Toronto – A sweep of the Yankees brought dangerous affection, a last-call romance. The hangover brought a headache and some perspective.
Based on what e-mails, neighbors and friends are saying, fans want to embrace this Rockies team. They want to invest fully. Cards. Flowers. Text messages. Game tickets.
And yet, there’s trepidation, genuine concern that the Rockies are just good enough to break their hearts. This fear is not unfounded, especially after consecutive losses to the Blue Jays. The purple bandwagon is making frequent stops across Colorado these days, but is it too much to ask to have a seat with an air bag?
The Rockies were in a similar position last season, tied for first place in the National League West at the all-star break. Then they staged their July dive (10-16) and August sink (11-17).
There was a rational explanation. The Rockies, by their own admission, didn’t properly handle high expectations. They pressed, and the harder they tried the worse they became. After a winless August road trip through New York and Milwaukee, their playoff hopes went the way of the Pet Rock.
Problem is the Rockies are 161-220 in July and 179-204 in August in franchise history. It’s not just a last-year thing. The summer bummer must be conquered before people start naming their babies Matt, Francis and Willy.
“We didn’t play well last year after the all-star break. But we are a better team,” said outfielder Brad Hawpe, who has entered the conversation for a reserve all-star berth. “You used to look at us and say, ‘They need help at two or three positions.’ That’s not the case anymore. We have better players. We are a better team than last season.”
Hawpe has a point. Jamey Carroll hit .300 a year ago and has spent the past three months in the witness protection program because of Kazuo Matsui’s brilliance. Cory Sullivan, one of the game’s best defensive outfielders, hasn’t sniffed the starting lineup. And any team that can post a 3.28 ERA during a 27-game stretch as the Rockies have done is begging to be taken seriously.
And yet, there are fresh scars from last season and in 2002, and, well, you get the idea. Besides the Rockies play 19 of their next 24 games on the road. The last two months are also stuffed with visits to the West Coast, where teams have traditionally treated the Rockies like piñatas.
Consider this the flirting period. More trust must be earned.
If the Rockies are in this same position come August, fans might be hitched. Or at least in a serious relationship.
“I absolutely think we are going to stick around,” fearless shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. “We are a good team. We have to just keep proving it.”
Bear trap
The Cubs aren’t a team, they are a reality show, full of drama.
Catcher Michael Barrett’s quick exit – Jacque Jones could be gone this week as well – illustrate the tension and dissatisfaction. Barrett is a 20-home run, 70-RBI catcher and was traded for a light-hitting backup journeyman in Rob Bowen. This trade only makes sense when peeking behind the drapes.
Even before Barrett got into his well-publicized fight with pitcher Carlos Zambrano, he met privately with manager Lou Piniella. He told the boss players were frustrated at being thrown under the bus, that they didn’t know their roles. It was meant to be constructive. It’s easy to connect the dots all the way to San Diego to know Piniella didn’t think much of Barrett’s opinion.
General manager Jim Hendry would have been better off telling Piniella to deal with Barrett for three weeks while he cultivated interest. Now, San Diego and Texas are among the suitors for Jones. As the roster continues to evolve in Chicago, it makes you wonder how long before Hendry and Piniella butt heads.
Girardi makes right call
All signs pointed toward Joe Girardi taking over the Orioles. He’s the hottest managerial candidate, and Andy MacPhail, who has Cubs connections to Girardi, is a new powerman in Baltimore’s front office. Girardi wisely turned Baltimore down. He said it was because of his family.
OK. That’s his story. Here’s mine: Girardi obviously knows that Peter Angelos is a meddlesome owner. He knows how hard it is to win in the American League East, where everyone plays the role of JV to Red Sox and Yankees. And he knows that his style and smarts are better suited to the National League, where there could be a handful of openings this offseason.
Footnotes
While Troy Glaus going back to the Angels makes a lot of sense, it has no legs. Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi said the Angels haven’t been calling about his third baseman. Furthermore, he’s not looking to move him. … The Reds are quickly becoming the epicenter of trade rumors. There’s growing speculation Ken Griffey Jr. or Adam Dunn or both will be traded. Dunn’s contract complicates matters because he can soon become a free agent….White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye could be a fit for any number of NL West teams, primarily the Dodgers. … The Yankees are trolling for a first baseman, which is why Mark Teixeira’s situation must be watched closely. The Dodgers have long had interest in Teixeira as well….Asked agent Scott Boras if he thought Alex Rodriguez could top his $252 million contract if he opts out and becomes a free agent. He just smiled. It’s a foregone conclusion A-Rod is going to walk away from the $81 million remaining on his deal so he can hit the open market….The Indians’ Travis Hafner and Philadelphia’s Pat Burrell, two important sluggers to their teams’ playoff chances, remain mired in slumps.
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
EYE ON …
DAISUKE MATSUZAKA, RHP, BOSTON RED SOX
Background: Has it really been seven months since the 26-year-old did the impossible, creating a frenzy in the sleepy, sandals-required city of Naples, Fla.? The Red Sox won the highest posting bid – $51.11 million – and, coupled with his contract, paid $103 million for Dice-K. The outrageousness of the process has prompted Major League Baseball to consider modifying the posting system for Japanese players.
What’s up: Matsuzaka is a work in progress. Not in an Etch-A-Sketch, but a Mona Lisa kind of way. He owns an 9-5 record, equaling his loss total in Japan last season, with a 4.01 ERA. That’s not going to earn him an all-star berth. But he has helped validate Boston’s decision to reshape its roster around pitching. Given Curt Schilling’s tender shoulder – confession: Not in the deepest recess of my subconscious did I think he could have been sore when Brad Hawpe took him deep at Fenway Park – Matsuzaka’s acquisition grows in importance. Said Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein: “He’s still making adjustments. I am really happy we are going to have him for the next six years. We didn’t expect him to win the Cy Young his first year.”
What’s next: Matsuzaka continues to ease into his surroundings, adapting to a new country and a new routine. He is throwing every fifth day instead of every sixth day as in Japan. The arrival of his former Seibu Lions manager Osamu Higashio in the past week began what could be a long hot streak. Higashio helped correct Matsuzaka’s release point, and he allowed one run in his next two outings.
Renck’s take: After seeing the Red Sox and Yankees the past week, this much is certain: Boston wisely passed on Roger Clemens. I’d be a lot more comfortable winning the bidding for a 26-year-old than a 44-year-old, six-inning warhorse. Matsuzaka hasn’t been a phenomenon like Hideo Nomo. But he will have a better career. His ability to throw a variety of pitches in all counts will lead to 16 wins this season for a playoff team.
AT ISSUE
SOSA’S BLAST TRIGGERS HALL OF FAME DEBATE
What: Sammy Sosa clubbed his 600th home run Wednesday, only the fifth player in major-league history to reach that threshold. No sooner had the souvenir landed in the stands did the debate start over whether Sosa belongs in the Hall of Fame.
Background: If baseball were “Pleasantville” – would that make Reese Witherspoon commissioner? – there would be no discussion. Sosa would be a lock. He has three of baseball’s eight 60-home run seasons, owns the third-highest single-season total (66) and returned after a year layoff to provide a dangerous bat for the Texas Rangers. With Sosa riding shotgun, Mark McGwire is credited for saving baseball with his 1998 assault of Roger Maris’ home run record. Sosa put a smile on that historic march. That chase links them today for entirely different reasons. Both bulky men withered in front of Congress. McGwire wouldn’t discuss the past, and Sosa forgot how to speak English.
Renck’s take: Hall of Fame voters punished McGwire last winter like he did baseballs, soundly rejecting his bid (he received 23.5 percent of a necessary 75 percent for admission). There is a subtle difference between Sosa and McGwire. The most damning evidence against Sosa is his changing appearance. Unlike McGwire, he has never admitted to taking andro or been accused by former dealers and teammates (see Jose Canseco) of using steroids. This is where voters get put in a difficult spot, playing judge and jury with only anecdotal evidence. I will be voting when Sosa’s eligible and will be inclined to vote for him, Houston manager Phil Garner’s words resonating with me: “To say because he didn’t testify to the point we would have liked him to, therefore he’s guilty, to me that’s not a good enough standard.”
THE RISE AND FALL
ROCKIES FLYING HIGH AFTER SWEET SWEEP
THREE UP
1. Rockies: Starters compiled a 1.83 ERA in memorable brooming of Yankees.
2. Brewers: Prince Fielder’s hits disappear into stands; Ben Sheets’ curveball vanishes into a mitt.
3. Tigers: Gary Sheffield deserves all-star consideration with home run surge.
THREE DOWN
1. Yankees: Yankees of old, look like old Yankees. Postseason a reach at this point.
2. Mets: Spent the past week throwing mitts and offering an exchange of perplexed looks.
3. White Sox: Went 9-22 after last playing the Cubs; manager calls team a “joke.”
