TROY E. RENCK The Denver Post | Posted: Monday, February 21, 2005 12:00 am
TUCSON, Ariz. - From his name to his number to his changeup, there is nothing normal about pitcher Chin-Hui Tsao.
His signing five years ago was celebrated with a press conference televised in Taiwan. His big-league debut in 2003 triggered a media avalanche. Of all the kids breaking in with the Colorado Rockies this spring, Tsao is at once the most talented, fascinating and puzzling.
Long the Ming Vase of the minor-league system, the Rockies hope this is the year the bubble wrap comes off his career, that he establishes himself as the team's closer.
"I asked him the first day and he said he wanted it," Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca said. "That's exactly what I needed to hear."
The Rockies gasped with their bullpen last season. Colorado's relievers established major-league records with 39 losses and 34 blown saves. Shawn Chacon, the team's closer, absorbed much of the criticism, failing in his transition from All-Star starter.
Tsao, Brian Fuentes and Eddie Gaillard are candidates to replace him. Rockies manager Clint Hurdle has said his preference is to settle on one guy rather than rely on a committee.
"And when (the role) is mentioned to Tsao," Hurdle said, "his eyes light up."
Tsao, 23, is an intriguing solution, although not one without complications. He has struggled to stay healthy throughout his professional career and admitted his shoulder, which bothered him last season, still gets "a little tight."
He has pitched just 18.2 innings in relief as a professional, all of which came last summer in the Athens Olympics and during a brief cameo with the Rockies. Chacon, too, had no experience in the bullpen, which undermined the move.
Statistically, Tsao appears more suited for the role. He has posted a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4-to-1 and has two drive-home-safely, thanks-for-coming pitches in his slider and changeup.
"I need to be strong to do it, you have to work hard (to close)," said Tsao.
With the Rockies projected to finish in last place in the National League West, it's fair to wonder how many leads any closer will have to protect. There is a larger issue at stake for Tsao - his development. After giving the right-hander a $2.2 million signing bonus, the Rockies are ready for him to become a meaningful contributor.
As it stands, the praise of him is hollow, that he has great stuff, baseballspeak for a pitcher who has not lived up to expectations.
"Tsao is capable of closing because he has the right attitude and the pitches to do it," said Todd Helton, the Rockies' star first baseman.
For Tsao to become the ninth-inning answer, he must first eliminate questions about his delivery, pitch selection and communication issues. Tsao also has a tendency to vary his leg kick, creating balance problems.
"He needs to use one and be consistent with it," Apodaca said.
Simplicity also is the message regarding his pitches. The Rockies want him to rely on his fastball, changeup and slider, a pitch that slowly vanished following 2002 elbow surgery.
"That gives him plenty of ways to attack the hitter," Colorado general manager Dan O'Dowd said.
Tsao conceded that he still has a "little bit" of trouble understanding his coaches' instructions. The Rockies have declined to provide him an interpreter, believing it's unnecessary. Concerns surfaced twice last season about potential language problems when he shook off multiple signs in his last spring training game as a starter and again in a relief outing at Arizona.
"I think it was a combination of things, not just the language. Maybe he was not quite comfortable with his fastball and wanted to get swings and misses (with his breaking pitches)," Apodaca said. "He is more comfortable with the staff now. You can tell he feels like he belongs that he's not just a visitor."
Teammates say Tsao has a wicked sense of humor. A glimpse was revealed as he described his required military service last month.
"We were marching and singing," Tsao said. "It was boring. I didn't get to handle a gun."
Soon he may find himself under fire with the game on the line.