Apparently, Eric Young Jr. was born to run at Coors Field.
His first time at the ballpark was Coors’ inaugural season. Would have been 1995, when he was the Big 1-Oh and his dad’s teammates took turns entertaining him in the clubhouse.
“Steve Reed used to throw me around,” Young said. “I’d be running all over the place. And then, about 6 o’clock, I could sense everybody was getting into game mode, so I stayed out of the way.”
Fifteen years later, what runs around has come around. Eric Young was the Rockies’ first-ever leadoff hitter, and his son is their current one. The trick is to keep it that way. The Rockies go through leadoff hitters like John Daly goes through Marlboros. They’ve had 13 different batters in their 18 opening-day lineups.
They’ve tried a utility infielder (Aaron Miles), a fourth outfielder (Ryan Spilborghs) and a middle-of-the-order bopper (Carlos Gonzalez). They’ve used a first-rounder (Walt Weiss), a 13th-rounder (Juan Pierre) and a 43rd-rounder (Eric Young Sr.).
And still they’re looking for an answer at the top of their lineup, someone who can take hold of the position and keep it for more than a few months.
Now comes E.Y. Jr., who, if he doesn’t own the job on opening day 2011, can’t complain about not having an opportunity. The Rockies recalled Young from Triple-A Colorado Springs two weeks ago, and Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd and manager Jim Tracy are committed to giving him a chance to prove that he can change the dynamic of their lineup.
Tracy’s assessment in the early going?
“He has a chance to be a dynamic type of offensive player at the top of an order on a major-league team, he really does.” he said. “The important thing for him is the ability to reach first base, and that’s not always dictated by, hey, what’s this guy’s batting average?
“What’s more important, and what we foresee for him, is having a high on-base percentage and scoring runs in triple digits if he’s hitting at the top of the lineup.”
But that isn’t going to happen overnight. Quality leadoff hitters, even ones with Young’s game-changing speed, are developed, not born.
The Rockies have struggled for their entire existence to find that player, this season included. To wit: Their leadoff hitters have an on-base percentage of .336, lower than any other spot in the lineup except the eight and nine holes.
The job description includes working counts, drawing walks and developing a comfort level when hitting behind in the count. That isn’t easy for a young player.
Dexter Fowler has hit leadoff and in the two hole for much of his short major-league career. To hear Fowler tell it, the jobs are one notch away in the batting order, but parallel universes apart in reality.
“It’s definitely a different mind-set,” Fowler said. “There’s so much stuff you have to take into account. You have to take a lot of pitches so guys hitting behind you can get a look at the pitcher. When you’re up there hitting leadoff, it’s almost like you’re a crash-test dummy.”
Young’s ability to steal bases will keep him at the top if he figures out a way to consistently reach first. He has stolen 10 bases in 24 games this season.
Young understands his role, having hit leadoff throughout his minor-league career and having a father who did the same for a big chunk of his big-league career. He is hitting .282 with a .349 on-base percentage in 78 at-bats, but at times he has been overpowered.
“The more you work at it, the better you’re going to be,” Young said. “I’m better today than I was a couple of years ago, and I’ll be better at it next year. The mind-set is there. It’s just a matter of getting everything else to follow.
“Getting on base is the only thing I’m thinking about in the box. A hit, a walk, a hit by pitch, causing an error . . . doesn’t matter. All they’ve told me since I got here is, ‘Get on base anyway, anyhow, young man.’ “
When on base, Young has proven to be a disruptive force, forcing errant throws on pickoff attempts, on steal attempts and from infielders rushing to make a play.
He stole 87 bases at Single-A Asheville in 2006. A year later, he swiped 73 at High-A Modesto, followed by 46 at Double-A Tulsa and 58 at Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Fans at Coors Field haven’t witnessed his type of speed since the days of Pierre. Before him, there was Young’s father, the franchise leader with 180 career steals from 1993-97.
So, what kind of numbers does Young have in mind if, as planned, he opens next season hitting leadoff?
“I have no number,” he said. “It’s all about getting on base. If my on-base percentage is high, expect high numbers.”
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
Looking ahead
TODAY: Dodgers at Rockies, 7:10 p.m., FSN
Bibs should be required. These two pitchers are capable of making scouts drool. In his fourth attempt, Ubaldo Jimenez (17-4, 2.66 ERA) tries to set a franchise single-season record for victories. Jimenez hasn’t won since Aug. 4, doomed by lack of run support and an untimely error. Jimenez is 8-0 at Coors Field this season, holding opponents to a .232 average. He has owned the typically clutch Andre Either, striking him out three times in three at-bats. Clayton Kershaw (11-8, 3.07) has not allowed a run to the Rockies in 26 straight innings at Dodger Stadium. In Denver, he’s more vulnerable, going 3-2 with a 6.39 ERA.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Upcoming pitching matchups
Saturday: Dodgers’ Chad Billingsley (10-7, 3.70 ERA) at Rockies’ Jhoulys Chacin (6-9, 3.98), 6:10 p.m., FSN
Sunday: Dodgers’ Ted Lilly (8-8, 3.27) at Rockies’ Jason Hammel (8-7, 4.35), 1:10 p.m., FSN
Monday: Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (5-4, 4.54) at Giants’ Jonathan Sanchez (9-8, 3.67), 8:15 p.m., FSN
Tuesday: Rockies’ Esmil Rogers (2-2, 5.66) at Giants’ Madison Bumgarner (5-4, 3.95), 8:15 p.m., FSN
