TUCSON — Jim Tracy is Clint Hurdle’s right-hand man in the dugout, but he doesn’t consider himself the Rockies’ manager-in-waiting.
“When I got the offer, the thing that was really most important to me was that the first phone call I got came from Clint,” Tracy said. “That was the most important sign to me that this manager wants me to sit next to him and be another set of eyes and ears. He wants me to be a suggestion-maker.”
When the Rockies hired Tracy as their new bench coach in November, replacing player-favorite Jamie Quirk, there was immediate speculation that Tracy was lined up to replace Hurdle, should the Rockies stumble out of the gate. And while general manager Dan O’Dowd covets Tracy’s in-game expertise, O’Dowd predicts Tracy and Hurdle will create a good baseball marriage.
“Jim is analytical and has a great understanding how to use the bullpen, specifically late in the game,” O’Dowd said. “He brings in a view of the game that will complement Clint very well.”
Hurdle notes one area in particular where he believes Tracy can improve the team.
“Jim has a very good feel for the running game,” Hurdle said. “That’s one of his strengths, definitely.”
As manager of the Dodgers and Pirates, Tracy compiled a 562-572 record (.496). He had a 427-383 record in five seasons with the Dodgers and led them to the National League West title in 2004.
Though he was criticized in some quarters for a lack of leadership when he was a manager, few question his work ethic and preparedness.
“I pride myself on that,” Tracy said. “When I first started coaching in the majors under Felipe Alou, he stressed that I need to get to know the players, get to know their strengths and weakness, get to know them as people.”
That’s what Tracy is attempting to do in spring training.
“You must get yourself in a position to where, when the season starts, you aren’t asking a player to do something he’s not prepared to do,” Tracy said. “Because when you do that, failure is the probable outcome.”
While Hurdle remains the Rockies’ unquestioned on-field boss, Tracy has put his signature on a spring training that’s emphasized a back-to-basics approach. He’s done that with detailed reports in meetings and by working closely with catchers, teaching them how to control the opposition’s running game. He also stays busy charting tendencies of the Rockies and their opponents.
“He’s very positive and brings a lot of energy,” second baseman Clint Barmes said. “You look at the situational (drills) we’ve done this spring. It’s similar to what we’ve done, but now it’s explained down to the last detail. You’d think guys would know some of this stuff, but it never hurts to go back and revisit it.”
It also was Tracy’s idea to introduce a high-spirited game of “rag ball” early in camp that left the players holding their sides, bent over with laughter.
“When I came in, Dan and Clint told me, ‘If there are things you want to do to spice things up, then go for it,’ ” Tracy said. “To have that kind of freedom and trust and for them to let me have that kind of input, that was flattering to me.”
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
