There’s a new voice of the Rockies. And it’s not as loud, not heard as frequently and, based on early exit polls, more effective in the clubhouse.
Manager Clint Hurdle has quietly become more quiet. He’s talking less, writing less. A year ago, he boomed during batting practice. Now, he provides more quick quips than chatter. Last season, hardly a game passed that motivational sayings such as “Faith is believing in what can’t be seen” weren’t penned at the bottom of the lineup card. This year, they are lucky to appear once a week.
The subtle adjustment was by design.
“I have tried to back off on certain things,” Hurdle said. “The (sayings) are more verbal now, and when I do use them I think they have more meaning.”
Before Tuesday’s game, Hurdle had planned to the address the team but determined it wasn’t necessary after observing the players’ moods. That wouldn’t have happened a year ago, when Hurdle felt breaking in rookies demanded a more hands-on, volume-up approach.
“He’s treating us like men,” outfielder Brad Hawpe said. “That’s something you have to earn, and we have shown we can be a competitive team.”
Added general manager Dan O’Dowd: “It’s like a nice pair of jeans. Clint is comfortable with this group.”
New lineup in the sand
Losing provides frustration and inspiration. After watching his team average 2.8 runs and hit .195 (38-for-195) in losing five of six games entering Monday, Hurdle tweaked his lineup. He shifted Garrett Atkins from fourth to second and Hawpe to the fifth spot, while reinserting Matt Holliday in the cleanup slot he occupied when the season began.
“I am not going to treat it any differently,” Holliday said. “Baseball is weird. We aren’t hitting, and maybe the shake-up will help.”
Atkins, though not fast, was long viewed as an ideal No. 2 hitter because of his ability to work counts and hit the ball to the opposite field. He has fallen into a funk, his average deflating from .363 to .317 the past two weeks.
“From that position you are looking to score more runs than drive them in,” Atkins said. “I thought I was going to hit second a year-and-a-half ago, so it’s just later than I expected.”
Footnotes
A decision is fast approaching on pitcher Sun-Woo Kim. He will make another Triple-A rehab start Friday – “He needs to work on his fastball command,” O’Dowd said – and is eligible for one more before the Rockies have to either grant a promotion or cut him loose. The Rockies see Kim as a starter only, and there are no spots open in the rotation after Josh Fogg turned in a decent outing Monday. “I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Kim said. … Rookie Ramon Ramirez reacted well to joining mortals. After allowing his first runs in the big leagues, Ramirez said: “I knew I wasn’t going to be perfect. I am just mad that it started by walking the pitcher.” Jose Mesa talked at length with Ramirez, providing a calming influence.
Rockies recap
Sometimes the best way to deal with a problem is to create a bigger challenge. In a bizarre first inning, Byung- Hyun Kim went from obnoxiously wild to delightfully erratic. He walked the first three batters. He uncorked two wild pitches. And he allowed just one run on 29 pitches. After Brad Hawpe erased Kenny Lofton at the plate, Kim settled down, striking out Jeff Kent and inducing a weak groundball from Jose Cruz Jr. Kim held the Dodgers scoreless over the next six innings.
FEELING A DRAFT: Former Fowler High School and Tennessee star Luke Hochevar has posted consecutive strong outings for the independent Fort Worth Cats. But even if the Dodgers don’t sign him in the coming weeks, making him eligible for this year’s draft, don’t look for the Rockies to select the right-hander with the second pick overall. His asking price appears too high. So with the Royals zeroing in on North Carolina pitcher Andrew Miller, other highly regarded college pitchers include Tim Lincecum (Washington) and Brad Lincoln (Houston).
FROM THE Rx FILES: Dodgers center fielder Lofton (tight left hamstring) and second baseman Kent (stiff back) only played half the game before exiting. Dodgers closer Eric Gagne, out after elbow surgery, is expected to begin a rehab assignment in around 10 days.
