SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The back corner of the Rockies’ clubhouse at Salt River Fields, behind a leather sofa and next to a round folding table, is where the stars hang out.
There’s something north of $50 million in that corner. The lockers belong to Carlos Gonzalez, Nolan Arenado, DJ LeMahieu, Charlie Blackmon, Gerardo Parra, and a few others.
It’s where Troy Tulowitzki once sat. His spot in the clubhouse, though, is now a void.
The former face of the Rockies left eight months ago, in a blockbuster trade to Toronto. When Tulo departed, so did the seriousness of his manner. The tone of the Rockies clubhouse always echoed off Tulo.
Whatever the Rockies are now, with rookie shortstop Trevor Story playing in Tulo’s place and the beaming smile of Gonzalez setting a tone alone at the top, will unfold through the season.
“I think having a captain or a team leader is way overrated,” Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. “Just be a pro — every day you show up.”
The Rockies are stuck in their worst stretch in the 24-year history of the franchise. They finished last or second-to-last in the National League West the past five seasons. They haven’t finished above .500 since 2010.
They are desperate to win again. For all the hand-wringing about how to pitch at altitude, and all the arm-waving about meaningless farm system power rankings, the Rockies are in danger of slipping even further into obscurity.
Eventually, losing becomes you. And if the Rockies are to ever break the cycle of sub-mediocrity, they’ll have to do it professionally, focused on the details — whoever it is sitting in the corner of the clubhouse.
“If you’re going to pick one thing to do all day every day, you better be pretty good at it,” Blackmon said. “Don’t have this be your job and be what you do and what you hang your hat on and not care and not try and not be good at it.”
Nick Groke: ngroke@denverpost.com or @nickgroke
