LOS ANGELES — Two different baseball men. Two different expressions. The same conclusion.
In August, Mets manager Jerry Manuel correctly predicted the Rockies would reach the playoffs because of shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
“He’s gangster,” Manuel said. “Well, he’s not just gangster. He’s driving the gangster bus.”
Cal Ripken Jr. offered similar praise of Tulowitzki on Thursday. Ripken has closely followed Tulowitzki’s career since 2007 when they met during the playoffs.
“His big value is that he’s an advanced thinker. He always knows what’s going on,” Ripken said. “He knows what to do in every situation, and that’s an intangible value that comes with being the center of that team.”
Tulowitzki idolized Ripken as a young boy. He credits him for keeping coaches open-minded about letting a player his size — 6-feet-3, 205 pounds — man shortstop.
“It’s an honor to get praise from him,” said Tulowitzki, who prides himself on defense and is a candidate to win his first Gold Glove.
Changing of the guard.
Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd, who joined the team in Los Angeles, admitted that firing manager Clint Hurdle was difficult. The two remain close friends.
“It took the emotion out of me because I love the guy. I knew it was the right thing to do, but it was very difficult,” O’Dowd said. “I knew Jim (Tracy) was going to be a great fit for our club because he’s totally opposite of Clint in so many ways.”
Sentimental journey.
Fourteen years later, Don Baylor was back celebrating a playoff berth Thursday at Coors Field. Baylor was the Rockies’ manager when they won the wild card in 1995. Thursday, the team’s hitting coach was having so much fun he took pictures of the champagne celebration.
“It’s been a long time,” said Baylor. “E.Y. Jr. told me, ‘In ’95, you were here with my dad. And now you’re here with me.’ That’s amazing.”
Young Jr. attended the Rockies’ playoff games in 1995 — as an 11-year-old.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
