When Clint Barmes was supplanted in the starting lineup last month by rookie sensation Troy Tulowitzki, Barmes didn’t pout or sulk.
His boss noticed.
“I think he’s been very professional,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “And if nothing else comes from this season, he’s shown the entire National League that he’s a major-league shortstop. Two years ago, not only media but people within the game had questions if he was anything more than a utilityman.”
Barmes, who started Wednesday, made it clear he still has a starter’s mentality. He also knows he must hit better if he want to be a contributor next season.
“I have nobody but myself to blame for how I have played this year,” he said. “But I believe that if I was hitting .250 or .260, we wouldn’t even be talking about this. I’d be starting and playing every day. It’s about me knowing it’s something I need to work on and me getting comfortable again.”
Barmes, 0-for-3 on Wednesday, is hitting just .221.
VINNY’S DAY: Popular third baseman Vinny Castilla, just 10 games away from retirement, will start Sunday’s game at Coors Field against the Braves. As part of the Rockies’ tribute to Castilla, they will be handing out T-shirts to fans Sunday. Tuesday, the team incorrectly announced that T-shirts would be handed out Saturday night.
FOOTNOTES: Giants slugger Barry Bonds’ run-scoring single in the eighth was the 1,923rd RBI of his career, moving him past Jimmie Foxx for seventh place all time. Reliever Tom Martin gave up two runs in a third of an inning, inflating his Coors Field ERA to 6.51, highest among Colorado relievers.
