Jamey Carroll didn’t go to the All-Star Game, but a case can be made that he was the Rockies’ most valuable player in the first half.
At the very least, the 32-year-old second baseman has been the Rockies’ most inspirational player, epitomizing what’s right with a vastly improved club. At 44-43, the Rockies won 13 more games than they did before last year’s all-star break to get into contention in the National League West.
“He’s a snapshot of what we are trying to accomplish here,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “He’s not a scout’s dream, but he’s a real good baseball player.”
At 5-feet-9 and 170 pounds, Carroll often is the smallest player on the field. But no one plays harder. In a recent game Carroll hit a routine grounder back to the pitcher but still scooted down to first as hard as he could go.
“That says a lot about Jamey, how he plays the game,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “I think his teammates notice the way he hustles. They can feed on it from one guy to the next. He’s been a catalyst in so many ways, not just getting on base.”
Asked whether he deserved all- star consideration, Carroll managed a sheepish smile, then searched for the right answer.
“When you think about all-stars, your whole life you think about the greatest players in the game,” he said. “So I guess not going doesn’t surprise me. But if you look at my numbers and compare them, it’s nice to be thought of in that way.”
As the Rockies resume play tonight against the Reds in Cincinnati, Carroll is hitting .324, second on the team to all-star outfielder Matt Holliday’s .337. Carroll’s .324 average from the leadoff spot ranks No. 1 in the National League. His on-base percentage of .395 is second among the Rockies, behind only Todd Helton (.425), and he has committed only two errors.
And he’s still not satisfied.
“I think the one thing that I’ve been really happy with is my defense,” Carroll said. “It’s all about being consistent out there. We’ve made a lot of big double plays, which to me is just as satisfying as getting hits.”
The Rockies have turned 98 double plays, second best to the Houston Astros (109) in the National League.
“From the first day I played with him, we clicked,” shortstop Clint Barmes said. “I owe Jamey a lot of the credit. He’s always talking and always right in the middle of the game. I know when he flips me the ball, it’s going to be where it’s supposed to be.”
The Rockies acquired Carroll from the Washington Nationals for $300,000 in an offseason trade that barely caused a ripple. The Rockies figured they were getting a quality utilityman, but ended up with a starting second baseman and team sparkplug.
“Give all the credit to the scouts and Dan (O’Dowd),” Rockies owner Dick Monfort said. “They really found a diamond in the rough. Jamey hustles and plays hard every day. He’s been a big addition.”
Earlier this season, Nationals manager Frank Robinson tipped his cap to Carroll, a player Robinson liked but couldn’t find room to play.
“I always thought he could be an everyday player if had the chance,” Robinson said. “That opportunity just wasn’t available here because of Jose Vidro.”
Vidro’s numbers – a .303 average, .361 on-base percentage, 32 RBIs, 15 doubles, five homers – are impressive. But Vidro is making $7 million this season, compared with Carroll’s $700,000 salary that doesn’t include incentives. No matter, Carroll would run out every groundball – even if he made $25.6 million a year, a la the New York Yankees’ Alex Rodri- guez.
“I remember the first week I got called up to the major leagues, and I got a couple of hits on groundballs by running them out,” Carroll said. “I don’t know if guys were surprised or what, but I got a couple of hits that way. I’ve always thought that the one time I don’t run it out is the one time a guy drops one, and that’s the last thing I would ever want. Besides, it’s part of the game. You run hard until you are out.”
Staff writer Patrick Saunderscan be reached at 303-820-5459 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
