Tucson – From the gut-gnawing one-run losses to the white-knuckle moments with men on base, the Rockies have gleaned an invaluable lesson: It is time to run from their past.
During the past three seasons, the Rockies evolved from sluggers content to beat teams to death to youngsters asked to bunt them into submission. Colorado had 119 sacrifice bunts last year, 19 more than any team in baseball, in another last-place season.
With the acquisition of Willy Taveras and re-signing of Kaz Matsui, the Rockies are shedding their conservative approach for an open running attack.
“We want to play a freelance style of offense. I’d like to see us run as much as we possibly can,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “I believe (manager) Clint Hurdle is going to turn them loose.”
The idea the Rockies would turn into the offensive equivalent of Rush Limbaugh seemed preposterous for a team that plays half its games at Coors Field. But when the organization committed to a youth movement in 2004, the roster lacked speed.
The sacrifice bunts started and never stopped, with the Rockies leading the majors in that category (304) over the past three seasons. Hurdle this winter labeled the bunting a “function of our dysfunction.” Privately, ownership conveyed to Hurdle they wanted fewer bunts.
In Taveras, Matsui and Jamey Carroll – all of whom will leadoff this spring – Hurdle has the opportunity to take off the reins. The Rockies possess speed not seen since Juan Pierre, Tom Goodwin and Eric Young.
“I want these guys to have the freedom to swing the bat. An area where we can improve upon greatly is our baserunning,” Hurdle said. “We can make big, positive strides and close the gap on a lot of things with better baserunning across the board.”
In a word, Hurdle wants his team, and specifically the top of the lineup, to be aggressive. He will challenge them to change the team’s identity by taking more risks stealing bases and taking extra bases.
“Without a doubt that can be accomplished here,” said Carroll, who was tied for the team-high with 10 stolen bases last season. “If you get thrown out in a spring game, it’s not going to be on ESPN. This is the time for chances.”
No one figures to cut the brake lines more than Taveras. Surprisingly, he said he did not have a green light with the Houston Astros, which led to just 42 stolen-base attempts a season ago. There will be no restraint in Colorado.
“If I get 75 to 80 chances, I should steal 60 bases easy,” Taveras said. “I want to run every chance I get.”
The speed could have a trickle-down effect on the middle of the order. Batters probably will see more fastballs and get more opportunities with runners in scoring position.
“I know as a pitcher, when you have a guy like Jose Reyes, it’s on your mind that he’s going to go. You’d much rather have a team bunt – it’s like a sigh of relief,” starter Josh Fogg said. “Those are freebies. We’ve got guys now that should be able to run.”
The emphasis on baserunning is tied to an important statistic. The Rockies were 32-43 in games decided by two runs or less last season, fourth worst in baseball. Taking an extra base or swiping a base could steal a victory for a team trying for its first winning record since 2000.
“We are going to create the mind-set in spring training,” O’Dowd said. “We aren’t looking to put together a conservative offense this year.”
Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
