Philadelphia – The transformation began slowly in spring training, when a few fans began asking rookie to autograph the sweet spot on a bat. He officially graduated from anonymity on opening day, clubbing the third-most memorable home run in Rockies history.
Now he has tiptoed into ridiculousness, having the kind of month reserved for faces plastered on cereal boxes.
After the Rockies’ 7-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday night – their first on the road this season – there was only one question left: At what point do teams start intentionally walking Barmes to get to ?
“It’s coming soon,’ Helton said with a straight face. “He’s putting together some solid at-bats. He’s done a great job.’
Great is an insult to Barmes’ start. In elbowing himself into the rookie of the year race, he has been nothing short of Roy Hobbs. He is batting .463. In the press box, it was announced his four hits tied a career high. He has accomplished it three times – in the season’s first 17 days.
“Unbelievable. I have never seen a young guy have a stretch like that,’ veteran Desi Relaford said. “I guess that’s all he does is hit.’
Pitcher Jamey Wright, who recorded the starters’ second victory, flirted with danger throughout the evening, extracting himself with well-timed groundballs. He was asked afterward if his simple objective was to get three outs in order for Barmes to bat.
“He doesn’t know that he’s not supposed to hit .400 up here,’ Wright said. “When I was on first base, (Phillies slugger) Jim Thome said, ‘You know what, that kid can play.”
Barmes takes fans back to a day when the game was played on black-and- white TV and a dirty jersey, not a baggy one, was considered cool. It’s not just the hits, which he’s cranking out faster than Usher; it’s the entire package.
On a warm evening at Citizens Bank Park, he knocked in two runs. He doubled. He ran the bases as if he’d committed a crime. And on defense, he honestly believed any ball hit in the 215 area code was his personal souvenir.
In the sixth, he made a running stab of a lazy flyball, doubling up Thome with an off-balance throw more suited for a scrambling quarterback than a shortstop.
“Sometimes it seems like there are two of him out there right now,’ said Rockies manager Clint Hurdle, whose team halted a 10-game road losing streak dating to last season. “I don’t think anyone would have written up his start like this. It’s been a special time.’
For everyone, it seems, but Barmes. He hasn’t changed his routine, his bling or his swing.
“I didn’t even notice,’ Barmes said when asked if he saw his name among the league leaders on the scoreboard during batting practice. “I am, huh?’
The rare win away from Coors Field was accompanied by a wobbly but effective bullpen performance – closer Chin-Hui Tsao worked back-to-back days for the first time, hitting 98 mph on the radar gun – and a remarkable running catch by in the seventh inning.
The story, however, was Barmes.
“How does he do it?’ said outfielder looking at the reporters surrounding Barmes’ locker. “That’s the question of the night.’
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be
reached at 303-820-5457 or trenck@denverpost.com.
