The Rockies couldn’t come back Wednesday. But fans slowly are.
Responding ever so slightly to the team’s surprising start, attendance at Coors Field is up 2.3 percent from this time a year ago. That subtle bump was reached with an announced crowd of 30,296 on Wednesday, the largest midweek crowd of 2006 since opening day.
“We are seeing some good signs,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “We know it’s going to take a couple of good years. We didn’t lose them overnight and we won’t get them back overnight.”
The Rockies sold 497,743 tickets in their first 20 dates, an increase of 11,170.
Of significance Wednesday was how close the attendance figure actually represented the number of people in Coors Field seats. The lower section was nearly full and tickets were even sold for the upper deck in right field, which is closed off for the second consecutive year unless demand warrants.
“I have a friend in business and he was telling me that more people were asking him for Rockies tickets than tickets for the Avs or Nuggets (during the playoffs),” first baseman Todd Helton said recently.
In talking to fans, winning and roster stability have drawn them to the ballpark. On any given night, the Rockies can feature seven homegrown starters.
“That can really help because fans get attached to those guys as they watch them grow up,” Padres general manager Kevin Towers said. “I have seen it here in San Diego with Jake (Peavy), Khalil (Greene) and (Josh) Barfield.”
Who’s on second?
An innocent question spawned an interesting answer from manager Clint Hurdle. With Jason Smith in the lineup, Hurdle was asked, “Exactly who is the Rockies’ starting second baseman?”
“I don’t know. I guess the guy who is playing that day,” Hurdle said. “I still like to believe Luis (Gonzalez) is going to recapture his stroke. I am still holding on to that.”
Gonzalez started 20 games but has yet to regain the offensive form that made him a career .292 hitter after his first two seasons. That doesn’t mean Gonzalez wasn’t able to contribute. With Eli Marrero sick and Danny Ardoin in the bullpen, Gonzalez warmed up closer Brian Fuentes in the ninth inning.
“That was my first time catching him,” Gonzalez said. “I couldn’t believe the movement on his pitches. They were nasty. It’s a lot different than watching from second base.”
Atkins slumping
The Rockies have lost six of eight games, a skid traced to an ineffective offense. They have averaged just 2.6 runs and hit .196 (52-for-265) during this stretch. Garrett Atkins finds himself at the epicenter of the slump. He has batted .214 his past 17 games.
“I need to do more,” Atkins said.
Footnotes
Don’t expect many wrinkles when Aaron Cook pitches against the Blue Jays on Friday night at Coors Field. In his last start at Houston, a 2-1 victory, he threw 95 fastballs in 98 pitches. … Cory Sullivan hit his team-high 14th double Wednesday. Hurdle said Sullivan has “done all right” as a leadoff man, though he would still like to see him reduce his strikeouts. … Brad Hawpe, who provided an instructional defensive segment for ESPN’s telecast Wednesday, extended his hitting streak to five games. He is a career .400 hitter (30-for-75) against the Dodgers.
Rockies recap
Illness and ineffectiveness collided Wednesday at Coors Field, influencing arguably the game’s biggest at-bat. The Rockies trailed 3-2 in the eighth inning with two runners on when Miguel Ojeda faced embattled Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Danys Baez.
Rockies manager Clint Hurdle likely would have pinch- hit for Ojeda, except top reserve Eli Marrero was in the clubhouse still weak from a high fever. Baez, who has blown four of his last five saves and closed out Wednesday’s game only because Takashi Saito was sick, induced a double-play groundball.
“That gave me confidence that I was back in charge,” Baez said.
RIGHT THE LEFT-HANDED SHIP: It’s one of those stats that widens pupils. For Todd Helton to regain his status among baseball’s elite, he must punish left-handers more. He is homerless against them this season in 16 at-bats after flying out against Joe Beimel. He has just one homer in 171 at-bats against lefties dating to the start of last season.
MARRERO IMPROVES: Marrero, who didn’t play the last two games, expects to be ready Friday. He said the illness was not related to the virus that sidelined him for nearly a week earlier this season. “I just got a high fever. It will be OK,” Marrero said.
