PHOENIX — It’s more routine than inconvenience. Troy Tulowitzki has seen a revolving door of double-play partners. There have been 12 in all since he made shortstop his permanent residence in 2007.
There was Kaz Matsui and Clint Barmes, both regulars who made Tulowitzki’s job easier.
There were fill-ins, Omar Quintanilla and Melvin Mora. And science projects, Ian Stewart and Jeff Baker. With opening day within arm’s reach, Tulowitzki still isn’t sure who will be starting next to him.
Will it be Jonathan Herrera (the slight favorite)? Or Jose Lopez?
“It doesn’t matter,” Tulowitzki said. “It’s all about production. And the guy who plays best is going to play the most. That’s how it goes.”
Regardless of who’s out there, Tulowitzki doesn’t change his approach.
He will play fearlessly, while maintaining a cooperative spirit with Player X at second base.
“I haven’t really worked extra with any one guy,” Tulowitzki said. “If there’s anything they need or I need, we will talk it over.”
One thing is clear, Tulowitzki doesn’t expect his partner to change the results. The Rockies led the league in double plays (182) last season.
“Either we will be on top or close, I promise you that,” Tulowitzki said.
Ian’s knee-d for PT.
Stewart has been playing for nearly two weeks on his previously sprained right knee.
There have been no setbacks, and his timing offensively has been better than expected.
“Once we made the decision to push it and avoid the DL (disabled list), it has responded,” Stewart said. “I still feel it, and probably will for a few months. But it’s nothing I can’t play through.”
Frowns in sunshine.
There will be two unhappy teams today. The Rockies weren’t pleased that the Cubs added them as a late split-squad game in Mesa.
The Rockies didn’t even know they were playing the game until after they arrived in spring training.
It’s not listed on their pocket schedules. The Rockies will likely use mostly minor-leaguers since teams rarely play split squads this late.
Oakland, meanwhile, wanted to use a DH at Salt River Fields as a way for struggling Hideki Matsui to get at-bats. The Rockies, per their tradition, aren’t likely to honor that request.
The Indians didn’t like it earlier in spring when denied a DH; pitcher Justin Masterson bunted with two outs and nobody on base in protest.
