Matt Holliday spent Tuesday watching videotape, his faulty swing providing a convenient explanation for his absence from the lineup.
Dig deeper and a more concrete reason emerges for his third consecutive day on the bench: Cory Sullivan’s glove.
With converted first baseman Brad Hawpe in right, center fielder Preston Wilson wearing a knee brace and Holliday struggling to find consistency in left, Sullivan’s presence is not an accident two games into a 10-game homestand at cavernous Coors Field.
“Sometimes it’s common sense,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
On cue, Sullivan, after failing to snare a wind-swirled double in the first, made a run-saving, diving catch against Johnny Estrada in the second inning. Sullivan has been the club’s best defensive outfielder, drawing assignments in center and left, making him hard to sit.
Versatility also works in his favor offensively, where he can hit leadoff or provide speed at the bottom of the order.
“I don’t read anything into it. Those are Clint’s decisions,” said Sullivan, hitting .333 with four RBIs. “We have a team of great outfielders. Everyone deserves the opportunity.”
Sullivan sat out last season after elbow surgery and crashed the Rockies’ roster in spring, earning camp MVP honors. His performance is beginning to hint that he’s miscast as a reserve.
“Cory Sullivan is going to end up playing every day,” outfield coach Dave Collins said. “I don’t know when, where, how or who it’s going to be for, but he’s going to play every day.”
Apodaca not on hot seat
As the ERA inflates and walks mount, pitching coach Bob Apodaca has become a frequent target of criticism and speculation. Hurdle put to rest rumors generating from outside the organization that Apodaca is in trouble.
“You aren’t hearing that come from our clubhouse or my office, I can tell you that,” Hurdle said. “There’s nothing there.”
Apodaca hasn’t lost his passion for the job, considered by many one of the toughest in the business.
“I don’t have any problem sleeping, but I can’t say I don’t take it back home,” Apodaca said recently. “You are always looking for little things to do better to get points across.”
Adam, over and in
Even with a thin bullpen, the Rockies ran out of patience with Adam Bernero’s uneven outings, releasing him after last season. He surfaced in Atlanta and has evolved into one of the Braves’ best relievers, with a 2.50 ERA in 18 innings.
Bernero credits a conversation with John Smoltz the day before the season began for reviving his career as he ditched his forkball for a harder and more effective splitter.
“I couldn’t get anyone out the last two weeks and was panicking,” Bernero said. “I worked on the (splitter) with Smoltz, and it was pretty easy.”
So why didn’t Bernero have success with the Rockies?
“It doesn’t really work out for a lot of people here,” he said. “I wanted to break the mold. But for (Tim) Hudson to give up seven runs with his stuff (Monday), that should never happen. It’s this place. It’s terrible.”
Footnotes
Wilson, still battling an illness, felt good enough Tuesday to play, recording two hits in his first three at-bats and beating out a throw at the plate in the fifth inning. … Aaron Cook, considered to have the best stuff of any Rockies’ pitcher, will throw a five-inning simulated game today in Tucson. He’s expected to rejoin the Rockies sometime in June.
