Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is playing with passion — and a bit of a grudge. (Denver Post file photo)
Milwaukee — The chip on the Rockies’ shoulder is serving them well in the infant part of the 2015 season.
And no one is motivated by that chip more than shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who’s hitting .500 to open the season.
After the Rockies beat the Brewers 5-2 Tuesday night, I asked Tulo about the Rockies tying a 103-year-old MLB record for the most doubles in the first two games of the season. I explained that the last time a team hit 12 doubles in their first two games was the 1912 New York Giants.
“Pretty cool,” I said.
Tulo replied: “What sticks out to me when I hear that, is that I’m really happy that it’s on the road. The first thing we would hear if we were at home was about how it’s a hitter’s ballpark, and they are at home, so that’s why all the doubles. So wait until they go on the road.”
When another reporter asked the rather silly question about what it means to be 2-0, Tulo said: “What does it mean? It means we are 2-0. And tomorrow we have a chance to sweep. We keep hearing that we are not a good team on the road, so we can keep answering some critics about us not being a good road team.”
I’ve got to tell you, I love Tulo’s intensity.
Late-night notes of note:
* Tulo stroked a double to lead off the fourth inning, his third double of the season and 208th of his career. He is now tied with Vinny Castilla for fourth place on the Rockies’ all-time list. Dante Bichette is third with 270. Todd Helton is No. 1 with 592.
* Kind of hard to believe, but this is only the fourth time in the Rockies’ 23-year history they have begun the season 2-0. It happened in 1995, 1998 and 2001.
* Rockies right-handed reliever Adam Ottavino threw a 98 mph fastball in the eighth inning, to go along with his diabolical slider. Former Rockies outfielder and current Roots broadcaster Ryan Spilborghs looked over at me and said: “Unhittable.”
Ottavino struck out Luis Jimenez and Carlos Gomez and got Jonathan Lucroy to top a weak grounder to second.
Where did all of that heat come from?
“He’s been up there before,” Weiss said. “Last year was a matter of feeling more comfortable with his fastball and just letting it go. He’s just letting it eat now. Myabe a couple of years ago he didn’t have as great a feel with his fastball, but now he does and he’s commanding it. He’s letting it fly.”
Tags: Adam Ottavino, Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki, Vinny Castilla, Walt Weiss
