LOS ANGELES — His memory is the only thing failing him these days. Troy Tulowitzki insisted he’s been this hot before. Truth is, he has enjoyed explosive months, but never anything like this.
How do we know? Because no one else besides Detroit’s Hank Greenberg has hit more than 10 home runs and driven in at least 25 runs in a 14-game stretch in September or October. Greenberg pulled off the feat in 1940. Tulowitzki has hitched the Rockies’ trailer, towing the club toward the postseason. He blasted his 12th home run in 14 games in his first at-bat Friday, a shot to left field. That home run tied both the franchise mark for a month and the MLB high for a month this season.
“I am in a good place right now,” Tulowitzki said.
Predictably, the shortstop isn’t about to change anything, wearing the same Arizona Spring Training undershirt and letting his mullet flow wildly. During his last visit to Dodger Stadium, the business-in-front, party-in-back look perplexed Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully.
“In reading (The Denver Post), they said his throw was just a little bit longer than the mullet he wears. And I remember reading that and thought, ‘Mullet? Mullet’s a fish!’ So we went on the computer and it’s both! It’s a hairdo and a fish. But there’s nothing fishy about this kid — he can really play.”
Tulo had the audio e-mailed to himself, and laughed again when asked about Scully’s call.
“It was funny . . . just hearing him talking about the mullet in his voice,” Tulowitzki said. “I am not cutting it until the season is over. There’s no timetable (for) when it will be gone.”
A vote for Donnie Baseball.
The press box was packed after manager Joe Torre announced Friday he was leaving, clearing a path for Don Mattingly to take over next season. First baseman Todd Helton is pulling for Mattingly.
“Any team that has Donnie Baseball around is better for it. I idolized him growing up. When I met him, I was worried because so many people don’t live up to what you expect. There was zero of that with him. He was even better than I thought,” Helton said. “I am tickled to death for him.”
Footnotes.
Third baseman Ian Stewart took batting practice on the field for the first time since Aug. 25, smashing multiple home runs. He will fly to Tucson on Sunday afternoon, playing in a few instructional league games with the expectation he will rejoin the Rockies on Friday. “I am really getting the itch to play,” Stewart said. . . . Catcher Chris Iannetta (right calf) did light running and swing work Friday. He shouldn’t be out much longer. . . . Miguel Olivo shaved his head and most of his facial hair. “The other look didn’t have any hits,” Olivo said.
