Judging by his rehab numbers, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki’s expected return to the Rockies’ lineup tonight should pump even more life into their offense.
Manager Clint Hurdle, however, cautioned that Tulo remains a work in progress. Reports that Hurdle received from Tulsa Drillers batting coach Dave Hajek said Tulowitzki still has kinks in his swing.
“He’s working with his alignment a little bit as far as his setup at the plate,” Hurdle said. “We’ve got to get him in a better position to hit. That’s the bottom line.”
Saturday night, Tulowitzki went 3-for-5 for the Double-A Drillers, hitting his second homer in two games. In his first four rehab games, he hit .438, going 7-for-16.
Hurdle said Tulowitzki’s lacerated right palm has fully healed, adding that Tulo has worked “extremely hard.” But with Clint Barmes and Jeff Baker swinging hot bats and the team playing well, Hurdle is in no rush to say Tulowitzki is the everyday shortstop.
Asked if he’ll rest Tulowitzki more than he has in the past, Hurdle said, “I think we’ll make that judgment as we go forward, but I’m going to keep everybody in play.”
Tulowitzki, coming back from his second stint on the disabled list, is hitting .166 this season.
Versatile Cook.
Staff ace Aaron Cook, now 12-6, prides himself on being more than a pitcher.
“I’ve tried to do everything well ever since I was in Little League,” he said.
He showed off many of his skills Sunday, recording a sacrifice bunt in the fifth and another in the sixth. Coming into the game, Cook was tied with Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster for the National League lead with 11 sacrifice bunts.
Cook also excelled in the field, snaring a wicked line drive in the second and making a beautiful play on a slow roller down the third-base line in the fourth.
“He’s become a complete pitcher,” Hurdle said. “Handling the bat, I don’t know if there is anybody better than him right now. He’s probably started as many 1-6-3 double plays as anybody in the league. He’s a good athlete.”
Footnotes.
Sunday marked just the fifth time this season the Rockies rallied to win after being at least three runs down. . . . Jeff Francis (shoulder) will throw at least two rehab starts before he rejoins the Rockies. . . . Chris Iannetta continued his clutch hitting, slugging a two-out RBI double in the fourth. The catcher is hitting .462 (12-for-26) with runners in scoring position and two outs.
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
