DETROIT — Crunch the Rockies’ numbers in search of an explanation for their 17-25 record, and a few things jump off the stats page.
Disappointing defense, for one, especially considering the back-to-basics boot camp the club ran during spring training.
The Rockies’ 27 errors put them on pace for 104 this season. In their gold-glove championship season of 2007, the Rockies committed just 68 errors and had a .989 fielding percentage, the best in major- league history.
The Rockies’ .983 fielding percentage going into Saturday’s game was tied for ninth in the National League.
“I would probably grade us out at a B-minus,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “Above average, but it’s not what we are capable of. We’ve had games where we have been stellar. And then we have had games where we have lacked execution — missed cutoff men and poor decisions throwing the ball have come into play.”
Hurdle discounted the idea that his frequent juggling of the lineup in search for a more potent offense has contributed to mediocre defense.
“The only two positions where we have had people who really weren’t familiar is at second base, maybe in (Ian) Stewart’s case,” Hurdle said. “And (Ryan) Spilborghs has played center field. So I don’t think that theory fits at all.”
Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who has committed just two errors this season, admitted defense has been hit and miss.
“I think we’ve been good defensively, overall, but the simple things we’ve been very bad at,” Tulowitzki said. “We haven’t been good on bunt plays, on first-to-third defense and on comebackers to pitchers. Things like that.”
Backing Atkins.
Though Garrett Atkins entered Saturday’s game hitting just .187 and had just three hits in his previous 44 at-bats, Hurdle used him as the designated hitter, and he went 1-for-4. Hurdle believes Atkins will eventually pull himself out of the ditch.
“He’s been very professional about it,” Hurdle said. “Every day before BP, he’s in the cages, working on it. We’ve talked about him rebooting the season. The mind-set needs to be about quality at-bats, and he’s working toward that.”
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
