So without further ado, I guess it's time to kick-start this here blog by simply and soberly looking at....
What made the '09 Rockies so goddamn cool
First, the brilliant mid-season turn away from emphasizing populist power-hitting philosophies ("production" via HRs, RBIs) and moving instead toward qualities that defined earlier generations (great fielding, base-running, starting pitchers going a minimum of 6 innings) and even some nods to nerdball (players with solid OBP, OPS, and UZR). Second, each individual on this very young team was capable of playing complementary baseball better than most. And just what the hell is that supposed to mean? Well, it's probably best embodied in some truly unique individual moments (the so-called 'intangibles'), but also the team's ability to creatively adjust to the ever-changing dynamics of situational baseball -- in the context of both a specific at-bat, inning, or game and also in the long-term context of the season itself. By the time the playoffs rolled around, the Rox were unrecognizable when compared to their opening day dynamic.
SPECIFIC SITUATION: Clean-up hitter Troy Tulowitzki (SS) in the stretch run of the NL West pennant/wild-card race put down a perfect bunt with a runner on first against Matt Cain (SP) on the road at SF (Sept.16) in an effort to manufacture an early run (to no avail -- so he hit a homer instead in the 4th inning to break the 0-0 tie and turned two double-plays to preserve the win). Most noteworthy because Tulo simply owned Cain (one of the best pitchers in baseball last year) and deciding to drop down a surprise bunt against him says a lot about Tulo's versatility as an individual player, but more interestingly illustrates the way in which even the no.4 hitter on a team is willing and able to strategically alter the situation from an individual advantage to a team advantage by performing beyond or outside of his designated role as clean-up hitter. I know of no other clean-up hitter in the majors who put down a bunt last season. Tulo lead all shortstops in homers, was 2nd in RBI, t-2nd in Runs scored, and t-2nd in triples: (.297/101/32/92, 20sb and 9 triples). Not to mention, Tulo also led all shortstops in SLG and OPS (.552/.930) and was t-5th in OBP (.377). Yet, his great season -- punctuated by unselfish moments -- was not an anomaly; one could find several examples from the likes of Torrealba and Spilborghs, Garret Atkins and Omar Quintanilla.
LONG-TERM CONTEXT: Several of us hoped to see rookies Dexter Fowler (CF), Carlos Gonzalez (LF/CF) and Eric Young Jr. (2B/OF) -- none of whom were on the opening day roster -- work their way into the starting lineup by August. By that time, both Dex and Gonzo were starting and with Clint Barmes (2B) struggling mightily at season's end, EY Jr. ended up getting a few starts as well. The recipe for success -- much like in '07 -- seemed to be to trust in the ability of our rookies to play surprisingly great baseball. After experimenting with Gonzo in the lead-off spot after Dex got injured, he made the adjustment away from the power label that plagued him in AZ and OAK and toward getting on base, hitting line-drives, and showing an uncanny ability to steal bases by reading pitchers like a hawk. Dex came back, he assumed the no.2 spot in the lineup and looked smarter at the plate -- in both moving the runner over, but also in providing solid OBP and incredible speed on the bases. Rockies and Rookies...a recipe for success, but more importantly - playful baseball. We'll never forget 2007 when the Rox similarly relied on rookies like Tulo, Ubaldo Jimenez (SP) and Franklin Moralis (SP) to reach the World Series for the first time in franchise history. All that's left now is to insert EY Jr. at 2B (batting leadoff?) and watch him thrive amongst similarly fun players.
And let's not forget, let's not forget, dude, the unheralded and unsung players who came off the bench to carry the Rockies for stretches at a time: Seth Smith (NL Player of the Week Aug.31-Sept.6), Franklin Morales (6 for 6 in Save opportunities from Sept.2-11 while Street was injured), and unforgettable moments like Ryan Spilborghs walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 14th against those pesky Giants (Aug.24).
So, yes, Tulo and Helton were both healthy again after an injury-ridden '08 and Brad Hawpe (RF) made the all-star team after a blistering first half, and yes, a managerial change helped spark the Rox to an incredible 74-42 record after Jim Tracy was hired -- yet, for all the offensive and defensive talents and efforts, it was the unbelievably consistent starting pitching that really rejuvenated the '09 Rockies; Jimenez, Jorge De La Rosa, Jason Hammel, Aaron Cook, and Jason Marquis all won 10 or more games in '09 and Huston Street proved himself as one of the game's elite closers. At Coors Field! Now that's a team effort.
All this arm-chair prognosticating about mlb clubs utilizing custom-design stadiums and rosters to provide home field advantage next season is a bit tardy...the Rox were clearly ahead of the pack when they instituted the humidor (2002) and let the grass grow high (slowing down grounders) in the infield to give our low-ball pitchers a chance to actually win a few games. Most surprisingly, they gave up on the "Blake Street Bombers" image in favor of an athletic squad who set the mlb record in '07 for best team fielding percentage in history. And to think, only a few years ago we wasted billions of dollars on old arms like Hampton, Saberhagen and Neagle, but now have a team almost entirely homegrown.
2009 was without a doubt the best in Rockies history, but 2010 looks even more exciting
ALTERNATIVE OPENING DAY LINEUP for 2010:
1. Eric Young Jr. (2B)
2. Dexter Fowler (CF)
3. Carlos Gonzalez (LF)
4. Troy Tulowitzki (SS)
5. Todd Helton (1B)
6. Brad Hawpe (RF)
7. Chris Iannetta (C)
8. Ian Stewart (3B)
9. Ubaldo Jimenez (SP)
Go Rockies!
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