[落磯官網]Rockies want Tsao in Olympics

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Rockies want Tsao in Olympics 07/17/2004  9:38 PM ET

International competition would cut military obligation
By Thomas Harding / MLB.com

DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies want right-handed prospect Chin-hui Tsao to pit
ch for Taiwan in the Athens Summer Olympics, provided that he is healthy and h
e is used according to the parameters the Rockies have established, general ma
nager Dan O'Dowd said Saturday.

Tsao, who jumped from Double-A to the Majors last season (3-3, 6.02 ERA in nin
e games) and is considered Colorado's best prospect, has stated he wants to pa
rticipate. If he participates in a major international event, Taiwan's governm
ent has said it will reduce a military commitment, required of all males befor
e the age of 35, from something approaching two years to about 10 days.

Considering that the Rockies don't want Tsao's career interrupted, his partici
pation is in their best interest also. But it has proven much tougher than jus
t putting Tsao on a plane.

Tsao, 23, was only recently activated at Triple-A Colorado Springs from should
er tightness that flared at the end of Spring Training. He also had Tommy John
elbow ligament transfer surgery in 2001. So the Rockies want to minimize the
injury risk during the Olympics.

"We would like for him to participate -- it would be a good experience for him
," O'Dowd said. "But we have to make sure he's healthy, first. And he has to h
ave the same pitch count as he has with our minor league system, 120 pitches,
and four days of rest between each start."

O'Dowd said it is his understanding that Taiwan would use him as a starter onl
y. Negotiations are continuing but a resolution could come soon, O'Dowd said.

Tsao and the Rockies hoped to satisfy the international obligation last fall d
uring an Olympic qualifying tournament. But Tsao was on the Major League disab
led list at the time the rosters were set. Only players officially classified
as minor leaguers were eligible then, and the same goes for the Olympics.

The Rockies are also in talks with Canadian baseball officials over whether le
ft-hander Jeff Francis, Colorado's No. 1 draft pick in 2002, will be allowed t
o participate. Francis, 23, went 13-1 with a 1.98 ERA at Double-A Tulsa.

On Saturday, Francis made a rousing debut for Triple-A Colorado Springs at New
Orleans. He left after seven shutout, one-hit innings, with 12 strikeouts and
one walk.

Francis has been announced as a member of Canada's roster, but O'Dowd said no
decision has been made. The possibility the Rockies could call up Francis loom
s.


Chin-hui Tsao  /   P
Born: 06/02/81
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 175 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R

http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/col/news/col_news.jsp?ymd=20040717&
content_id=802515&vkey=news_col&fext=.jsp

Thomas Harding is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the ap
proval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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