." More of his success has come as a starter. Fogg was 6-10 with a
4.97 ERA in 28 starts last year, and was 0-1 with a 7.11 ERA in six
relief appearances. "I am here to win the fifth spot, but if not I will go out to
the pen and help those guys out," Fogg said. "Every time they
give me the ball I will go out and get as many outs as I can until
they come out and get me." Fogg has only one previous start at Coors Field, a six-inning
loss where he gave up four earned runs. But having a sinkerball and a changeup does fit well with the
need to produce ground balls at Coors Field. "I admit I don't have the best stuff in the world, but I will
give it my all every time out there," Fogg said. "In my mind that
is all I can do, and hopefully it is good enough here."
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