Tucson – Back on a cold, snowy January day, Rockies manager Clint Hurdle sounded like a NASCAR owner.
His assessment of the upcoming season was sprinkled with phrases like “we’ve got speed, we need to push it.” He talked about the necessity of the offense to “open things up.” He said it was time to “crank it up and go.”
With camp breaking a week from today, how does Hurdle assess the Rockies’ running game?
“I’m extremely pleased with what I’ve seen in spring training, but we have to carry that momentum into the season,” Hurdle said Wednesday after the Rockies lost 7-4 to the Mariners.
The poster boys for Colorado’s emphasis on speed are center fielder Willy Taveras and second baseman Kaz Matsui.
Taveras has stolen eight bases in nine attempts and scored 14 runs in 12 games. Hurdle says Taveras has a green light, but will “get a red light on occasion.”
Taveras stole 33 bases for the Astros last season, but Hurdle believes the best is yet to come.
“I think he’s growing with his instincts, but he just needs the experience to go with it,” Hurdle said.
Matsui, back in the lineup after recovering from a strained left foot, was 3-for-4 and stole his fourth base.
“He looked good out there today,” Hurdle said. “He’s been more aggressive on the bases this spring for us. It’s fun to see.”
Fogg makes statement
Right-hander Josh Fogg knows he’s battling Byung-Hyun Kim and Brian Lawrence for the fifth-starter job. He’s aware that trade rumors are swirling. No matter, he just goes out and pitches.
“You can’t get caught up in the latest speculation because you can’t control it,” he said. “The numbers pan out here that there are too many pitchers for two few spots. Whether they make a trade, or whatever they decide to do, I can’t control. So I’m getting ready to pitch in April. Hopefully it’s here, but if not, hopefully it’s somewhere else.”
Wednesday’s 5 2/3 innings of work was vintage Fogg. He gave up three runs on five hits and wiggled out of jams. He retired 12 straight batters at one point and left the mound with a 4-3 lead. That’s not unusual. Fogg’s record was 11-9 last year and the Rockies were 16-15 in games he started.
Fogg has earned the reputation as a bulldog who fights out of tough spots, but Hurdle would like to see him get better at making in-game adjustments.
“He needs to be able to do that more consistently to be the type of pitcher he thinks he can be, and we think he can be,” Hurdle said. “That’s one of the things that has held him back at times.”
Kim wants to start
Kim remains the subject of trade talks with teams that would be interested in using him out of the bullpen. But Kim said Wednesday he’s not yet ready to become a reliever.
“I am still a starting pitcher, for now,” he said. “I want to be a starter.”
Footnotes
Lefty Tom Martin, hoping to nail down a spot in the bullpen, gave up two runs on two hits (including a homer) in two-thirds of an inning. He was charged with a blown save and his ERA is 17.18. “He needs to improve his fastball command,” Hurdle said. … Todd Helton went 2-for-2 with an RBI, hiking his average to .484. … Kim is scheduled to start today’s game against Milwaukee. The Brewers will start right-hander Carlos Villanueva.
Patrick Saunderscan be reached at 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
