WASHINGTON — Whether Jim Tracy is removing a starter or tweaking the lineup, every decision is framed by the playoff race.
As Tracy has been saying for a few weeks, and which he repeated Thursday, “it’s not personal.” So it was that struggling catcher Chris Iannetta was on the bench, and might be again tonight, to clear his head.
Iannetta, unable to shake a season-long slump, went 1-for-13 on the road trip. He remains the starter, but Tracy made it clear that he’s going to try to maximize the position, similar to what played out with outfielders Carlos Gonzalez and Dexter Fowler.
“I am comfortable with either (catcher) back there,” said Tracy.
Yorvit Torrealba started Thursday for the second time in six games, singling and scoring in the fifth. Tracy believes both catchers are playing well defensively, and noted that Torrealba’s throwing arm has improved.
“I first noticed it in June. If you are watching him from the other dugout, that’s not something you can exploit,” Tracy said.
Footnotes.
Without mentioning names, Tracy said players in Triple-A who helped the Rockies this season were strong candidates to be called up in September. That list would presumably include, but not be limited to, Joel Peralta, Juan Rincon, Jhoulys Chacin and catcher Paul Phillips. . . . With all due respect to the wild card, that’s not the Rockies’ goal. “From the beginning we wanted to win the division. Nothing has changed,” shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. The Rockies have never claimed an NL West crown. . . . Pitcher Jason Marquis has called the Staten Island team in the Little League World Series to wish them luck. Marquis played in Williamsport, Pa., as a kid for the team, which finished third.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
