This is what Clint Hurdle had to say about Troy Tulowitzki: “I got to watch Ozzie Smith play shortstop, I watched Freddie Patek play shortstop, and this kid can play. He plays it aggressively, he plays it to win, he’s not afraid to take a chance.”
Keep in mind Hurdle said all of that before Sunday’s game in which Tulowitzki turned the 13th unassisted triple play in major-league history, saved a run by gunning down Atlanta’s Andruw Jones at the plate and totaled seven putouts and seven assists.
“I’ve always been pretty aggressive, defensively and at the plate,” Tulowitzki said. “That’s the way I’ve been taught to play the game. I’ve been successful so far. Sometimes I think it does hurt me; maybe I get too amped up, too excited. But I’ve always liked guys who play all-out all the time.”
In a number of ways, Tulowitzki’s weekend series against the Braves was a coming-out party. He hit home runs in each of the first two games and hit a two-run triple in the second inning Sunday. He has hits in eight of his past 11 games, raising his average from .162 to .205.
Revolving bullpen
Right-hander Denny Bautista arrived just in time.
Called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Sunday morning, he pitched a scoreless 11th inning of the Rockies’ 9-7 victory and earned the “W.” To make room for Bautista, the Rockies optioned Ryan Speier back to Colorado Springs.
After the game, right-handed pitcher Bobby Keppel was designated for assignment, replaced by Triple-A right-hander Alberto Arias, who became the 19th pitcher on the Rockies’ staff this season. The Rockies have 10 days to trade, release or outright Keppel to the minor leagues.
“We’re trying to take some inventory right now,” Hurdle said. “It’s very critical that we get the best arms that we can down in the bullpen here for this stretch of games with Ramon Ramirez out. We’ve looked at some people, and we’ll continue to take inventory.”
Speier struggled in three appearances with the Rockies, giving up four runs in 2 1/3 innings of relief work, going 0-1 with a 15.43 ERA.
Bautista throws a mid-to-upper-90s fastball, but he’s still learning to harness it. He’ll be used in short relief.
“I think I tried to throw too hard in spring training,” he said. “The coaches (in Colorado Springs) wanted me to work more on movement and location.”
Doing rehab
Ramirez, one of Colorado’s most effective relievers before going on the disabled list on April 18 with a strained right elbow, threw a bullpen session Sunday. And starter Rodrigo Lopez threw for the first time, tossing the ball from about 50 feet. Hurdle expects Ramirez will return before Lopez, saying: “Rodrigo’s not close. We don’t have a throwing plan mapped out for him yet.”
Second baseman Kaz Matsui (back spasms) is playing catch and lightly swinging the bat, but he’s not running yet.
