It’s About Us

PHOENIX – Rockies manager Clint Hurdle made sure his message was sent, early and emphatically.

The Rockies are about the team.

Individual egos can be checked at the door.
And he underscored that in the season-opener at Arizona on Monday afternoon.

The end result wasn’t pretty. An anticipated pitcher’s duel turned into a slugfest, and Arizona outslugged the Rockies, 9-8, at Chase Field.

Want a good omen?

Last time the Rockies opened a season in Arizona, Aaron Cook, who started on Monday, was the starting pitcher. The Rockies suffered the loss. It was two years ago. Remember that year, 2007? It ended with the first World Series appearance in franchise history.

That was built around a team that showed resiliency, and unselfishness.

It’s way too early to start making plans for October this time around.

There is no doubt, however, that personal matters won’t be a part of personnel decisions for Hurdle.

It was evident when the starting lineup was posted, and the popular Clint Barmes, considered the Rockies’ primary second baseman, was on the bench. Left-handed-hitting Ian Stewart drew the start instead.

And it was apparent when starting pitcher Aaron Cook received the earliest non-medical-related hook of his big-league career.

Looking for ways to combat the sinkerball of Arizona right-hander Brandon Webb, Hurdle dropped Stewart into the No. 6 slot in the lineup, pushing down Troy Tulowitzki and Chris Iannetta, both right-handed hitters.

The irony is Stewart had his problems against Webb. He struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch – on which Brad Hawpe was doubled up on a stolen base attempt – in the second and popped up with a runner on third to end the third. In the fifth, however, he did deliver what at the time was a game-tying, two-out single off Arizona lefty Doug Slaten.

Not that anybody really should have been surprised. Stewart’s father, after all, is left-handed, which meant Stewart hit against a lefty most of his childhood. Remember, he did hit .370 against lefties last year.

“We have great flexibility and versatility with our roster,’’ said Hurdle. “What’s important is as a team, we understand the need for one another. The guys in (the clubhouse) understand they are tied together.’’

Point made.

Barmes didn’t flinch at the posting. And Stewart didn’t celebrate.

“Barmey is the main (second baseman),’’ said Stewart, “but I feel comfortable over there. ‘’

Cook wasn’t comfortable in the second Opening Day assignment of his career. Known for his power sinker, he threw strikes – 37 of 55 pitches – but they weren’t quality strikes.

He gave up as many hits (seven) as he got outs. Two of those hits were home runs to Felipe Lopez and Tony Clark. Those two switch-hitters also connected off reliever Glendon Rusch, making them the first teammate to home from both sides of the plate in a game since Jorge Posada and Bernie Williams of the Yankees on April 23, 2000.

Even Conor Jackson, hitless in his first 13 career at-bats against Cook, managed to single off Cook, eventually scoring Arizona’s second run of the game in the second inning.

And after giving up that home run to Clark that capped off a four-run Arizona third inning that erased a 4-2 Rockies lead, Cook was told to take the rest of the day off.

Only once before in 140 big-league starts did Cook register fewer outs.

On Aug. 7, 2004, Cook worked two innings, coming out because of a light-headedness, which led to the diagnosis of a life-threatening blood clot, which sidelined Cook for a year.

This time was nothing that serious for the right-hander, who had worked at least five innings in 56 of 57 starts the last two seasons.
This time it was a simple matter that Cook didn’t do the job, and Hurdle tried to minimize the damage, confident his offense would bounce back.

“The idea was to try and win the game,’’ said Cook.

The idea didn’t compute for the Rockies on Monday.

But the message arrived.

“If it is about your ego, you are in the wrong place,’’ Hurdle said. “You look in (the clubhouse) and there are athletes that have to respect each other, and they do.’’

If they don’t, the won’t fit into the Rockies’ plans.