PHOENIX — Leaders are like nicknames – they aren’t self-appointed. Even if you want to be the man, it’s the response by those around you that is the determining factor.
Troy Tulowitzki, who turned 23 on Wednesday, has slipped into the role with the Rockies. Manager Clint Hurdle said he has never seen a young player have this type of impact. The rookie shortstop influences a game with his tools and swagger, one of those rare players who makes his teammates better.
“He brings a very strong will to win every day, and I think that it has affected a lot of other players. It doesn’t surprise me, either,” Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “That’s why we brought him up when we did last year, because we wanted him to understand the speed of the game at this level and get comfortable with it so his intangibles would take over.”
Those were on full display in Thursday’s ugly seventh inning. Arizona catcher Chris Snyder had doubled and starter Jeff Francis hit 20-year-old Justin Upton on the knee with a 79-mph changeup. Upton glared at Francis as Tulowitzki was jogging to the mound to calm the pitcher down.
Tulowitzki took exception, yelling in Upton’s direction. Later, Upton’s illegal slide – “I am sure he was hoping to take me out,” Tulowitzki said – undermined a possible big inning, and fans showed their displeasure with the call by littering the field with debris.
Tulowitzki had no regrets about getting involved.
“It’s over, today is a new day, but I am definitely going to protect my pitchers anytime something like that happens,” Tulowitzki said.
Francis said he had no problem with Tulowitzki’s actions. Upton took a jab at the shortstop, saying he “apparently is their leader.” Tulowitzki made it clear he never thought Upton said anything to Francis. Upton’s extra elbow wasn’t necessary – second baseman Kazuo Matsui admitted later he had no play at first base.
“I know if it was me in that situation, I would have been happy to get on base,” said Tulowitzki, who blocked the bag on Chris Young’s slide attempt in the third inning Friday, producing an out. “It was a great opportunity for them to score, but it didn’t happen.”
