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Posted 08/06/2009 at 03:49 AM
Anyone know what wine goes best with crow? I’m overdue to eat a healthy dose of that particular bird.
Go back a couple of months or so and you’ll find an entry regarding the Colorado Rockies and their uninspired, or so I thought, decision to hire retread Jim Tracy as the replacement for ousted skipper Clint Hurdle. I thought making the move to get someone new in charge was wise, as Hurdle was basically surviving thanks to the phenomenal 2007 stretch drive that amazingly landed the Rockies in the World Series. But since that time the Rockies had returned to mediocrity. They were dismal in 2008 and were off to a miserable start this season. Hurdle needed to go.
My beef was them giving the gig to Tracy, and I thought I built a compelling case of why this was a very poor decision. It’s not as though Tracy set the world on fire with the Dodgers. And his subsequent term of duty with the Pirates was a flat out disaster. In addition, Tracy was said to have a very laid back attitude that allowed for a little too much running of the asylum by the inmates. Tracy didn’t seem to me capable of lighting a fire in the Rockies clubhouse, and I basically ripped the organization on every level.
So today it’s time to eat some crow. The Rockies have been an outstanding team under Tracy. They’ve gone from well under .500 to a position as a serious contender for National League Wild Card honors. Maybe they make the post season, maybe they don’t. Either way, the mere fact they’re in even this position now is remarkable and Tracy is a huge part of the reason why.
Apparently an old dog can teach himself some new tricks. The Tracy that was so laid back at his previous stops isn’t living in Denver. It’s not that Tracy will ever be a fireball, that’s not his personality. But there’s been no mistake from his first day on this job that if you don’t perform, you don’t play. The result is inspired efforts from several veterans who were thought to be doing little more than taking up space in the Colorado lineup.
Tracy has also changed the mindset of the pitchers. Hurdle was a quick hook specialist. Tracy prefers to trust his starters longer, and this has worked extremely well. The starting staff is pitching with more confidence, and while the Rockies don’t have a great bullpen, it’s at least a reasonably fresh corps of relievers, which could really serve them well in the final weeks of the season.
The Rockies aren’t yet an outhouse to the penthouse story, as they have to keep winning for this season to be a complete success. But regardless of what happens from now until the end of the campaign, they’ve certainly made life in Denver far more interesting. As for Tracy, I believe he’s as legit as it gets for consideration as NL Manager of the Year. There’s zero possibility I would have believed that considering what I wrote upon news of his hiring. In fact, I missed this one by such a wide margin I’m afraid a second large helping of that crow needs to find its way to my plate.
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It’s been a very bad week for the Rangers, as they’ve dropped three in succession to the lowly A’s. Texas needs to get some positive traction back by at least salvaging the getaway day finale, especially with the big series at Anaheim up next. Trevor Cahill has been fade material lately, so I’ll give the nod to surprising Tommy Hunter and the Rangers here.
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