Rockies utilityman Jamey Carroll is frequently asked why he chose to come to Denver. Carroll smiles and gently explains that he came to the Rockies via a trade, not free agency.
Carroll forgives the error. After all, when the Rockies obtained Carroll from the Washington Nationals in February for $300,000, it was hardly a blockbuster deal.
“He has good character and is someone who should fit well into what we are trying to do,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said at the time. “He’s someone we had our eye on.”
Judging by what Carroll has done, the Rockies had pretty sharp eyes. The utilityman – he plays second, shortstop and third – has started 10 of the past 14 games.
“I just look at it as a challenge to be ready to play whatever position they ask me to, and hit wherever they want me to,” Carroll said. “You don’t really think about it. You just go out and do your job.”
Carroll is not just doing his job, he’s thriving. Carroll started at second base Saturday night and hit leadoff for the third time this season. The move quickly paid off when Carroll walked in the first inning, stole second and scored on Choo Freeman’s single. Carroll has hit 16-for-42 (.380) in his past 17 games, raising his average from .214 to .327. He had a season-high three hits Friday night and got the game-winning RBI when he finagled a bases-loaded walk in the ninth inning of Colorado’s 5-4 victory.
In 74 fielding chances, he’s committed just one error. Playing for Washington last season, he didn’t commit an error at shortstop or third base in 53 games.
Manager Clint Hurdle says it takes the right makeup to thrive in a utility role.
“It takes a very disciplined mind-set and a very confident mind-set,” he said.
Carroll is displaying both.
Raves for Ramirez
Baby-faced reliever Ramon Ramirez, obtained as part of last year’s deal that sent Shawn Chacon to the Yankees, has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the early season.
“He’s done as well as anybody could envision,” Hurdle said. “We’re ecstatic.”
The 25-year-old picked up his second win of the season Friday night, tossing two scoreless innings and striking out three. He has yet to allow a run. Heading into Saturday, his 16 strikeouts led Colorado’s bullpen and opposing hitters were just 5-for-41 (.122) with two extra-base hits. His hard-breaking slider consistently confounds right-handed batters.
Ramirez has exceeded expectations, but the Rockies didn’t stumble upon him blindly.
“I’d be the first one to tell you if we got lucky, but that’s not the case,” O’Dowd said. “All of the credit goes to our scouts. They really did a great job on him.”
Footnotes
The Rockies’ walk-off win Friday night was their fifth of the season. They had six last season….Right-handed reliever Mike DeJean tested his shoulder in a simulated game Saturday and could begin a rehab assignment this week. “We’ll get a better read on how he feels tomorrow,” Hurdle said. “If he feels good tomorrow, then I think our next step would be to send him out on a rehab.”…Wednesday’s game in St. Louis will be televised by ESPN. The game is scheduled for 11:10 a.m. MDT.
Rockies recap
The Rockies have been a home run machine on the road, but not at Coors Field. Heading into Saturday night’s game against Houston, they had not hit a homer in the first three games of the current homestand, the club’s longest homerless stretch of the season. The drought ended in the sixth when Matt Holliday hit a 448-foot solo shot to center to put the Rockies ahead 5-0. It was Holliday’s seventh homer of the season.
CRASH LANDING: Astros right fielder Chris Burke injured his left shoulder making a catch in the sixth inning. Burke ran down a line drive by Garrett Atkins, then ran into the wall going full speed. He tumbled to the ground in obvious pain but held on to the ball. Burke reportedly has a slight shoulder separation and is day to day.
.500 AT LAST: The Rockies’ victory improved their home record to 8-8, marking the first time since opening day they were at .500 or above at Coors Field.
