Denny

Neagle

Neagle is getting hit to the tune of a .364 batting average in the first three innings of games. He has no fantasy value.

Manager Clint Hurdle delayed a decision on how to replace Neagle until meeting today with GM Dan O’Dowd. Aaron Cook will probably replace Neagle in the rotation, while Chin-Hui Tsao could be called up to replace Cook in long relief.

Manager Clint Hurdle expects to make a roster decision today after the results are analyzed. Neagle is expected to be placed on the DL.

Neagle is hoping to throw a bullpen session by Wednesday and travel with the team on its next trip before possibly returning to Tucson for extended spring training.

“I would be shocked if he’s not there on the first day of spring training competing for a spot,” Kremchek said. Neagle is recovering from elbow and shoulder surgeries which Kremchek performed.

Neagle threw 35 pitches in a bullpen session Thursday, mixing in a fastball, cutter and changeup, and reported no problems. But the Rockies are moving cautiously with him after three setbacks in spring training.

That’d be one expensive....uh...nevermind. It’s unlikely the Rockies will successfully terminate Neagle’s contract. The lefty has made a couple of poor decisions over the past 14 months, but getting the winner of the 2002 Humanitarian Award from the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame on a morals clause is going to be tough. Just hours after his arrest on Friday, Neagle represented the Rockies at Children’s Hospital.

Neagle has been interested in getting our of Colorado for quite some time, but he may not want to give up too much money to make it happen. If the two sides can’t come to terms on a buyout, the Rockies could release Neagle and then try to void his contract.

Neagle will begin extended spring training in Tucson today and hopes to make his first minor-league rehab start April 29 or 30.

He admitted that he was guily of looking for sex, according to the report. It’s also said that his eyes were watery and bloodshot and he smelled of alcohol. The Rockies can’t be happy about this latest incident, which follows an arrest for drunken driving in Oct. 2003.