Seattle – It’s a wonder Colorado’s fire restrictions don’t apply to Matt Holliday’s pyrotechnics. He provides jaw-dropping memories with every batting practice.
At Busch Stadium, he deposited a ball into Big Mac Land. In San Diego, he played pingpong off the Western Supply Co. warehouse, and at Coors Field he routinely hit balls 470 feet into a grilled chicken stand.
So it should come as no surprise that Holliday wants to participate in next Monday’s All-Star Home Run Derby if asked.
“I would definitely love to do it,” Holliday said. “It would be cool.”
Some stars have shown a reluctance to participate, citing potential injury and a concern over disrupting the timing of their swing. Holliday harbors concern about neither.
“It would just be like normal batting practice for me,” Holliday said.
With Cincinnati’s Adam Dunn left off the all-star team, St. Louis’ Albert Pujols returning from injury and Jason Bay admittedly not interested, there should be a couple of vacancies for young players. Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard already has indicated that he wants to participate.
Kim weighs in
Byung-Hyun Kim nearly lost his temper Saturday, yanked from the game two outs before becoming eligible for a victory. He was the first player to leave the clubhouse, long gone before reporters were allowed in. Asked about his fifth-inning exit Sunday, Kim said, “I don’t know what happened,” then politely sidestepped questions on the topic.
Kim offered an explanation for his performance, which differed dramatically from his previous two outings, when he strung together 13 scoreless innings.
“I think here I see the movement on my pitches more. That gave me too much confidence,” Kim said. “I lost my focus.”
Clint Hurdle called removing a pitcher with a three-run lead at that point “a position a manager never likes to be in,” but considered it necessary because of Kim’s struggles against Seattle’s left-handers. Hurdle discussed the situation with Kim on Sunday, so they could “move forward.”
Revolving relievers
It’s an odd combination: consistency in performance, fluidity in roles. Of the relievers, only setup man Jose Mesa and all-star closer Brian Fuentes have remained in the same position the entire season. Another slight tweak took effect Sunday, with Hurdle admitting he’s going to exercise more restraint with rookie Ramon Ramirez, who already has established a career high in appearances.
“Maybe just give him a little bit of a blow, see how that goes,” Hurdle said.
That could open the door for Ray King to regain a prominent late-inning spot. Along with Scott Dohmann and David Cortes, King has not pitched much during the past nine days because of more effective performances by the starters and the relievers’ own minor problems.
“It’s tough when you fall into a situation you feel like is unjust,” King said Sunday. “I hope I can get back into that seventh and eighth inning. Last night is a game where I kick myself for letting two inherited runners score, but my stuff was good so maybe the quote, unquote ‘funk’ is gone.”
Footnotes
Colorado has a National League-low 10 home runs against left-handers….Cory Sullivan has been sick the past few days, but did not start Sunday because the team was facing a left-hander. … Mariners center fielder Jeremy Reed broke his right thumb in the 11th inning while making a diving attempt at Brad Hawpe’s sinking line drive.
Rockies recap
The midpoint of the season has arrived and, as usual, everybody is talking about the Rockies’ pitching. Except now it’s for all the right reasons. Counting Jason Jennings’ seven-inning, two-runs-allowed outing Sunday, the starters have compiled a 4.31 ERA at the season’s halfway point for a team that ranks fourth in the NL in pitching.
“I would say that’s been the No. 1 most impressive thing so far,” Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. “That’s the common fabric of good teams.”
Added Jennings, “We feel like we can consistently keep our team in the game and give us a chance to win.”
ARMS RACE: Right fielder Brad Hawpe is taking aim at history. In the seventh inning, he preserved a 2-2 tie by nailing Yuniesky Betancourt at the plate. Hawpe has 11 assists this year, six shy of Dante Bichette’s 1999 team record.
WORKHORSE: Jose Mesa appeared in his 43rd game Sunday, laboring through one inning with four walks. The veteran reliever insists his heavy workload is not an issue. “I love it. That’s what I came here to do,” said Mesa, who would have to appear in only 27 games over the team’s next 81 to come in at the 70-game mark Hurdle prefers.
