Rockies Closer Street To Start Season on DL

Colorado Rockies' closer Huston Street is looking likely to start the 2010 season on the disabled list, following a flare-up of the shoulder tightness that has kept him out of games this spring. Troy Renck reported that during a session on Tuesday, "he experienced the same tightness that caused the team to shut him down roughly three weeks ago." Street was scheduled to have an MRI yesterday, but there's no word yet of the results.

Street saved 35 games for Colorado last season, with an ERA of 3.06, and has been one of baseball's top young closers, with 129 saves through his age-25 season. Only Francisco Rodriguez (146) and Gregg Olson (131) have had more than that in baseball history.  Franklin Morales is expected to be the Rockies replacement in the ninth inning, according to manager Jim Tracy.

Purple Row reports that It's the latest setback for the Colorado bullpen: "Setup man Rafael Betancourt has been fighting to get himself back to pitching shape after an offseason plagued with sickness, former closer Manuel Corpas has been challenged by fitness issues and lack of pitch command, and Franklin Morales has been hit around pretty hard this spring." Adding to their woes, left hander Randy Flores was hit on his pitching arm by a line drive in yesterday's game. As a result of all this, the Rockies are now interested in signing Joe Beimel.