PHILADELPHIA – For starters, Matt Holliday will be starting. The Rockies’ strongest MVP candidate in a decade told The Denver Post on Tuesday that his bloodied chin, scratched-up left hand and woozy head were fine nearly 24 hours after the most famous slide in franchise history.
“I was dinged up a little bit. Just call it a little bell-ringing,” said Holliday, familiar with the term from his days as a high school quarterback. “I am fine. Don’t worry about me.”
Holliday found himself the focus of an endless loop of TV highlights Tuesday replaying his 13th-inning slide at home plate. A controversy mushroomed over whether Holliday touched the plate as he slid head-first into San Diego Padres catcher Michael Barrett, who was blocking the plate with his left foot.
Holliday isn’t sure if he did or not, but deferred to umpire Tim McClelland’s judgment.
“In watching the replays, it’s hard to tell whether I did or not. I don’t think it’s clear that the umpire should take any heat for it,” Holliday said. “I don’t see why it’s such a big fuss. Tim McClelland is one of the best umpires in the game. If he said I am safe, that’s good enough for me.”
McClelland’s pause before making the call has drawn criticism. He appeared to be waiting to see if Barrett had control of the ball. It sprung loose and Holliday never made an attempt to go back and touch the plate.
“Well, that wasn’t on purpose. I didn’t know where I was,” Holliday said.
Tale of the tape
Rockies’ and Phillies’ top sluggers:
ROCKIES Avg. 2B 3B HR RBI
Holliday .340 50 6 36 137
Helton .320 42 2 17 91
Atkins .301 35 1 25 111
Hawpe .291 33 4 29 116
Tulowitzki .291 33 5 24 99
PHILLIES Avg. 2B 3B HR RBI
Utley .332 48 5 22 103
Rowand .309 45 0 27 89
Rollins .296 38 20 30 94
Howard .268 26 0 47 136
