Someday this might get old, living a dream people told them to abandon years ago.
For now, shortstops David Eckstein and Clint Barmes relish their position, forcing people to pay attention.
The announced crowd of 22,266 showed up Wednesday night expecting to see the muscle of Albert Pujols or Todd Helton’s magnificent swing. Instead, the Cardinals’ 8-6 victory over the Rockies evolved into a short story featuring Eckstein and Barmes.
“There are a lot of similarities between the two, their passion, their heart for the game,” Rockies infield coach Mike Gallego said. “When you have a player who is short on talent, those two things can make up for almost anything else.”
Eckstein is short on, well, height. He’s generously listed at 5-feet-7, 165 pounds, a pedestrian figure common at the ballpark – among batboys. Coming through the Red Sox organization, Eckstein crossed paths with Gallego, then Boston’s roving minor-league fielding instructor.
Eckstein grew on Gallego, himself 5-6, impressing the coach with his attention to detail, his intelligence. He told the Red Sox to keep him. They didn’t listen. Eckstein, they insisted, was a step slow, his arm a bit weak, his power unplugged.
“They didn’t think he could make it in the American League East,” Gallego said. “I disagreed because I had just finished playing in that division, and I would have loved to play next to the guy. All he does is win.”
To appreciate Eckstein, scrutiny is required.
He does little things well that consistently create a big impact. On Wednesday, he made arguably the best defensive play by a visitor this season, chasing after a foul ball and making a sliding grab down the left-field line. A fully outstretched double-play snare and flip followed later.
Did we mention he scored two runs and raised his average to .302?
“It’s funny. I never hear people when they tell me what I can’t do,” said Eckstein, who walked on at the University of Florida, launching his improbable journey to the big leagues. “I love this game. Gallego was always telling me I was a big-leaguer. When you hear it enough, you believe it.”
Barmes, in many ways, is Eckstein run through the Kinko’s copy machine at 150 percent. He’s 6 feet, 190 pounds, a guy adored by teammates and managers. He has spent the better part of his adult life proving people wrong.
On a night when starter Joe Kennedy continued his inconsistent season – “The difference this year is that I am not getting righties out,” he said – Barmes burst out of a slump, tying a club record with three doubles.
“I like his game; he’s fundamentally sound,” Eckstein said after his Cardinals put the Rockies to bed in the seventh inning, a frame in which the Rockies have been outscored 54-28 this season. “And he’s aggressive. You don’t see that a lot in young players.”
Barmes, the leading contender for National League rookie of the year honors, grew up a Cardinals fan. He idolized Ozzie Smith. He appreciated Eckstein’s performance Wednesday.
“He made a lot of good plays tonight. I can see how people compare us,” said Barmes, hitting .325 with a team-high 29 RBIs. “I like to think I have gotten better each year.”
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-820-5457 or trenck@denverpost.com.
