SAN DIEGO — Baseball is rooted in statistics.
So fittingly, a player can display his greatest respect with a number. When the Rockies face San Diego tonight, three Rockies — Willy Taveras, Yorvit Torrealba and Matt Her-ges — will wear No. 42 to honor the anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier.
Taveras’ connection to Robinson grew stronger during the offseason. At his wife’s behest, he began researching Robinson’s career and life. He was awed by Robinson’s courage and determination.
“I consider myself a good Christian, but I don’t think I could have endured what he did,” Taveras said. “It was unbelievable. If it wasn’t for him, someone of my skin color might not be playing now.”
Nine full teams will have players don No. 42. Tony Clark, Scott Hairston and Callix Crabbe will represent the Padres. For Taveras, this won’t be a one-time event.
“It’s something I will do every year,” Taveras said. “I will keep the jersey and frame it. Just looking at it will remind me of how thankful I should be.”
Rematch arrives.
For the first time since the Rockies crushed the Padres’ postseason dreams in the National League wild-card tiebreaker game, Colorado faces San Diego. The Rockies are expecting a smattering of boos, but no seething hatred. This is, after all, the land of tan lines and fish tacos, not venom.
“I didn’t make the call that I was safe,” said Matt Holliday, referring to “The Slide” that gave Colorado a 9-8, 13th-inning victory. “I don’t know why they would take it out on me.”
First baseman Todd Helton has said the tiebreaker would be considered one of baseball’s greatest games ever had it been played on the East Coast. So did he go back and watch it during the offseason? “No,” he said. “I don’t think I have ever watched an entire baseball game in my life.”
Footnotes.
Holliday won National League player of the week honors Monday after hitting .480 with 10 RBIs. . . . Clint Barmes is likely to start at second base tonight after registering five hits in his past two games. “I would be surprised if he wasn’t in there given the way he’s swinging,” third baseman Garrett Atkins said. . . . The Padres expect Brian Giles to return tonight and hit leadoff after not starting the previous two games because of an abdominal injury.
By Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
TODAY: Rockies at Padres, 8:05 p.m., FSN
Grip. It is how a pitcher can put a hitter into a vise. “I really like pitching in San Diego because I get a great grip on the ball,” said Rockies right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (1-1, 4.91 ERA). That means Jimenez should have a better curveball tonight. He struck out nine Padres in his one outing at Petco Park a year ago, the most K’s he has ever had in a visiting ballpark. The Padres’ best hitter, Adrian Gonzalez, is 1-for-6 against Jimenez, with three strikeouts. Left-hander Randy Wolf (0-0, 2.25), finally healthy, has been a pleasant surprise for the Padres.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Wednesday: Rockies’ Mark Redman (1-1, 5.06 ERA) vs. Padres’ Justin Germano (0-0, 0.00), 8:05 p.m., FSN
Thursday: Rockies’ Jeff Francis (0-2, 9.53) vs. Padres’ Jake Peavy (3-0, 1.64), 8:05 p.m., FSN
Friday: Rockies’ Franklin Morales (0-1, 6.30) vs. Astros’ Brandon Backe (1-1, 2.25), 6:05 p.m., FSN
Saturday: Rockies’ Aaron Cook (1-1, 3.79) vs. Astros’ Wandy Rodriguez (1-0, 2.33), 5:05 p.m., FSN
