Valaika making strides in oblique recovery

Valaika returns to action GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies infielder and pinch-hit specialist Pat Valaika's gray pants were ripped pretty good Wednesday morning. But his left oblique muscle was strong and intact after he appeared in a simulated game in Scottsdale, and that's good news that came sooner than expected.

Valaika, who set a Major League rookie record (since the rookie rule was adopted in 1958) with 16 pinch-hit RBIs last year, appeared in just three spring games before the injury. With the trickiness of such injuries, his availability for Opening Day has been in question.

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By going 1-for-3 (with a hit off lefty setup man Jake McGee, who was doing his work there) and…