There is no cheering in the press box.
But there is admiration, appreciation and wonderment.
I bring this up after watching Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu Monday night in the
He went 3-for-5, bumping his average up to .342, second in the National League. He has a .394 on-base percentage.
And, of course, he was flawless in the field.
LeMahieu has driven in 28 runs, third on the team behind Nolan Arenado (45) and Troy Tulowitzki (32). Keep in mind that LeMahieu usually bats near the bottom of the order, and occasionally in the No. 2 hole, but never in the heart of the lineup. But he keeps on producing wherever he hits.
I was talking with former Rockies outfielder and current Root Sports announcer Cory Sullivan about LeMahieu the other day. Sullivan said he has no doubt that LeMahieu would make the All-Star Game if players selected the team.
But right now, the starting lineup is in the hands of the fans and LeMahieu is not even a blip on their radar. That’s a shame, because LeMahieu, who won a Gold Glove last year, deserves more recognition.
“The guy is a baller,” manager Walt Weiss said late Monday. “He just plays the game the right way. He’s a quiet kid but he’s a gem. We already knew about the defense and I always thought the offense was going to come.
“He’s having a hell of a year offensively. Yeah, he needs to be in that (All-Star Game).”
This isn’t the first time I’ve pounded the drum for LeMahieu. I wrote on this topic just a few weeks ago. That’s OK, I like writing about hard-working, take-care-of-business underdogs.
CHEW ON THIS
• ICYMI: After Monday night’s victory, Troy Tulowitzki was asked about the Rockies selecting with the third overall pick in the MLB draft on Monday night.
“I know he’s probably trying to take my job, so I better get my act together because I hear he’s a pretty good player,” Tulo said. “I saw his interview, and I know they mentioned my name. I think he said I was going to give him some tips, but I will probably give him no tips.
“I will probably give him the cold shoulder, keep that edge and make it tough for him.”
I’m pretty sure Tulo was kidding.
I’m positive he was sending a message.
• We used to watch Tiger Woods for his incredible skills and sheer will to win on a golf course. Then we watched the “National Enquirer” chapter of his sordid personal life with a mixture of tawdry fascination and outrage.
Now we are watching as Tiger’s game hits rock bottom. After shooting an 85 at the Memorial last week, he is ranked 181st in the world. It’s become the saddest spectacle in sports, and now golf analysts are saying Woods has never been so far away from winning his 15th major.
If you want a good read on the state of Tiger, check on the .
• “That’s awesome, baby!”
On this day in 1940, ESPN’s Dick Vitale, one of the most unlikely media celebrities of our time, was born in Passaic, N.J.
Patrick Saunders: psaunders@denverpost.com or twitter.com/psaundersdp
