Tulowitzki Turning Heads
by Chris Jackson, Daily Breeze
May 25, 2005
Comparisons are inevitable in sports.
Athletes aren't just measured by their statistics and accomplishments, but in how they hold up to other players who have come before them.
Since he set foot on the Long Beach State campus, Troy Tulowitzki has been compared to a former 49er and first-round draft pick, one who picked up American League Rookie of the Year honors last season.
At this point, though, the junior shortstop is comparing very favorably to former Long Beach star Bobby Crosby, now of the Oakland A's.
"He can be as good as everyone expects," 49ers second baseman Chuck Sindlinger said of his double-play partner. "There's not really much holding him back. People compare him to Bobby Crosby all the time, and I think he compares (favorably)."
Crosby and Tulowitzki never played together at Long Beach, but were introduced by Coach Mike Weathers. They have since trained together during the offseason the last two years.
"I heard of his talents coming in," Crosby said during the Long Beach alumni game Jan. 22. "Coach Weathers told me how great he was and how much potential he has. His body type and his actions are kind of similar (to mine). He's fun to work with. He's a guy who works hard. I was here (one) night and he's here by himself working on his hitting. When a guy wants to work hard and wants to get better it makes it easy to want to help the guy."
Tulowitzki said that Crosby has been the perfect tutor.
"There's a term that people use called 'big leaguers,' but Crosby is definitely the opposite of that," Tulowitzki said. "He's more than willing not only to help me but this whole program."
Crosby said that some comparisons fit for the two of them, others do not.
"I think defensively we're a lot alike," Crosby said. "I think we have a lot of the same actions. I think he has good arm strength. He doesn't make a lot of errors, which is good. He's got good range. Hitting-wise we have a different stroke. He uses the whole field a lot.
That's something I guess I could learn from him."
This season both Tulowitzki and Crosby have had to deal with another fact of life in baseball -- injuries.
Tulowitzki was hitting .526 through five games when he fouled a pitch off his left hand against Saint Mary's on Feb. 5. He wound up missing six weeks with a broken hamate bone before returning against Cal State Fullerton for a nonconference series at Blair Field March 24-26.
"I was frustrated," Tulowitzki said. "I'd come out every day to practice in a cast. I could run a little bit, still play catch, well, throwing, I couldn't catch the ball.
"I just tried to stay positive with my teammates. They all wanted to see me back there on the field. And that would hurt me. They'd come up to me (and say) 'I can't wait to have you back.' That would just make me want to be in there that much more. But staying positive and rooting on my teammates was the best thing to do and helped me through the hard time."
Tulowitzki said Crosby's advice during this time helped him out.
"He pretty much said the same thing the coaches said, 'Stay positive, everything will be all right, everybody has injuries,' " Tulowitzki said.
Now Crosby's the one with the injury, having broken a rib last month just one game into the A's season.
"It's kind of (ironic) now, because he's the one with the injury," Tulowitzki said. "I talked to him, and was just like 'remember what you told me.' "
But even Crosby's advice wasn't helping Tulowitzki get over his initial post-injury slump. He went 1-for-15 in the series against the Titans, and it was up to Weathers to keep his shortstop from growing frustrated all over again.
"(Weathers) just came up to me and said, 'Relax, it's not going to come easy,' " Tulowitzki recalled. " 'You're probably going to struggle for a while. Your power numbers are going to be down. But you just being out on the field is going to be a boost. And your leadership is what we need.' "
Tulowitzki followed his coach's advice, and the pitchers in the Big West Conference have paid for it. The junior is batting a team-high .363, with 28 runs, 11 doubles, seven homers and 25 RBIs. He's made seven errors this season and 27 in three years.
All of that has helped put Tulowitzki near the top of many teams' lists for the upcoming major league draft, set for June 7-8. A recent story on MLB.com predicted that Tulowitzki would with the No. 3 pick to the Seattle Mariners.
"It's getting close and I think it does pop into your mind a little bit more than in the beginning of the season," Tulowitzki said. "Now is when not just the area scouts are calling you, it's GMs. It's in my mind but I feel like I'm doing a good job with it as far as staying relaxed."
Tulowitzki will need to stay focused and relaxed, as No. 10-ranked Long Beach State (35-17, 13-5) will face No. 1 Fullerton (38-12, 13-2) for three games starting tonight at 7. If the 49ers sweep the series, they'll win the Big West title.
"I think we have bigger goals than winning the series," Tulowitzki said, noting that the
College World Series in Omaha is his ultimate goal.
"It's always a great series going over there. It's like a playoff atmosphere. They're our rivals. They play us tough and we play them tough. They should be great games."
|
