Matt Holliday is meticulous, a man of routines from batting practice to his workouts.
So perhaps it should come as no surprise that moving from the Rockies to the Athletics, with the accompanying switch in leagues, has been difficult. When the Rockies face their former best player tonight in Oakland, Calif., they find not a conquering warrior, but a slugger still trying to find his way.
He has no regrets, only disgust with an April that only could have been made worse with an audit.
“There’s something to being around guys you know, that know how you tick. They know the things to say,” Holliday said. “Maybe I even underestimated the impact some of those things can have. It’s been an adjustment. But no excuses. I just stunk that first month. I feel better now.”
Holliday is gradually gaining traction. In April, he hit .240 with one home run. He has batted .281 since, with seven home runs and 27 RBIs. It hasn’t stopped critics from calling him a Coors Field creation.
“I know it’s out there. I think if I had a bad stretch in August it wouldn’t have been such a big deal,” Holliday said. “But I really don’t care what people say. I know the player I can be and how grateful I am to have this opportunity.”
Part of the problem, beyond facing many pitchers for the first time, was Holliday’s mind-set.
For the first time in his career, he began worrying about the big picture. It’s clear that Oakland, without a remarkable U-turn, will trade the 30-year-old rather than receive draft pick compensation when he departs as a free agent. That talk continues to percolate — St. Louis, the New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels are potential suitors — though Holliday is no longer following with intense interest.
“It was bringing a level of anxiety that was taking me away from my focus,” Holliday said. “When you start predicting what might happen, things become bigger than they are. My concern is about things I can control.”
As a free agent, Holliday will pick his destination. In the spring of 2008, he turned down a six-year, $84 million offer from Colorado over concerns about the franchise’s commitment to winning. Still, Holliday admitted he would consider re-signing as a free agent.
“But if you look at their situation, they have plenty of young outfielders they are high on. I am not sure the match is necessarily there,” Holliday said. “But I wouldn’t rule it out. I have very fond memories of playing there.”
Several Rockies remain close with Holliday. Troy Tulowitzki, a franchise cornerstone, is rooting for a reunion beyond this series.
“I wonder all the time if we will be teammates again,” Tulowitzki said. “I would love for that to happen.”
