Catch the daily spring training roundup each afternoon from Rockies beat writers Troy E. Renck and Patrick Saunders in Tucson. You’ll find insider information on players and what the team is working on as they get ready for the 2007 season. Check every afternoon for the Rockies Rundown.
Inside the game
There’s a good reason why shortstop Troy Tulowitzki often finds himself batting eighth this spring. Tulowitzki is an aggressive hitter and was a free swinger in the minors. The Rockies believe slotting him one spot ahead of the pitcher will make him a smarter hitter.
“I think it might benefit me,” Tulowitzki said. “Last year in Double-A (Tulsa) I hit leadoff and I saw some big improvement, discipline-wise, by just trying to get on base. So I think this will make me more disciplined.”
Former Rockies third baseman Vinny Castilla, another aggressive hitter, batted eighth early in his career with the Braves. It paid off later when he moved up in the order and became a full-fledged slugger with the Rockies. In 1998 he hit .319 with 46 homers and 144 RBIs.
“They can throw junk at you, especially with two outs, because they know they have the pitcher coming up behind you,” Castilla said. “It helped me become more selective. But you have to be smart, too. Because sometimes you think they’re going to pitch around you and they put one right down the middle.”
By the numbers: .462
That’s the batting average for both Garrett Atkins and Matt Holliday. Each slugger is 6-for-13 with four RBIs. Both got today off.
The desert scene
Fans roasting this afternoon at Hi Corbett Field slathered on the sunscreen to protect noses and pasty thighs as they watched the Rockies host the Brewers. The game-time temperature was 89 degrees. The corresponding temperature in Denver was 62 degrees and it was a balmy 25 in Milwaukee.
Talkin’ baseball
Cement mixer – A hanging slider that sits above the plate and spins, inviting the hitter to knock it out of the park.
Quotable
“I was not even close.”
— Starting pitcher Josh Fogg, after giving up three runs on six hits — including four doubles — in three innings today against the Brewers.
