St. Louis – Larry Walker is sitting at his locker in a quiet clubhouse, talking about injuries and expressing his opinion on the Rockies. Seems like old times. And it is a flashback of sorts.
Walker was preparing for his final series against a team with whom he will be forever linked.
The outfielder plans to retire at season’s end – “I am 95 percent sure that this is going to be it,” he said – and eagerly looks forward to life as Captain Carpool for his school-age children.
“Being on that 1995 Rockies team was my greatest moment,” said Walker, before pausing, “but it obviously took a back seat to what happened last year.”
Traded to St. Louis on Aug. 6, Walker helped the Cards reach the World Series. That experience has affected, in some ways, his view of the Rockies, a franchise that posted just one winning season in his final seven seasons with the club.
“I don’t know what the answers are,” he said. “I just put my foot in my mouth answering the question. There’s a lot of things that I think are wrong over there. But like I say it’s not for me to worry about. So I don’t.”
Walker didn’t spend many restless nights contemplating his future. His aching body makes leaving baseball a rather painless decision.
His career stained by injuries, the 38-year-old didn’t start Thursday night as a concession to a herniated disc in his neck. A cortisone shot left him comfortable enough to smash two home runs Wednesday.
“After 13 years of playing hockey and playing pro baseball since (1985), it’s time,” said Walker, whose main concern remains a surgically repaired right knee. “Someone might want me to play another year, but I don’t want to play at 50 percent. I wish I hadn’t been hurt so much, but I don’t want to play … just to stay in the game.”
Fuentes on short list
Listening to Cardinals manager Tony La Russa talk Thursday, it’s clear Brian Fuentes is the favorite to represent the Rockies in the All-Star Game. Fuentes has held the opposition to a .196 average since May 1. The all-star rosters will be announced Sunday.
“He’s on the short list,” said La Russa before adding in jest, “The worst thing he can do is pitch well against us the way we hold a grudge around here.”
With no Rockies likely to be voted in by fans or players, it will be left to La Russa, the National League manager, to tab one with his final seven reserve selections of three position players and four pitchers. He asked about league officials naming Rockies rookie Clint Barmes, but was told an injured player can’t be a team’s lone representative.
Interest in Shealy
Talk of the Rockies trading first-base prospect Ryan Shealy to Boston for catcher Kelly Shoppach is off base. The Red Sox inquired about Shealy last fall – the rookie made a solid impression during his recently completed two-week cameo with the Rockies – but never in conjunction with Shoppach. Given the game’s lack of strong catchers, the Red Sox would demand a premium price to even consider moving him.
Footnotes
Rockies manager Clint Hurdle, on the Rockies’ final visit to Busch Stadium, which will be replaced by a new palace next season: “I love it here. I wish I had played better. But I can say that about a lot of places I have been.” …
With left-hander Joe Kennedy starting, Walker is expected to return to the lineup tonight, allowing La Russa to rest center fielder Jim Edmonds.
