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Tulo Does Not Have Look of Rookie
by Troy Renck, Denver Post
July 6, 2007
The preparation for stardom began on the front lawn of his northern
California home. Troy Tulowitzki stood with a bat in his hand and a
glint in his eye.
Where most little kids created dream sequences - bases loaded, two
outs, team trailing by three in the World Series - Tulowitzki created
obstacles. His best buddy would jog in from the imaginary bullpen,
throwing heat. He was left-handed, and announced himself as Billy
Wagner.
Tulowitzki promptly greeted his friend with a line drive. Game over.
Crowd goes wild. More than a decade later, it's difficult to tell
where the fantasy ends and reality begins.
With the all-star break approaching, the Rockies shortstop has placed
his name squarely on the ballot for National League rookie of the
year. He's hitting .285 with nine home runs while covering more ground
than Lewis and Clark.
'He should be considered for top rookie. He's been better than anyone
even expected,' teammate and friend Garrett Atkins said. 'His defense
has been unbelievable. And he's hitting over .280, and he's not happy
because he thinks he should be over .300.'
His name isn't easy to pronounce. Say Tulo-Wiz-Kid if that helps. It's
worth learning because this 22-year-old kid is quickly becoming a
star. Beyond the stats, the hints are blatant. He wears No. 2 because
of Derek Jeter.
'I think about being rookie of the year. It would be a great honor,'
Tulowitzki said. 'It's a great thing to even be mentioned. But the big
thing for me is winning here and getting to the playoffs. That's what
I want people to associate with me.'
Had any other first-year player uttered that sentence, it would have
been met with rolled eyes. But Tulowitzki has provided something a
Rockies team, long light on confidence, has sorely needed: swagger.
Already this season, he has called out the St. Louis Cardinals' David
Eckstein for spiking him, pushed an opposing catcher and accused the
Toronto Blue Jays' Jason Phillips of diving at his knees during a play
at the plate. When Tulo is on the field, he's prepared to eat nails
for a victory.
'Tulo is one of my all-time favorite teammates. He plays so hard,'
said one-time New York Mets starter Jason Vargas, who played with
Tulowitzki at Long Beach State. 'All he wants to do is play baseball.
He loves it.'
What's fascinating about Tulo-
witzki is his ability to harness his emotions in the game's most
critical moments. Look at his 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame, and nothing
suggests finesse. But with alarms blaring, he doesn't show a pulse.
'Yeah, I definitely love those situations,' Tulowitzki said. 'Even
when I was a kid in my front yard, I did. I don't know if that helped,
but I really feel comfortable with (the pressure on).'
Tulowitzki blasted three go-ahead home runs in the ninth inning or
later on the Rockies' most recent road trip - only to see the Rockies
lose each time. As manager Clint Hurdle put it: 'He hit three
game-winning home runs. We just didn't win the games.'
Tulowitzki has evolved as a hitter in recent weeks, showing more and
more patience. He leads all rookies in walks (31) and runs (48), and
since May 1 has hit .300 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs.
For those who see him every day, however, his defense is more impressive.
Athletic plays up the middle and into the hole have become regular
occurrences, punctuated by throws that approach 90 mph.
'He may still be a rookie, but he's not a rookie anymore, if you know
what I mean,' catcher Yorvit Torrealba said. 'He's getting better
every day. Who knows just how good he can be?' |
