SAN DIEGO — For the first time in his career, Troy Tulowitzki had an April that didn’t feel like a tax audit.
A career .194 hitter in the season’s first month, the Rockies shortstop batted .304 with one home run and 13 RBIs this season. Excuse him, though, for not doing cartwheels.
“Honestly, I would just say I did OK,” said Tulowitzki, now batting .301. “As a cleanup hitter, I need to drive in more runs and I had opportunities. And as a team, despite everything, we should have a better record.”
Manager Jim Tracy re- inserted Todd Helton in the third spot after a three-game hiatus, in part to get Tulowitzki better pitches to hit. Carlos Gonzalez, who went 2-for-12 in the third spot, moved to the five hole. Tulowitzki referred to Helton as the Rockies’ best hitter, saying: “He’s the most important guy in our lineup. Even when he thinks he’s struggling he still gives you a quality at-bat.”
Tulowitzki didn’t hide his disappointment with his lack of power. He hit a career-high 32 home runs last season and was consistently driving the ball in spring training.
“To have one home run is frustrating. I know I am usually a slow starter, so I believe it’s going to come out,” Tulowitzki said. “I think you if you look at our team, there’s not one guy that would say he’s got his home run swing right now. When we get that, we should really take off.”
McGregor update.
A Rockies spokesman confirmed that Rockies president Keli McGregor, 48, was participating in an NFL study on concussions at the time of his death. McGregor’s cause of death has not been released. The Padres observed a moment of silence for McGregor on Monday, as did the Giants in the opening game of the series at AT&T Park.
McGregor played for the Broncos, Colts and Seahawks.
Footnotes.
Triple-A pitcher Samuel Deduno, who showed promise in spring training, will be shelved for at least a month after suffering a stress fracture in his right elbow. . . . His knee healthy, infielder Omar Quin- tanilla joined the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. . . . Jason Giambi knows his numbers are ugly (2-for-20), but he feels like he’s getting closer to producing offensively. “I have a little mechanical glitch that I think I have worked out.” Tracy said Giambi has a difficult task, trying to get back on track while not playing much.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
