by Irv Moss The Denver Post , The Denver Post

Chacin (cha-SEEN), named by MLB.com as minor-league starting pitcher of the year in 2008, was impressive in his big-league debut Saturday night against San Francisco, when he pitched a scoreless inning in an 8-2 win before 42,201.

Catcher Chris Iannetta was waiting at the mound when Chacin came in from the bullpen.

"I remembered how it was my first time playing in front of a lot of people," Iannetta said. "You play in small ballparks all the way through the minors. I told him to go out and have fun."

Chacin, who set a Rockies minor-league record with 18 victories last year, did just that.

"My mind was full of everything as I was running to the mound," he said later. "I was thinking about my family, I was just thinking about a lot of things. I tried not to think about the number of people in the stands. ? I was a little bit nervous. It was the first time I played in front of a lot of people. I settled down after a couple of pitches."

There was much more to it than just facing major-league hitters for the first time. Chacin, 21, is pitching in relief after making 73 starts in the minor leagues in stops in the Dominican Summer League, Single-A Asheville and Modesto and Double-A Tulsa.

"I can throw strikes, that's what I'm good at," Chacin said, underlining why he was plucked out of the farm system. "It makes me feel good that they picked me. I don't know if I'm the best pitcher in their system, but they have confidence in me."

The right-hander from Venezuela was called up from Tulsa a week ago Friday. He threw 22 pitches in his debut and recorded two strikeouts. He also threw a scoreless inning in Tuesday's loss to the Mets.

Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca said Chacin was promoted to play a big role in the team's postseason push.

"He's not here to be decoration," Apodaca said. "He's here to help us get into the playoffs and win a pennant. He's not here to get ready for next year. He was the consensus of everyone who has seen all of our minor-league people as being the most ready to help us."

At 6-feet-3, 200 pounds, Chacin looks like he could meet any challenge.

"I was impressed with his emotional control and his poise," Apodaca said of his young pitcher's debut. "He's more advanced at his age than anybody I've seen in my time. He grows up facing people in the winter leagues that he sees on television."

Chacin keeps growing as a pitcher too. He experimented with a slider in spring training and through the early part of the season with Tulsa. Learning how to master that pitch might explain his slow start, which led to an 8-6 record when he was called up, though he had a more than respectable 3.14 ERA. But now he has an extra pitch to go along with a fastball and a changeup.

The next step for the Rockies is determining if he can pitch in consecutive games. Starters usually throw every fifth day.

"You have to be able to do the role they ask," Iannetta said. "If you can't, go to another plan."

Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com

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