For Matt Holliday, optional became recreational. As his teammates practiced at Coors Field on Friday, the Rockies’ slugger took batting practice in the indoor cage.
“It was fine,” said Holliday, knowing his lack of presence would create interest in his strained left oblique muscle.
Holliday surfaced in the middle of the workout, walking up the dugout stairs with his son Jackson. Jackson was decked out in a youth version of his dad’s 2007 all-star jersey and wearing oversized purple and black batting gloves. Holliday spent some time tossing him a ball.
Rockies trainer Keith Dugger confirmed Holliday was merely taking advantage of the light workout. For all the hand-wringing about Holliday’s oblique, it has not affected his power. He went 3-for-9 with two home runs in the first two games and also smoked a foul ball that exited Citizens Bank Park.
Holliday has six home runs in six games in Philadelphia this season. If the Rockies win Saturday, he won’t return there until August 2008.
Field of dreams. Groundskeeper Mark Razum’s allegiance is to the Rockies, his time devoted to Coors Field. Still, he has special appreciation for the Phillies. On July 8, a wicked rain and wind storm whipped the tarp around the field in Denver, trapping two members of Razum’s crew underneath the plastic for around two minutes. The Phillies players, including Shane Victorino and Ryan Howard, came out and threw sandbags down to stabilize the tarp.
Razum said he was worried for the safety of his crew.
“You have two layers of plastic on you for that long, it’s not easy to breathe,” Razum said. “The (Phillies) stepped up and acted as good Samaritans. It meant a lot for them to do that.”
Pitching progress. Aaron Cook threw a four-inning simulated game Friday in Tucson, reaching 75 pitches. Cook hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since losing to the Cubs on Aug. 10, sidelined with a strained oblique muscle. Cook predicted he would be ready if the team advanced to the National League Championship Series. The issue is whether he will be too rusty, no small factor in deciding whether to add him to the roster.
Jason Hirsh, out since July with a broken right fibula, threw a bullpen session and remains behind Cook. He’s a longshot to rejoin the team, but would give them an option in case of an injury.
Footnotes. Second baseman Kazuo Matsui, who needed only a single Thursday to become the first player in playoff history to hit for the cycle, didn’t hit on the field Friday. He only played light catch. Matsui missed nearly two weeks last month with a strained right hamstring. … Willy Taveras played in another game in Arizona, testing his strained quadriceps muscle. Manager Clint Hurdle wants Taveras at 100 percent before activating him, since the center fielder relies so heavily on his speed. … The Rockies posted a “Not Done!” message on the dry eraser board after their victory in Philadelphia. … Razum will not mow any special designs into the outfield grass – common in the playoffs. “I don’t want to do anything different. What we have done has worked,” he said. … There were 22 cases of Domaine Ste. Michelle champagne stacked up outside the Rockies’ clubhouse Friday, ready to be opened if the team advances to the NLCS this weekend. … The hallway leading to the Rockies’ clubhouse still smelled of champagne from last week’s celebration.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
