"So, Aaron Cook was asked, is there an inevitable adjustment period on the mound for a pitcher who loses 20 pounds in the offseason?

"Apparently there is," Cook said. "I used to be built like an SUV, now I'm a little bit smaller . . . a Rav4, maybe. So I've got to get my timing belt and everything going."

There's a reason Cook is taking his early-season struggles in stride. He has been there, survived that. His career record in April is 8-10, with a 4.75 ERA. When the calendar flips to May, he's 13-8, 3.86.

Rockies manager Jim Tracy has a master plan for getting Cook turned around. His advice: "Keep letting him go out there and pitch."

Cook, who reported to spring training at 200 pounds, 20 below his weight a year ago, will take a 0-2 record and a 7.53 ERA to the mound tonight for Game 2 of a doubleheader between the Rockies and Marlins. He has walked nine and worked 14 1/3 innings in three outings, a poor number for a pitcher who prides himself on eating innings.

Cook said he's rushing his delivery, if only by a split-second, but expects to get that minor flaw corrected soon.

"This is just a matter of timing," Cook said. "I feel like I'm just a half-click off. It's literally a split second, staying back a little bit longer and giving myself a chance to deliver the pitch.

"I haven't had my sinker for a few starts, but I can go out there and battle with my other pitches. Once I get that sinker going exactly where I want it to, I'm going to feel a lot better about myself."

By the numbers: Leader in the clubhouse for Rockies stat of the year: The bullpen's ERA is 2.29, compared with 4.42 for the starters.

U the man.

If this keeps up, they're going to be chanting "U-bal-do and pray for snow."

Ubaldo Jimenez is 4-0, 0.95 in four starts. The rest of the rotation is 3-5, 5.92.

Cook, when asked the other pitchers' reaction to Jimenez's meteoric start: "We're just laughing. I mean he's throwing whatever he wants whenever he wants. It's like he's playing a video game out there.""