CHICAGO — Glendon Rusch barely drew a reaction. Glenallen Hill and Don Baylor received a splattering of applause. But when former Cub Jason Marquis was introduced, the boos were ear-piercing.
Marquis returns to Wrigley Field today as the enemy, though it will be hard to tell the difference. For reasons that are difficult to explain, the right-hander was a popular target for critics despite going 23-18 with a 4.57 ERA in two seasons with the Cubs. He was arguably baseball’s best fifth starter a year ago. And yet, Cubs fans never took to him.
“I don’t really think about it. They are going to say what they want and act like they want. I can’t control it,” Marquis said. “I know the kind of person I am, and the type of player I am. I am a big believer in proving people right who are behind me.”
Marquis introduced himself to Rockies fans last Friday with a terrific performance in the home opener. He wiggled out of jams with his bowling ball sinker, allowing just two runs in seven innings.
“He’s a competitor,” ace Aaron Cook said.
He’s also a heck of a hitter.
“Our lineup is full of tough outs, one through eight,” third baseman Garrett Atkins said, “and it’s one through nine when Marquis is in there.”
Footnotes.
First baseman Todd Helton has been one of the most dropped players in fantasy leagues this week, due to his slow start. While he won’t make excuses, the cold weather has not helped his surgically repaired back. It’s harder for him to get loose in cold weather. Helton has no extra-base hits in 20 at-bats. . . . Franklin Morales will start in Triple-A today in his bid to return to the rotation Tuesday against the Diamondbacks.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
