MIAMI — Jorge De La Rosa pointed the finger in the mirror Tuesday, a day after his meltdown on opening night, when he embarrassingly crossed wires with catcher Wilin Rosario.
“I was mad at myself. I wasn’t mad at Wilin,” De La Rosa said. “I got confused. We will work to get it fixed.”
The confusion, which surfaced during their last pairing in spring training, bubbled over in the fifth inning Monday night. De La Rosa shook off Rosario repeatedly, and couldn’t get on the same page with the catcher with Christian Yelich at second base as the signs were changed.
Pitching coach Jim Wright met with the two late Monday night and again Tuesday, clearing the air. Rosario will catch De La Rosa during his side session Wednesday as they work to create a better system of signs. The delay between pitches and the mound conferences make it difficult for the fielders, who criticized Monday’s episode.
There’s no plan to have De La Rosa use a personal catcher.
TOUT VIDEO: Jorge De La Rosa says he has no issue with Wilin Rosario
“That’s not going to happen. Wilin caught the bulk of his victories last year,” Wright said. “It was heat of the moment. Frustrations. I don’t want to put blame on either side. Wilin is trying his best to help him out. And De La Rosa is a veteran pitcher and if he has a pitch he wants to throw and Wilin’s not calling it, he has to let him know rather than shaking him off so much.”
De La Rosa said he believes they can work together. They have to because the Rockies won’t regularly sit Rosario, one of the game’s best power-hitting catchers.
“I like him. The game got out of hand,” De La Rosa said. “It’s important we figure it out. He’s the No. 1 catcher. I have to be on the same page every time.”
Nicasio on tap for Coors. Juan Nicasio’s journey back from a broken neck will reach a pinnacle never imagined when he starts the home opener Friday. Manager Walt Weiss chose Nicasio because of his recent experience at Coors Field, preferring to let Franklin Morales make his season debut Thursday.
“It will be special with the crowd,” Nicasio said.
Nicasio is fully committed to his slider and changeup and feels he has a better handle on his split-fingered pitch.
“It is so much better. I have more confidence in my off-speed now. And I am throwing my fastball for strikes like I did when I first got called up,” Nicasio said.
Footnotes. “The Bachelor” Juan Pablo Galavis didn’t propose to Nikki Ferrell, but the pair did throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Galavis had lunch with Carlos Gonzalez, his friend from Venezuela. … Rafael Betancourt (elbow) plans to attend extended spring training at the end of April and rehab there for a few months. He’s expected to sign a minor-league deal this month. Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Looking ahead
Rockies’ Jordan Lyles (7-9, 5.59 ERA in 2013) at Marlins’ Henderson Alvarez (2-1, 1.84), 5:10 p.m. Wednesday, ROOT; 850 AM
Jordan Lyles figured all spring that he had a great chance of making the team, but he never counted on it happening this way. Lyles was edged by Franklin Morales for the fifth starter’s job, despite a 3.18 ERA in 17 innings. He was promoted when Tyler Chatwood went on the disabled list. He must keep the ball down, which he did a good job of in spring training. Miami’s Alvarez, a right-hander, threw a no-hitter in his last game, the 2013 season finale. The club presented him with a painting Monday honoring the feat. The Venezuelan works over right-handed hitters. He held them to a .206 average in 194 at-bats last season.
Thursday: Rockies’ Rockies’ Franklin Morales (2-2, 4.62 ERA in 2013) at Marlins’ Jacob Turner (3-8, 3.74), 10:40 a.m., no TV
Friday: Diamondbacks’ Randall Delgado (0-0, 0.00 in 2014) at Juan Nicasio (9-9, 5.14 in 2013), 2:10 p.m., ROOT
Saturday: Diamondbacks’ Brandon McCarthy (5-11, 4.53 in 2013) at Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (0-1, 10.38 in 2014), 6:10 p.m., ROOT
Sunday: Diamondbacks’ Wade Miley (0-1, 5.40) at Rockies’ Brett Anderson (1-4, 6.04 in 2013), 2:10 p.m., ROOT
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
