Notes for a holiday weekend …
They’ve already got a humidor. Now all the Rockies need is an oxygen tank to help them combat the hardships of playing at altitude.
How do we know? Because Roger Clemens uses one when he pitches at Coors Field. Clemens donned an oxygen mask between innings Tuesday, a la Hakeem Olajuwon back in the day, and allowed one run in seven innings of work. But it wasn’t until the next day, he said, when he felt the benefits.
“It worked,” Clemens said. “I feel great. My legs feel lighter than they usually do
after I pitch.” …
The stat of the year in baseball: 0. That’s how many games Craig Biggio has had to leave after being hit by a pitch. It’s also the number of times Biggio, who last week broke Don Baylor‘s record of 267 hit-by-
pitches, has charged the mound. …
Apparently, getting plunked is an art form that takes time to refine. To wit: Biggio was hit by a pitch only 18 times in his first five seasons – not once as a rookie. …
I’m assuming, with the Rockies in St. Louis for the weekend, that Todd Helton and Wayne Hagin haven’t gone out to dinner.
More circumstantial evidence that suggests Helton owes his career to hard work and genetics, not illegal drugs: Helton routinely works out with his dad when he’s home in Tennessee. Helton tells me the old man once bench-pressed 225 pounds 20 times – at age 53. …
Rangers lefty Kenny Rogers was suspended 20 games for attacking two cameramen last week. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig reportedly had planned on a 10-game suspension until Rogers was found to have cork in his head. …
The Nuggets brought three of their four draft picks to town last week to meet the media. Not that second-rounder Ricky Sanchez needs to bulk up, but the pinstripes in his suit were fatter than he is. …
The good news is he probably gained 5 pounds just talking to me. …
Let there be no doubt, the Nuggets won’t make any other free-agent moves until they’ve exhausted their efforts to land Michael Finley, expected to be waived by the Mavs this month.
So how realistic is it to think the Nuggets can get him? Very. Finley and Nuggets GM Kiki Vandeweghe were tight during their days together in Dallas. That’s why, money aside, the Nuggets would have a leg up on any of Finley’s other pursuers. …
It’s also one more reason Stan Kroenke ought to give Vandeweghe a contract extension. Far as I know, nothing to report on that front. Which probably tells us all we need to know about Vandeweghe’s future, or lack thereof, in Our Town. …
True story. During the news conference, when the players took turns mugging for the cameras while holding a Nuggets jersey, George Karl wondered aloud why each had the number 05. Wisecracked a member of the media, “It’s a tribute to Rodney White.” …
It never fails. A grizzled old coach meets a fresh crop of rookies, and he’s more excited than they are. Such was the case with Karl last week. “They lift you,” said Karl, when asked about being around so many young faces. …
By the way, Linas Kleiza, the second of the Nuggets’ two first-rounders, says his name is pronounced LIN-us Klay-za. For next season, anyway, it will be spelled “DNPCD.” …
For the non-NBA insiders in the crowd, that stands for Did Not Play-Coach’s
Decision. …
Look for it. Gary Payton to the Suns to back up Steve Nash, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas returning to the Cavs. …
The new collective bargaining agreement isn’t finalized, but according to ESPN.com, here are the NBA teams with the most cap room, based on the latest projections: 1. Cleveland, $28 million; 2. Atlanta and Seattle, $25 million; 4. Charlotte and New Orleans, $20 million; 6. L.A. Clippers, $16 million; 7. Chicago, $15 million, and 8. Milwaukee, $12 million. …
Chris Kiffin, son of Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, is gone but CSU’s football roster doesn’t lack for famous fathers. This season’s team will include Klint Kubiak, Gary‘s son, and Brian Heimerdinger, son of former Broncos assistant and current Jets offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger. …
And finally, best of luck to Kyle Shanahan, Mike‘s son, who got married Saturday.
Catch Jim Armstrong from 6-9 a.m. during “The Press Box” on ESPN 560 AM, and
on Fox Sports Net’s “Insider Edition.” He can be reached at 303-820-5452 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
