Question: Can Matt Holliday be the Golden Thong 2.0 for the Rockies?
Kiz: Upon hearing our old friend Matt Holliday had signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies, the first words that sprung to my mind were: Jason Giambi. Back in 2009, Giambi was a veteran with pop in his bat who joined Colorado at 38 years old, when most players are thinking about retirement. Holliday is a 38-year-old outfielder that isn’t ready to take his bat and go home. Hmm …
Saunders: I’ve heard that Holliday was interested in returning to Colorado last year, before he ended up with the Yankees. He’s always had a soft spot for the Rockies. I think this is different from the Ryan Howard signing last year, which had no shot of going anywhere. We’ll see how this plays out, but if anyone can make the most of his chance, it’s Holliday. The guy’s a warrior.
Kiz: The best thing Giambi brought into the Rockies clubhouse was his lucky golden thong, a garish and tattered piece of underwear he long had worn to bust slumps. What’s more, Giambi generously offered to loan his thong to any teammate in desperate need of a hit. The thong was gosh-awful beautiful, because it was Giambi’s way of reminding teammates to take their jobs seriously, but never forget to make the game fun.
Saunders: You’re not getting that kind of vibe from the strong, silent Holliday. He’d provide some leadership with his work ethic, but I don’t think he’d have a huge impact in the clubhouse the way Giambi did. What the Rockies would want from Holliday are quality pinch-hit at-bats late in the game. Thankfully, I don’t know if he wears tighty whities or boxers.
Kiz: Giambi proved to be more than a mentor to his Colorado teammates. At age 40, he hit 13 home runs in 64 games for the Rockies in 2011. So golden thong aside, here’s my serious question: Is it unreasonable to dream Holliday could be more than a dangerous pinch hitter off manager Bud Black’s bench in the stretch run to the playoffs? Could Holliday hang around Denver for more than a cameo role?
Saunders: I don’t think so. I think general manager has his blueprint in place for the future and it doesn’t include an aging slugger who really can’t be more than a pinch hitter. The Rockies are trying to build a versatile and athletic team. If Holliday makes it back to the majors, it’s a one-shot deal with a dream. “One of the main things that got me going, is how (the Rockies) are playing and potentially go into a postseason and make another run at a World Series,” he said Sunday.
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