San Francisco – When Rockies all-star Brian Fuentes jogged into left field Tuesday night at AT&T Park, his glove was merely decoration.
Fuentes will start his throwing program today at Coors Field to determine whether a stint on the disabled list is necessary.
“I am not on the DL now, but they will reassess and go from there,” said Fuentes, who last pitched July 3 against the New York Mets before straining the lat muscle under his left arm.
The Rockies will have a formal workout Thursday before flying to Milwaukee, the first leg in a three-city, 10-game road trip. If Fuentes, who lost his closer job after blowing four consecutive saves, isn’t deemed healthy enough to leave with the team, he likely will go on the disabled list.
Rockies manager Clint Hurdle and pitching coach Bob Apodaca believe Fuentes eventually will return to the closer role. He was serving as a setup man for the committee of Manny Corpas and Jorge Julio before his injury.
Praise for Tulo
Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki planned to attend the All-Star Game with his father. He hasn’t stopped being a fan, New York Yankees all-star shortstop Derek Jeter ranking as his favorite player.
Jeter came away impressed with Tulowitzki during the Rockies’ sweep of the Yankees.
“He looked good. And I saw that he had some huge hits that following week,” Jeter said Tuesday. “The key now is to do it for a full season. This game is all about consistency.”
Pujols not happy
Albert Pujols was angry about being left on the all-star bench and the St. Louis slugger took aim at the NL manager – who just happened to be Tony La Russa of his own Cardinals.
“It’s the All-Star Game. He can do what he wants,” Pujols said. “He does whatever he wants. If I wasn’t expecting to play, I wouldn’t have come up here.”
Pujols said La Russa didn’t talk to him the entire game.
“If he wants to get upset, he can get upset,” La Russa said.
Pujols and Texas shortstop Michael Young – last year’s All-Star Game MVP – were the only position players who didn’t get into the game.
Growing profile
Matt Holliday’s profile practically grew before the Rockies’ eyes Monday as he competed in the Home Run Derby.
Holliday, who has been excused from the Rockies’ workout Thursday, finished third and received countless text messages from teammates commending his performance.
“I thought he was going to hit a ball into that glove (in left field),” said the Giants’ Mark Sweeney, a former teammate.
Holliday was a popular figure among the media Tuesday.
Footnotes
Talk among agents and scouts this week is that the Rockies need another starting pitcher and a reliever. General manager Dan O’Dowd said he would look for help from within for a starter – Taylor Buchholz will join the rotation for injured Jason Hirsh, and Ubaldo Jimenez remains a potential option. … The Mariners agreed in principle on a five-year, $100 million deal with Ichiro Suzuki, according to The Seattle Times. Suzuki’s inside-the-park home run in the fifth inning Tuesday was the first in All-Star Game history. … The Home Run Derby received a 5.1 rating (estimated 6.8 million viewers) on ESPN, down 6 percent from 2006.
All-Star Game recap
Suzuki finds his way home without leaving ballpark
KEY MOMENT: Seattle Mariners center fielder Ichiro Suzuki blasted a flyball off the right-field fence in the fifth inning. It ricocheted off the wall away from Ken Griffey Jr. as Suzuki raced around the bases for the first inside-the-park home run in the game’s history.
TOUGH LUCK: San Diego’s Chris Young, a final addition to the NL team through online last-man balloting, was Suzuki’s victim. At least he got into the game. Brandon Webb and Roy Oswalt were among those who never walked between the lines.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Barry Bonds’ at-bats were tributes, greeted with roars. After flying out to shallow right field in his first at-bat, Bonds, the NL’s No. 2 hitter, considered bunting before lining a fastball to the left-field warning track for an out.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
