 |
 |
 |
|
Rockies camp report
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Five things to know about the Colorado Rockies:
1. And the second baseman to replace the speedy Kaz Matsui in 2008 will be ... well, that's a decision that apparently will go until the last days of camp. Odds-on favorite remains Jayson Nix, who hit .292 with 11 homers, 58 RBI and a .342 on-base percentage for Triple-A Colorado Springs last season. But Jeff Baker, Clint Barmes and even veteran Marcus Giles remain in the mix, too (thought Giles just barely). Nix maybe got a leg up on the others with his MVP performance for Team USA in the 2007 International Baseball Federation World Cup in Taiwan, where he really impressed Team USA manager (and former big league second baseman) Davey Johnson. "Davey went to the mat for the kid," manager Clint Hurdle says. "Davey was a favorite manager of mine. That has value." Hurdle says he may go with a "second baseman by committee", which sounds suspiciously like modern jargon for "platoon."
2. Franklin Morales, hero of last August and September, has had a rocky spring for the Rockies and hasn't guaranteed himself a rotation spot yet. The front three will be Jeff Francis, whose 17 wins last season set a club record, Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez. For the Nos. 4 and 5 spots, the Rockies continue to look at Morales, former Blue Jay Josh Towers and journeymen Kip Wells and Mark Redman. Of that group, Wells is owed $3.1 million, Redman is guaranteed $1 million and Towers is owed only $400,000. Best bet may be that Towers will be the one starting the season in the minors. Last year's team ERA of 4.32 set a franchise record.
3. Of the 27 players who appeared on last fall's postseason rosters, 22 are in Colorado's camp this spring. Only Matsui, reliever LaTroy Hawkins (Yankees), pitchers Josh Fogg (Reds) and Jeremy Affeldt (Reds) and infielder Jamey Carroll are gone. As for those that return, last year's experience is evident in a calmer demeanor and added confidence. "These guys earned something last year," Hurdle says. "We want more. There's a confidence now that's not based on hope. We've been in a camps where we've hoped to do well. The playoffs and World Series experience is invaluable. It goes back to being respectful of everything and in awe of nothing."
4. The Rockies established a major league record for fielding percentage last season at .98925. That surpassed the 2006 Red Sox's .98910, and the Rockies' 68 errors matched the fewest errors ever by an NL team in a season (Mets, 1999). Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki led all major league shortstops with a .987 fielding percentage, and Todd Helton led NL first basemen at .999. Tulowitzki finished the season on a 36-game errorless streak.
5. Though they'll always treasure last year, even the Rockies themselves know it is important not to get themselves into a situation where they need to win 21 of 22 games again. "There might be a different way to get it done," Hurdle says, grinning.