Jeff Francis is gone for the season and Clint Hurdle may soon follow him. But at least the Rockies have one thing going for them this spring: They don’t have Matt Holliday around to, you know, distract them.
That was, after all, the company spin after the salary dump heard ’round the Rockies. No less an authority than owner Charlie Monfort claimed that Holliday’s contract talks were a distraction to the team.
Right. That’s why the Rockies stunk up the stadium in 2008. It didn’t have anything to do with not throwing strikes and not hitting in the clutch. It was all about Holliday’s contract.
Sure it was. And Barry Bonds got those big muscles by drinking his milk as a kid.
Let’s not kid ourselves here. The Rockies can spin this any way they want, but they’re going to miss Holliday. A lot. They’re not the same team without him in the middle of their lineup.
Not that I’m questioning whether they can win without him. It’s spring training, brother, a time for optimism. The Rockies have yet to blow a save or kick away a W in the late innings. For all we know, they’re going to win the National League West.
But with their best player gone, I’ve got to see it to believe it.
Follow Jim Armstrong’s sports updates on The Jimmy Page during the week. And read his columns on Tuesdays and Thursdays at .
He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
