| The Rockies declined arbitration to C Sandy Alomar Jr., LHP Kent Mercker, RHP Pete Harnisch, INF Terry Shumpert and 3B Todd Zeile.
RHP Shawn Chacon was arrested for allegedly hitting a man in the face with a beer bottle during a bar scuffle. Chacon, 24, faces a charge of third-degree assault, police said. He is scheduled to appear in court Dec. 23 and could be sentenced to up to 18 months in prison and a $5,000 fine if convicted.
The Rockies added six players to its 40-man major league roster Nov. 20 -- INFs Garrett Atkins, Clint Barmes and Brad Hawpe; RHP Ryan Cameron; C J.D. Closser; and OF Choo Freeman. The team also released 2B Jose Ortiz and RHP Sean Lowe.
The Rockies are keeping ticket prices the same next season. "Our decision not to raise ticket prices in 2003 is a reflection of many factors, including the tremendous support we have received over the past 10 years," president Keli McGregor said Nov. 14. "We are also committed to keeping the individual-game experience at Coors Field attractive and affordable to families."
RF Larry Walker won his seventh Gold Glove. 1B Todd Helton won his second straight.
RHP Scott Elarton, who missed all of last season with shoulder problems, expects to agree to terms to remain with the Rockies, the Rocky Mountain News reported Nov. 8. "I don't want to play anywhere else," Elarton told the newspaper. "I like (manager) Clint (Hurdle). I like the doctors and the trainers. There's a good young core of guys."
While no deal has been completed, the Orix BlueWave are interested in acquiring 2B Jose Ortiz, the Kyoto News Service reported Nov. 8.
1B Todd Helton and LHP Mike Hampton won Silver Slugger awards Nov. 5. The award honors the best offensive players at each position in each league and was voted on by major league managers and coaches.
The Rockies named Bob Apodaca pitching coach on Oct. 31. Apodaca, 53, has had a long relationship with manager Clint Hurdle. They worked together four of the six seasons that Hurdle managed in the Mets' minor league system. Apodaca was the Mets' major league pitching coach from August 1996 to July 1999 and the Brewers' in 2000 and 2001. He returned to New York last season.
The Rockies declined the option Oct. 29 on RH reliever Sean Lowe but retained his arbitration rights.
The Rockies on Oct. 28 picked up RH reliever Todd Jones' $3 million option for 2003, The Denver Post reported. The Rockies, however, declined 3B Todd Zeile's option, choosing instead to exercise a $517,500 buyout. |
One upshot of all the Rockies' 
