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Tulowitzki Emerging as Top Rookie
by Eric Bolin, Associated Press
June 1, 2007
DENVER (AP) - Troy Tulowitzki's teammates were dressed up in
"Tulowitzki" T-shirts before Friday's game with the Cincinnati
Reds.
It's a sign of respect for the Colorado Rockies rookie shortstop.
Tulowitzki, at 22 the National League's youngest regular, admits he
doesn't have the flash or star power other rookies may possess. But
he's putting together the best season of any of them. He leads all
rookies in hits (52) and runs (28). And he leads or is tied for the NL
rookie lead in multi-hit games (14), walks (20), triples (3) and RBIs
(22).
And in May he accomplished something that only 13 players in major
league baseball history have done: an unassisted triple play.
Only Houston's Hunter Pence, who was called up in late April, put up
better numbers in May for a first-year player in the National League
-- without the triple play.
But Pence has that flash and star power. Tulowitzki flies under the radar.
"I played against him and (Kansas City third baseman Alex Gordon)
in
the minors," Tulowitzki said. "They're friends. But I kind of
like
being the guy not mentioned, the guy that sneaks up on people."
Either by coincidence or his being part of the squad, Tulowitzki has
always been on winning teams. His little league team fell one game
short of Williamsport. He was a two-time All-American at Long Beach
State and a gold-medal winner for Team USA at the world championships
in 2004. During his three years at Long Beach State, the Dirtbags went
119-63.
And his desire to win has turned him into what teammates say is a
leaders on the field and in the clubhouse.
"He plays the game with good energy and he's vocal," Matt Holliday
said. "He's got a contagious energy about him the guys feed off."
Tulowitzki jumped to the majors late last year when the Rockies gave
him a late August call-up straight from Double-A Tulsa just 15 months
after Colorado drafted him seventh overall.
The starting shortstop job has been his for the entire 2007 season.
He's taken advantage of regular play by countering his slow first
month with a .303 average in May.
"I'm getting a little familiar with some of the pitchers," Tulowitzki
said. "Now it's my second, third time. I'm getting used to their
pitches. I'm just now getting comfortable."
Tulowitzki has heard the Cal Ripken Jr. comparisons, but with the
Rockies struggling to find their rhythm in the NL West, baseball's
spotlight has eluded him on a national scale.
On paper, the Rockies have one of the more imposing lineups in the
National League. Though the hitting hasn't been what many thought,
Tulowitzki still ranks fourth in RBI on a team that features Matt
Holliday (114 RBI last year), Todd Helton (81), Garrett Atkins (120)
and Brad Hawpe (84).
Holliday is the only one on pace to duplicate those numbers at the
plate, but manager Clint Hurdle has kept the pressure off Tulowitzki
by writing him in the No. 7 slot in the batting order. But at times,
Tulowitzki found himself batting second, just in front of Holliday and
Helton. Something of a tall order for someone entering the year known
more for his cannon arm than his bat.
"I put pressure on myself. I'm harder on myself than anybody is on
me," Tulowitzki said. "It kind of takes some pressure off me,
but I
still want to perform up to my ability and be mentioned when people
talk about the Rockies just as much as Helton and Holliday and those
guys are."
Tulowitzki, known to Rockies' management for his defense, hasn't
disappointed. No other major league shortstop has as many total
chances or as high a range factor at the position.
Although Tulowitzki is on the short-list for NL Rookie of the Year,
Hurdle downplays such talk. Hurdle went through a similar discussion
concerning Clint Barmes in 2005. Barmes was among the league leaders
before breaking his collarbone on June 5 as he carried deer meat up
the stairs to his apartment.
"We've got a long way to go," Hurdle said. "Last time we
had that talk
we had a player get hurt and that whole scenery changed on us, didn't
it? I think we'll let this play out."
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