Colorado Springs – Manager Clint Hurdle has a problem. Not a bad problem, necessarily, but a sizable one.
When the Rockies open their season Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field, outfielder Steve Finley, catcher Yorvit Torrealba and utilitymen John Mabry, Jeff Baker and Jamey Carroll will be prowling the dugout, waiting impatiently for their turn at bat.
It’s up to Hurdle to find ways to get those players off the bench and onto the diamond. That’s especially true for Carroll, the multifaceted infielder.
As the Rockies’ everyday second baseman in 2006, Carroll enjoyed a career year, batting .300 and leading National League second basemen with a .995 fielding percentage. Now he finds himself backing up Kaz Matsui at second.
One of the most popular players in the Rockies’ clubhouse, Carroll expresses faith that he will get the playing time and at-bats he needs to contribute and stay sharp.
“That’s something I can’t worry about. I have to trust them,” he said Friday as the Rockies wound up their exhibition season with a 5-3 loss against the Triple-A Sky Sox in Colorado Springs. “I’ve been in this position before, as far as being a utility guy and getting myself ready to play. I know how to do it. Plus, I think having a year like I did last year only adds to my confidence. I know I can do the job whether it’s at second, short or third.”
History says Carroll also will produce at the plate. He hit .429 in 14 pinch- hit at-bats last season and is a .265 pinch hitter with a .440 on-base percentage in 81 career at-bats.
A journeyman major-leaguer himself, Hurdle empathizes with Carroll and the other role players. In 1986, for example, Hurdle started 40 games for the St. Louis Cardinals, playing five positions.
“The only way you are going to be productive off the bench is to stay ready and stay sharp,” Hurdle said. “I’ve been in that role when I wasn’t used and I had to try to do some things cold coming off the bench.
“It’s tough. It’s challenging enough coming off the bench, in and of itself, so we need to find ways to keep those guys sharp. We are going to have to be creative.”
Compared to last season, the Rockies have quality depth. They opened 2006 with outfielder Choo Freeman, utilitymen Eli Marrero and Jorge Piedra, Torrealba and Carroll (before he became a starter) coming off the bench.
Though faces changed throughout the season, bench production remained poor. The Rockies’ pinch hitters, productive in previous years, batted just .214 with six home runs and 22 RBIs. The average ranked 12th in the National League and was third lowest in club history.
The Rockies believe this year will be different. Mabry, a left-handed bat off the bench, is healthy after suffering through a trying 2006 season with the Chicago Cubs when he hit a career- worst .205. He is a .398 hitter in 123 at-bats at Coors Field.
Though he is 42, Finley still can motor. And he is comfortable playing all three outfield positions.
Baker is the most intriguing role player off all.
“Baker can come off the bench and change the game with one swing of his bat,” Carroll said.
In a September to remember, Baker hit .368 with five home runs and 21 RBIs in 18 games. Baker has batted .306 with 56 homers and 277 RBIs in 355 minor- league games. Now he will give the Rockies occasional starts in the corner infield and outfield positions. Though he lacks experience as a pinch hitter, he also could be a right-handed option late in games.
“I think I can be a power bat off the bench,” Baker said. “But I think we’ve got a lot of talent there. I mean, you look at guys like Finley and Carroll, and they could be starting for other teams. When Clint goes to us, he’s not losing anything.”
Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
