TUCSON — A team without burning speed has quickly created a new mentality on the bases this spring.
Through 20 games, the Rockies have stolen 25 bases in 40 attempts, gone fearlessly from first to third and tagged on shallow flyballs, purposely redlining at every opportunity.
“It’s obvious that we are the most aggressive team on the field,” said third-base coach Rich Dauer, who has watched opponents attempt just 21 stolen bases. “The big thing is that you don’t want guys to stop on their own, that they go full- bore until they are stopped. If they don’t go, they will be in trouble. Their baserunning has been one of the best things about this spring.”
Colorado is not going to set off any photo radars, but manager Clint Hurdle has had players taking bigger leads and moving up on “dirtballs,” pitches that require a catcher to drop to his shin guards.
“We have a bunch of competitive guys. If one guy gets a stolen base or a good dirtball read, other guys want to,” said Ryan Spilborghs, who leads the team with four stolen bases. “Guys are like, ‘If Spilly can do it, I should be able to do it.’ ”
The Rockies lost their fastest (Willy Taveras) and best (Matt Holliday) baserunners over the winter. Taveras was cut and Holliday traded. Even if they were in camp, Spilborghs said there “would have been a new philosophy. We had to change.”
Rockies Recap
At the plate
Ian Stewart ended his minislump with a high, opposite-field solo homer in the fourth. He finished 3-for-4, hiking his average to .267.
On the mound
Starter Jason Marquis abandoned his new delivery after getting tagged for six runs, including two homers, in the first two innings. He went back to his old form in the fourth and fifth with better results.
Up next
The Rockies face the Rangers in Surprise. Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
