Don’t believe the type.
That used to be the Rockies’ motto. Disregard anything written, especially if it involved the word “expectations.” Under Jim Tracy, the Rockies have taken on a new approach. They have welcomed their status as the National League West favorite. They won a franchise- record 92 games last season in essentially four months.
“The first two months we had mulligans off the tee box. What can we do if we are consistent?” Tracy said. “What can we do if we don’t press and seize the opportunity in front of us?”
Tracy isn’t taking any chances. Even though he wasn’t involved, Tracy is well aware of what happened in 2008 when the franchise took its foot off the throttle. The Rockies were on the side of the road with their hood up and hazards flashing by June 1.
In his first full season with the Rockies and ninth overall as a manager, Tracy will use time-tested methods to avoid another disappointment.
Offensively, he will stress strike-zone discipline and quality at-bats. It’s no secret that the Rockies struck out too much, fanning 1,277 times last season, second-highest in the big leagues. The strikeouts don’t drive Tracy crazy. But going down looking is an irritant. As is swinging for the fences.
“I am not going to stand in front of them and tell them they can’t strike out. That’s one negative on top of another,” Tracy said. “You don’t want to feel like a player has to be a different type of player to get the job done. But we got into the trap where we tried to hit the ball too far too often. We need to be aggressive and smart, and the home runs will happen naturally.”
With pitchers, the message will be simple: Establish fastball command early in spring training. Tracy is a firm believer that a well-located fastball is a pitcher’s best friend. This applies, in particular, to Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales.
Remember, Tracy was nicknamed the “Micromanager” when he was in Los Angeles. Let’s just say he doesn’t mind the handle.
“We will be ready. And we won’t fear expectations. That creates an edge,” Tracy said.
Footnotes.
Giants ace Tim Lincecum left a lot of money on the table by agreeing to a two-year, $23 million contract. He’s the only pitcher to win two Cy Young awards in his first three seasons. Owners were pleased that the Giants avoided a hearing because they didn’t want $13 million as the new standard for iconic, first-time eligible arbitration players.
