Imagine Todd Helton digging in against pitcher Jeff Francis. Or Jason Jennings facing off against Chin-Hui Tsao.
It could unfurl outside an intrasquad game with baseball committed to holding a World Cup-style three-week tournament next spring training using major-leaguers to represent their countries.
“They will want to win the cup, so they aren’t going to ask guys like me,” Rockies outfielder Dustan Mohr said. “I would accept for free. But they will want guys like (Helton).”
Helton, who has previous Team USA experience dating to his college days, is open to the idea of competing. A potential injury isn’t a concern.
“I would do what my employer wants, but heck, you can get hurt walking down the dadgum street,” Helton said.
Francis expressed a strong desire to play for Canada after the Rockies declined to let him participate in the Olympics last summer because of his big-league promotion. The Chinese Taipei team would likely want Tsao and likewise with Byung-Hyun Kim and South Korea.
Pitchers would face the toughest challenge. Unless they accelerated their winter workout routine by a month, the starters would likely be available only to work four or five innings.
“It would be different, but it would be a great experience,” said Jennings, an international competitor in 1997 and 1998. “I played against Cuba in Spain, and I have never seen the intensity of that game matched in the big leagues.”
Quirk possibility in K.C.
Rockies bench coach Jamie Quirk has surfaced as a potential candidate for the Kansas City Royals’ managerial job after Tony Peña’s resignation this week. Quirk played for the Royals for nine years and coached on their major-league staff for eight years, ending in 2001.
As of late Thursday, the Royals had not asked permission to speak with Quirk, though the Rockies would not stand in his way. Frank White, a former star player and manager in the Royals’ minor-league system, is considered an early favorite.
“It would be an honor to interview,” said Quirk, who remains close to Royals executive vice president George Brett.
Quirk has twice interviewed for big-league jobs, in Toronto and last fall with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Footnotes
Tsao is taking anti-inflammatories for a sore right shoulder and will not be available until Sunday at the earliest. …
Double-A pitcher Christian Parker, who once pitched in the big leagues for the New York Yankees, and infielder Jonathan Herrera were suspended 15 games Wednesday for violating the minor-league steroids policy. Catcher Neil Wilson and pitcher Jason DiAngelo were previously disciplined. Outfielder Jorge Piedra is the only Rockie on the 40-man roster to be punished. …
Pitcher Joe Kennedy, out with a bruised left ankle, completed a bullpen session with no problem and expects to start Tuesday. Asked if he would try any more kick saves on groundballs in the future, he said, “I don’t know if I can stop myself. It’s a natural reaction.”
