San Francisco – Omar Quintanilla’s upper body is covered in tattoos. It is perhaps fitting, because he has made quite a first impression on the Rockies.
Afforded a shortstop audition until Clint Barmes returns for perhaps the final 15 to 20 games of the season , Quintanilla has displayed energy and skill. Reliever Mike DeJean pegged Quintanilla’s hustling infield single Tuesday as the most important moment in a 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
“The kid gave us a jolt,” DeJean said. “That was huge.”
Among those least surprised by Quintanilla’s current success is his former employee. Reached Wednesday, Oakland general manager Billy Beane said that Quintanilla became available only after the Athletics drafted Texas A&M shortstop Cliff Pennington in June.
“The biggest misconception is about our trades,” Beane said. “We have given up as much talent as anyone in baseball over the last few years. We want the players we move to do well because it makes it easier to make deals with that team down the road. With Omar, it was just a matter of us having organizational depth.”
“I actually faced Pennington in college when I was at Texas,” Quintanilla said. “This is a better opportunity for me, because obviously I wasn’t going to (play in front of Oakland shortstop Bobby Crosby).”
Once Barmes comes back, Quintanilla figures to get a look at second base, with Aaron Miles’ future in jeopardy. Luis Gonzalez is manning the spot now, leaving Miles taking groundballs at third base in search of playing time.
Supplement supervision
It’s debatable which was more surprising this week: the steroid violations of Baltimore’s Rafael Palmeiro and Seattle’s Ryan Franklin or their subsequent explanations. Both said they had no idea how they tested positive, with Franklin alluding to an over-the- counter supplement.
In hopes of avoiding that predicament, the Rockies make EAS products available for major-leaguers at their request and supervise supplement use of their minor-leaguers.
“EAS has followed the NFL certification for supplements, and the way they package the product makes it less likely they would have residue from another food or medicine supplement,” Rockies strength and conditioning coach Brad Andress said.
Andress instructs players not using EAS products to inform him so he can perform necessary research. Said pitcher Jamey Wright: “Nobody wants to hear an excuse on why it happened. You have to (educate) yourself.”
Footnotes
Todd Helton, out with a strained calf, is tentatively scheduled to go on a rehab assignment Sunday through Tuesday, leaving him available to return Wednesday against the Pirates. …
Catcher Todd Greene will begin a rehab assignment Friday in Colorado Springs. His return could free up JD Closser to play every day in Triple-A.
