One of the more disturbing notions to surface from the Rockies players’ reactions to last week’s USA Today article is they were embarrassed by their Christianity. That is not the case, nor the genesis of their anger.
They were upset because their clubhouse portrayal was inaccurate, casting them recklessly as an exclusionary sect. Many Rockies are religious, but that isn’t a requirement for acceptance. As one Rockie told me, “It made us sound like we are all sitting around reading the Bible and those that don’t aren’t welcome.”
The scope of what the players seek in one another is much wider. It’s less about what they do on Sundays and more about how they carry themselves the other six days of the week. They want guys pulling in the same direction, not praying in the same direction.
“It’s about having good teammates. Nobody wants to come in here every day and be around people who are in bad moods and don’t want to be here,” pitcher Aaron Cook said. “But that doesn’t mean you need 25 Christians. If that was the case, every team would be doing that.”
At last check, no one was. Not even the Los Angeles Angels.
Beginning in the winter of 2003, the Rockies began publicly stressing the importance of accountability and responsibility. It was not a coincidence those values emerged at the same time the front office became unified in its faith. Manager Clint Hurdle was comfortable serving as the voice, extolling values he had long attempted to follow in his life.
The Rockies wanted character, believing it would prevent the organization from splintering during what they correctly predicted would be a difficult transition. Did it shape their roster? Absolutely. They began performing face-to-face interviews with all free agents, everyone from Jose Hernandez to Royce Clayton meeting with the brass to make sure they were a good fit.
This makes business sense. As Socrates said, “There is only one good, knowledge.” It’s hard to criticize a sports franchise for wanting players fans can root for without feeling like they have to shower afterward.
The danger is having too narrow a filter. They don’t need 25 Christians for the same reason they don’t need 25 David Ecksteins.
“Religion is important in my life,” said Matt Holliday, “but you can’t build a team around that.” Or as former Rockie Preston Wilson put it a few years back, “You don’t win with all Boy Scouts. You win with baseball players.”
And that’s the point that seems to have been overlooked. Being a good teammate and a Christian can be mutually exclusive. Jason Jennings stressed as much, pointing out that some of his best teammates weren’t religious.
A club, in my opinion, can be compromised by sameness, whether it’s race, religion, speed or offense. Beyond the lines, baseball’s best lesson is its diversity, a point driven home to me by an MLB executive this week. Other than Babe Ruth, it’s hard to find names in the game that resonate more than Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente.
The Rockies have Caucasians, Dominicans, Venezuelans, African-Americans, Koreans, a Cuban and a Canadian on their roster. That’s why I believe the players were so offended. They want to be surrounded not by people like them, but people with similar goals.
Don’t believe it? Well, what if I told you I knew of a team with a stubborn shortstop, a long-haired third baseman, an enigmatic ace, an overweight, tattooed closer, an outspoken first baseman and a catcher who, for years, was considered a clubhouse cancer.
That team’s name: the 2005 Chicago White Sox.
Closers to the edge
It’s baseball’s high-wire act. For two hours a team scrapes and claws for a lead before placing its life in the arms, or arm, of a closer. It’s a walking stress test. Saves are satisfying, but blown games are paralyzing. Shawn Chacon once told me he couldn’t believe the awful sensation of facing teammates after a victory had slipped through his fingers.
It makes you admire Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman, both charging toward Lee Smith’s all-time saves record of 478. And it should help you understand why Brian Fuentes, in many ways, is the Rockies’ MVP.
It also helps explain why teams change closers about as often as Paris Hilton does boyfriends. Arizona entered the week ahead in the National League West and demoted their closer Jose Valverde, otherwise known as Papa Grande. Jorge Julio has replaced him, likely for a week. Danys Baez lost his spot in Los Angeles long before Eric Gagne returned, Brad Lidge required a breather in Houston, Todd Coffey has taken over in Cincinnati and the carousel continues to spin in Tampa Bay.
There’s no shame in giving a guy a break. Because it’s better to have a displaced closer upset for a few weeks than a team disappointed after six months.
“Last year I had three closers, that’s why I never said one guy was the guy. That’s when you lose games,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “Because if you put the same guy in the whole time, he gets his butt kicked and you keep putting him in, that’s just a bad excuse for the manager. You don’t have to settle on one guy. Whoever is throwing the ball best should be out there.”
Footnotes
The Rockies’ untouchable list goes beyond Troy Tulowitzki and Ian Stewart, whom a high-ranking team executive confirmed to me this week would not be traded. Dexter Fowler is also off-limits. A rangy center fielder with power and speed, Fowler is hitting .306 with three homers and 20 stolen bases for Single-A Asheville. He is on the fast track to the big leagues. … The Rockies aren’t sure if they will be buyers or sellers at the trading deadline. There figures to be an interesting name available to fill their need for a leadoff hitter: the Cubs’ Juan Pierre. … Longmont High School’s David Pauley made his big-league pitching debut with the Red Sox last week. Even though it’s unlikely he will start this week at Yankee Stadium, he lived a dream that too few kids from Colorado experience.
Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-820-5457 or trenck@denverpost.com.
THE RISE AND FALL
DODGERS ARE GOING GREAT GUNS AT HOME
MOVING UP
1. Dodgers: Playing their best ball at home since 2003. Eric Gagne finally back.
2. Yankees: Ghost of Randy Johnson Past appears; outfield held together by duct tape.
3. Diamondbacks: Closer Jose Valverde replaced temporarily by Jorge Julio.
MOVING DOWN
1. Devil Rays: You know it’s a bad week when Carl Crawford hurts his knee arguing a call at home plate.
2. Rockies: No California Love. Punchless offense at core of a 2-7 road trip.
3. Brewers: Scored just eight runs in a four-game sweep by the Pirates.
AT ISSUE
CAN PUJOLS WIN THE TRIPLE CROWN?
What: Until he hurt his side Saturday chasing a foul ball, Albert Pujols was turning his at-bats into clips for The History Channel. Focus remains on his power, not a surprise since he’s the first slugger since Hank Aaron to pursue a home run record while not being trailed by steroid allegations. But Pujols is more Barbaro than Bambino, with a realistic chance of becoming the first player since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967 to win the Triple Crown.
Background: Todd Helton always stuck out to me as a threat to lead the league in average, RBIs and homers. Pujols is the type of hitter Helton was in 2000 and 2001. He hits for average, for power and he doesn’t strike out. In his most amazing stat this season, Pujols has a league-best 25 home runs and just 20 punchouts. That’s Joe DiMaggio-esque.
“I definitely think he has a chance to do it,” former Padres great Tony Gwynn said. “He understands his mechanics so well. His patience, knowledge of the strike zone and willingness to take what the pitcher gives him is a beautiful thing to watch.”
Renck’s take: Triple Crown candidates withered during the 1990s as hulking, boom-or-bust sluggers made home run numbers unreachable. With 50 home runs again an admirable goal, Pujols should lead the league, finishing somewhere around 55. And he will hit. Like Barry Bonds, Pujols makes loud outs, always getting the barrel through the ball. The RBIs are the most problematic statistic. He’s on a powerhouse team in which runners will continue to get on in front of him. But at some point, likely now with Jim Edmonds on the disabled list, opponents are going to stop pitching to Pujols. No longer will an open base be required to walk him. Yes, Scott Rolen, who hits cleanup, is dangerous. But he’s no Pujols. And that means, ultimately, no Triple Crown this season.
