SAN FRANCISCO — While disputing the notion that teammates didn’t hold one another accountable, two cornerstone Rockies players — shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and pitcher Aaron Cook — predicted Thursday that the team would be open to a firmer managerial style from Clint Hurdle.
General manager Dan O’Dowd has indicated that Hurdle must be open to change if he’s to lead the Rockies next season.
“They should make changes. This shouldn’t be acceptable, playing like this and losing all these games,” Tulowitzki said. “Hopefully we will find out what it is soon. If they want (Hurdle) to run a tighter ship, then that’s fine. Guys will listen. The good thing about this game (is) if guys don’t listen, they aren’t going to be here very long. Everybody knows that.”
Cook is the Rockies’ second-longest tenured player behind Todd Helton, and has evolved into a respected leader in the clubhouse. He praised Hurdle for his open-door policy and communication skills. Hurdle made a conscious effort to tone down before the 2007 season and ultimately loosened up completely when the Rockies started winning that May. So how would it go over if he reinvents himself with a firmer fist?
“Anytime you have a leader, there’s always a respect factor. If (O’Dowd) wants things run differently, we will have to respect that,” Cook said. “I think Clint will take us in the direction he feels it needs to go. If we aren’t executing and he needs to jump our backs and wants to throw fines out, he’s going to do it to get us to that next level. And really, if we start winning, it doesn’t matter how the ship is run.”
Hurdle is scheduled to meet with O’Dowd in a few weeks, an annual season review that has taken on added importance because of the team’s 73-85 record following its first-ever World Series appearance.
Hurdle declined to discuss specifics but confirmed that he plans to make adjustments.
“The last thing you ever want to do is not treat men like men, and I will. But we need to adhere to the principles of the game. They have to be nonnegotiable,” Hurdle said. “I will talk with (O’Dowd) about all the streamlining and specifics.”
Hurdle has been told that he can’t firm up his coaching staff until he meets with O’Dowd. He interjected his own situation Thursday when asked about his beloved Lions’ firing of general manager Matt Millen earlier this week.
“We are dealing with issues here ourselves. When you have a bad season, sometimes bad things happen,” Hurdle said. “That’s the reality of sport. We all know that going in.”
Rockies players forged their personality last season in a collegiate atmosphere. They were a family, holding one another to high standards. That dynamic remained the same, both Cook and Tulowitzki insisted, and thus shouldn’t be blamed as a reason for the team’s fall from grace.
“We just didn’t play good baseball. I didn’t see anything in the locker room that needed to change,” Cook said. “Guys got off to a bad start and tried to do too much. But I would rather have that than guys not giving enough effort when things go bad.”
Added Tulowitzki: “I take a lot of the blame because I didn’t come to the field with the same upbeat attitude and personality when I struggled. But you don’t have young guys getting away with things in here. When you do things you shouldn’t, you get called out. We all believe in playing the game the right way. It just didn’t work out overall in the field. Not holding each other accountable was not the issue.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
Looking Ahead
For Jason Hirsh (0-0, 10.38 ERA), it was never supposed to happen like this. His rotator cuff strain in spring training was supposed to keep him out a few weeks. Now, he’s making his first big-league start this season with three games remaining. Hirsh has been challenged to have his best winter to put himself in position to compete for a rotation spot next year. Dan Haren (16-8, 3.27) has rediscovered his command after a brief slump. He’s lived up to the hype of the offseason trade. Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Upcoming Pitching Matchups
Saturday:
Rockies’ Glendon Rusch (5-5, 5.08 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks’ Brandon Webb (22-7, 3.24), 6:10 p.m., KTVD-Ch. 20
Sunday:
Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (12-12, 4.13) vs. Diamondbacks’ Randy Johnson (10-10, 4.11), 2:10 p.m., FSN
