PHILADELPHIA — There is no fiction in the friction the last time the Rockies and Phillies played.
Players were getting plunked. Matt Holliday got angry and went on a tear that pushed him into the MVP conversation. And it concluded with Antonio Alfonseca getting suspended for throwing a fastball at Todd Helton’s head.
But lost in the anger is a strong friendship. Garrett Atkins and Philadelphia’s Chase Utley are close friends. Both attended UCLA and Atkins served as the best man in Utley’s wedding last winter.
It required Atkins give a speech.
“He did fine,” said Utley when asked by The Denver Post in spring training.
Atkins said he was more nervous for that than any at-bat. The two train together in the offseason and Utley has been pushing Atkins for national recognition since the 2006 All-Star break. Asked two weeks ago about Atkins’ offensive revival – he finished at .301 after being at .232 in June – Utley wasn’t surprised.
“He’s a great hitter. I know what he’s capable of doing,” Utley said.
Footnotes
Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd admitted that it’s unlikely that outfielder Willy Taveras (right quad) would be available for the NLDS, but possibly the NLCS if the Rockies advanced. Pitchers Jason Hirsh and Aaron flew to Tucson today to throw in practice games in hopes of being available if the Rockies advance to the National Championship Series. …
The Phillies left Adam Eaton off their roster. That’s now what was expected from their $24.5 million offseason investment. Eaton has struggled and barely kept his spot in the rotation over the past month. The Phillies will go with Cole Hamels, Kyle Kendrick and Kyle Lohse. Said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, “I had a woman write me and say I had a love-hate relationship with Hamels. I said, ‘well I love him when he pitches well. So he can hate me if he wants.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
