What was perhaps as unsettling as anything else surrounding Jhoulys Chacin‘s injury Friday night was his own reaction to it. Of course not many of us saw his downtrodden disposition for ourselves, so we are left to take the word of Denver Post beat writer Patrick Saunders. From last night:

You could tell by his words and by the way he spoke in the clubhouse after Friday night’s game that Rockies No. 1 starter Jhoulys Chacin is concerned about the injury that derailed him in the seventh inning Friday night.

Asked if he was worried, Chacin said, “A little bit. I don’t want to miss a start or something, I just want to keep pitching, especially the way we are playing right now. Everything is going well and I want to keep helping the team.

For now it is good news for Chacin. Image: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Today Chacin feels better. He is in less pain and more optimistic about his status moving forward. This improvement indicates that this injury is likely back spasms rather than the dreaded left oblique strain it was thought to be last night. As such, Chacin sounds more hopeful now (also from the Denver Post):

I’m feeling way better…I don’t think it’s the oblique, maybe just something in my lower back. Like in spring training.

For what it’s worth, head trainer extraordinaire Keith Dugger is also encouraged that this might be a minor injury:

This is 100 percent better than if it was an oblique strain.

Saunders does not that Chacin will still likely miss at least one start. That might become a start or two as a precautionary measure this early in the season. Does that mean Drew Pomeranz gets a crack at the Rockies’ rotation earlier than expected? If that is the case, you have to like his chances to stay for good, eventually ousting our old buddy Jeff Francis. But it seems that if the Rockies are even a little unsure that Pomeranz is ready to move up and stay up, they should look for another option for these spot starts. And you know what that means…

…Aaron Cook, ladies and gentlemen!

The Rockies will deal with that issue later. For now, it is good news about Chacin. We all still have to sweat out a confirmation MRI Monday, so here’s hoping that this is indeed a minor injury and nothing more this early in the season.

Feb 21, 2013; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin (45) poses for a picture during the Rockies photo day at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

I wonder if that is how the Colorado Rockies feel about Jhoulys Chacin. He has struggled and they have fought with one another. It was certainly held in doubt whether or not Chacin would ever reach his potential or succeed with the Rockies. And while starting opening day is far from a guarantee that he will accomplish anything this season, there will still be that mixed emotion of relief/pride at the sight of him striding to the mound to open the 2013 season.

Chacin’s spring has been up and down. He has been hit hard at times and did not pitch particularly well for Team Venezuela at the World Baseball Classic. Thankfully he enjoyed enough success at the end of last season to put our minds at ease. It is enough to know that he is healthy and happy to be with the Rockies as April 1st approaches.

This announcement also means that Jeff Francis is slotted in to start the home opener on April 5th against the San Diego Padres. This is also a nice story. When the Rockies gave Francis another shot in the middle of last season, his career was teetering on the brink of what perhaps looked like the end. There might always be teams willing to take a chance on a left-handed starter, but there probably were not many opportunities left for him. The Rockies were likely his last Major League opportunity before Francis became a soft-tossing minor league journeyman. The fact that he came full circle for that chance and has taken advantage of it is an enjoyable story, especially because Francis comes off as gracious and classy. So I am happy for him, no matter how badly he gets shelled this year.