Damn. That was my first reaction to hearing that Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki will miss 6-weeks with a broken left wrist, suffered when he was hit by a pitch by Twins pitcher Alex Burnett yesterday. I love watching the guy play and this is a severe blow. Tulo might be the one irreplaceable position player on the Rockies.
Clint Barmes takes over at short and he'll do the job defensively. However, how are the Rocks going to replace Tulo's bat? The only way they can survive his absence is for the several underachieving hitters in the Rockies lineup to start hitting like they are capable of. Do you hear me Todd Helton, Ian Stewart, Barmes, Brad Hawpe and Chris Iannetta?
Meanwhile, the Rockies called up infielder Chris Nelson from Colorado Springs to take Tulo's spot on the roster.
Now, I've never met Chris Nelson. I've seen him play and he's got some talent. He was the Rockies first round pick in 2004. He's in his 7th minor league season and there was no guarantee he would ever make it to the Major Leagues, especially if his path is blocked by Tulowitzki. So while the Rockies organization and their fans are lamenting the loss of Tulo for 6-weeks, I'm guessing the only guy not upset about it is Chris Nelson. Who knows, this could be his only taste of the big leagues. If I were Nelson, I would be happy. I can't say I would have wished ill-will on Tulo but since it happened, I'd be thrilled to get a shot in the Majors. Too bad for Tulo but good for Nelson.
It also makes me think of Cal Ripken. His streak is even more impressive to me when you see guys go down with injuries like Tulowitzki. How many pitches did Ripken see while in the batters box during his streak? I'm sure Elias Sports Bureau knows. Of all those pitches, every single one had the potential to hit Ripken and break a bone and knock him out of the lineup. Makes you wonder who the Chris Nelson's were in the Orioles system when Ripken was manning shortstop forever.
Since I'm on the subject of the Rockies, a local talk show host here in Denver, was saying today that Carlos Gonzalez was having a bad year. Huh? Really? He's hitting .295 with 10 homers and 42 RBI's while playing great in the outfield. Get a damn clue.
Sports talk radio in this town is basically unlistenable...except for that show on KNUS every Sunday night from 8-11.
And one more broadcasting item. Jack Corrigan is calling the game on TV. He's usually the Rockies radio guy. Drew Goodman is on vacation. A few weeks ago Corrigan took a brake. The Rockies TV color men, Jeff Huson and George Frazier don't work every game. What the hell is that all about? How does a baseball broadcaster take days off? I don't get it. They have all winter off. Why would you want to "take a break"? Is it that strenuous to work all 162-games? I don't know about other teams but I've never heard of announcers taking vacations during the season. Umpires also take vacations during the season? Why? If I were in charge, there would be no vacations for umpires. Rest up during the winter. What's next, players taking vacations.
Can you imagine this on a broadcast, "Brad Hawpe will miss the next week for the Rockies as he plans to take his family on vacation to the Jersey shore. Hope he comes back with pictures. And Carlos Gonzalez is back in the lineup after his trip to Yosemite Park. He also ventured over to Mount Rushmore."
Rockies just won, 2-0 over the hapless Brewers. At least something has made me happy tonight. If you've read the previous posts, I've been somewhat salty. Good night y'all.
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Excellent post once again! You are right on with your points about broadcasters taking "vacation days". They generally get a day off a week as it is, but I guess six days per week at the park is just too much of a grind for these lunchpail workers to handle.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same thing in New York.... Keith Hernandez is terrific, but he always lets you know when he'll be off during an upcoming series. Many players live in a fantasyland from day one and never know what it is like to work a couple jobs to put food on the table for the family. Could you imagine some of these guys working real jobs and stressing about paying the mortgage? Don't they DESERVE a couple days off a week?
On the flip side, many of the play by play guys in the league (aka real broadcasters) have toiled in the minors and know what real work is like. They've held side jobs in sales, marketing, retail, etc. just to make ends work while they pursued their passion of sportscasting. These guys - and girls - know how to work, and usually improve drastically because of it.
On the Yankee side of things, Michael Kay does his TV Play By Play and also a daily radio show on 1050 ESPN Radio. He occasionally takes a less-glamorous series off. I don't blame him, I'd do the same thing with that schedule.
Bottom line is - in broadcasting there are slackers and there are workhorses. Some guys (and you know many of them Bill) just show up, clock in and collect a paycheck. Others actually love what they do. Ernie Harwell loved what he did. I belive Bob Costas loves being at the ballpark. Others wish they were at the beach on vacation.