Tracy: Jimenez ready to be ace

INDIANAPOLIS - Rockies manager Jim Tracy doesn't fear expectations. He embraces them. He considers the suggestion that the Rockies' U-turn was a fluke a "slap in the face." The idea that the 2010 Rockies will morph back into the 2008 version? He's not buying it. "We're too good and too young for that happen," Tracy said. In two separate wide-ranging conversations over the past week, Tracy discussed his club, hitting on everything from Ubaldo Jimenez (he's penciled in as the opening-day starter) to Brad Hawpe (he remains the fifth hitter in the lineup) and Rafael Betancourt (he makes the rest of the bullpen pieces fit). A look at Tracy's thoughts as the Rockies try to lure back catcher Yorvit Torrealba and search for a bench player (Chad Tracy, Robb Quinlan, Fernando Tatis are on the radar) and another reliever: Tracy believes Jimenez is ready to take the next step and become an ace. As it stands, he would be Colorado's opening- day starter, followed by Jeff Francis, Aaron Cook, Jorge De La Rosa and Jason Hammel. "We know that Ubaldo has the capability and stuff. And the heart is there to be special. Just like we have with another young player in Troy Tulowitzki, Ubaldo wants to be out there with the game on the line. You can't teach that." The entire organization has been eyeing Francis' return since his impressive simulated game in San Francisco in mid-September. Tracy expects there to be some inconsistency the first month following Francis' return from shoulder surgery. "But I believe he's going to be an integral part of the rotation," Tracy said. Tracy listed Jhoulys Chacin, Esmil Rogers, Samuel Deduno and Greg Smith as candidates to push for the rotation spots in spring training and during the season. The Rockies are committed to keeping Hawpe, and believe by playing him some at first base it will help preserve him and Todd Helton for the final months of the season. A first-time all-star, Hawpe struggled in the second half and played in only two of the four playoff games. "The best message I can send to him is that if we had a game to play tomorrow, he would be hitting fifth," Tracy said. Tracy isn't considering any radical changes to his lineup. He expects Helton, Tulowitzki and Hawpe to anchor the middle of the order. Carlos Gonzalez is viewed as a leadoff hitter, with Dexter Fowler in the second slot. Tracy might drop Gonzalez into an RBI spot on days when Eric Young Jr. starts and leads off. The team was "a little disjointed at times" against left-handed starters, but Tracy believes there will be more balance because of improvement by Ian Stewart and Chris Iannetta. "I don't view Ian as a .220 hitter. If those two guys figure it out and become more consistent, we have a real good Baseball team," Tracy said. The bullpen is taking shape with the return of Betancourt. He will serve as Huston Street's primary setup man. Tracy likes the idea of pairing Torrealba with Iannetta, believing they will make each other better. He praised Torrealba's game-calling and clutch performances and stressed Iannetta's potential. "I like the competition," Tracy said. Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com