Watching a pennant race from the bench isn’t exactly what he had in mind, but Rockies infielder Clint Barmes is OK with it. His dad, in the fight of his life with lung cancer, is OK, so he’s OK.
“He’s battling, he’s fighting, he’s taking it day to day,” Barmes said. “The reason I’ve handled things the way I have is because of the way he’s handled it. If he wasn’t as positive as he’s been, it’s hard to say how I’d be.”
Barmes lost his job last month when the Rockies decided to give Eric Young Jr. a lengthy audition at second base. His main contribution these days is as a late-inning defensive replacement.
He was hitting .257 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs at the all-star break, but since has hit .179 with eight RBIs. He was in the midst of a .132 August when Young got the call.
“It’s never easy, but it’s not the first time I’ve gone through something like this,” Barmes said. “I couldn’t be happier for E.Y. He’s shown he’s going to compete. He’s definitely helped us.”
Barmes is experiencing mixed emotions, watching his father battle cancer and knowing he isn’t in the Rockies’ plans, all the while trying to contribute in the heat of a playoff race. But he’s at peace with how things have played out.
“Ultimately, it’s all on my hands,” he said. “I feel like, with the way I’ve played, I can’t put any blame on anybody but myself.”
Not feeling Chipper.
You knew this was coming. Opposing players questioning Carlos Gonzalez’s Triple Crown candidacy because of Coors Field.
First up, Chipper Jones.
Said Jones, when asked by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about Braves teammate Omar Infante’s quest for the NL batting title: “If (Gonzalez) is doing the same thing on the road that he’s doing at home, I’d be glad to give him credit. And he’s a tremendous player, don’t get me wrong. But the numbers? He’s hitting like .390 at home with 25 homers and 65 ribbies?”
CarGo went into Wednesday night hitting .394-25-66 at home, .288-7-34 on the road. Does fellow Triple Crown contestant Joey Votto think Coors gives Gonzalez an advantage?
“I’d rather not comment on that,” Votto said.
Jim Armstrong, The Denver Post
