Long-term view at short

Team's commitment reflects its belief that a leader is emerging

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Friday, February 8, 2008

Chris Schneider / The Rocky/2007

The Rockies have rewarded shortstop Troy Tulowitzki financially and with a long-term contract for his key role in their reaching the World Series last year.

The Rocky / 2007

Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said his new deal with the Rockies "doesn't mean I change how I approach the game or play."

When Troy Tulowitzki received his $2.3 million signing bonus after agreeing to terms with the Rockies as their first-round draft choice in 2005, he splurged.

He bought himself an Escalade.

"I'd always wanted one," said Tulowitzki, who says his interest in "nice cars" ranks right behind his passion for baseball.

And he bought his parents a house in Santa Clara, Calif., about a 10-minute drive from Sunnyvale, where he grew up.

"That was the most important thing for me, to give my parents a home," Tulowitzki said. "Growing up, we always rented. This was a way for me to do something special for my family."

Even now, with Tulowitzki having broken into the big leagues and having turned heads a year ago, and last month having signed the largest contract in major league history for a player with less than two years in the majors (six years, $31 million), he definitely is a part of the family.

There are no pretensions.

"It is nice to have money but doesn't mean I change how I approach the game or play," he said.

Tulowitzki still finds comfort in blue denims, lives in the offseason with his parents and younger brother and sister and seems very comfortable in his surroundings.

"If you follow me around during the day in the offseason, you wouldn't get too excited," Tulowitzki said. "I wake up, go to the gym, go to the batting cage and then go home to spend time with the family. My family is real close."

Tulowitzki, though, certainly has created excitement among the Rockies and their fans.

Complete package

A year ago, he was the unknown rookie heading to spring training, ready to do battle with clubhouse favorite and incumbent shortstop Clint Barmes.

Twelve months later, as the Rockies prepare to begin spring training a week from today in Tucson when pitchers and catchers report, he has become a fan and clubhouse favorite.

He not only hit more home runs (24) than any rookie shortstop in National League history and drove in more runs (99) than any rookie shortstop in 50 years, he also emerged as a leader on a Rockies team that won the first pennant in franchise history.

And he never lost his laid-back personality along the way.

That's why when Rockies ownership and management mapped out the offseason strategy, there wasn't hesitation with the decision to make a long-term pitch to Tulowitzki, whose deal also includes a Rockies option for 2014.

"Character," general manager Dan O'Dowd said when he began to rattle off reasons the Rockies were comfortable with the long-term deal. "Integrity. Knowledge of the game. Desire to be great. Competitiveness. Willingness to put team before himself. He's a very young age (23) to get that. And, hopefully, we have eliminated one of the distractions he could face as his career unfolds."

Natural leader

Leadership is talked about a lot in pro sports, but it rarely is found.

A leader is a player who not only works hard and puts up impressive stats but also a player who, no matter whether he is playing well or struggling, has the self-confidence to challenge a teammate who isn't playing up to his ability.

"That's the litmus test," manager Clint Hurdle said. "It's a unique ability. Some guys don't want to be part of it. Heck, most guys don't. It takes a wonderful self-esteem."

Don Baylor was that type of player, and Hal McRae and Alan Trammell. Tulowitzki seems very comfortable in that type of company.

"He has that ability to make people around him better," said Hurdle, who experienced the McRae factor in his young days as a player with Kansas City. " 'Tulo' has an unbridled passion for the game, for competition and winning."

When the Rockies slipped nine games below .500 in May, Tulowitzki, battling to come out of a season-opening struggle, publicly admitted his dissatisfaction, quickly pointing out he never had played for a team with a losing record "and don't plan on doing it after getting to the big leagues."

He can needle but also can be needled.

"He is a fun-loving guy who was not afraid to jump in the middle of things (in the clubhouse) and be part of the team," Matt Holliday said. "Most importantly, he played the game the right way and earned everybody's respect on the field, and then he wasn't a shy kid in the corner. He interacted. He wasn't afraid to say things that needed to be said."

It was in Houston in late June, when Astros second baseman Craig Biggio collected his 3,000th career hit, that Tulowitzki flippantly said he had close to 3,000 hits himself, counting Little League, high school, college and minor league play.

The next day, there were four pieces of notebook paper hanging above his locker, with numbers representing his estimated career hit total. Pitcher Josh Fogg updated the "Tulo-meter" each time the rookie shortstop got a hit.

And there were plenty of hits. Tulowitzki finished the season hitting .291 - it was the highest average for a Rockies shortstop over a full season - along with his franchise records for a shortstop in virtually every other single-season offensive category.

Finding his way

Not that it was all smooth sailing. Three weeks into the season, he was hitting .191 and was given a three-day rest. Hurdle said he was convinced the break would provide the cure for what ailed Tulowitzki and said sending him to the minor leagues was not a serious option.

"Sometimes you see a guy struggle and look for help," Hurdle said. "Sometimes they are frustrated and put a chokehold on themselves. And some guys get angry and figure it out. He got angry."

Tulowitzki also led major league shortstops in fielding percentage, and it wasn't because he was stationary. He had 114 more total chances than Cleveland's Jhonny Peralta, who ranked second among major league shortstops in total chances.

He was forceful without being pushy. As a rookie, he knew his place, particularly early. He showed up in spring training in a low-key mode, well aware of the popularity of Barmes.

"I was a guy in the corner of the locker room," he said of his approach last spring training. "My plan was to work my tail off and earn the respect of the other players. I stayed quiet. I wasn't going to rub guys the wrong way. I just went about my business."

And he found believers.

Not that the Rockies ever doubted his potential. Rockies scouting director Bill Schmidt was a Tulowitzki believer the first time he saw him play at Long Beach State.

While others were concerned that, at 6-foot-3, Tulowitzki was too tall and would have to move to third base or the outfield, Schmidt instead talked about Cal Ripken and kept thinking back to his days as a Yankees scout and Derek Jeter.

"It was big for me to have him in my corner, but more than anything, I believe I can be a shortstop," Tulowitzki said. "Anyone who told me (the size was a problem at shortstop), I would tell them to give me a chance and see what I can do."

Tulowitzki has been given his chance. And the Rockies enjoyed seeing what he did.

They enjoyed it so much, they have made him the foundation of their future.

ringolsbyt@RockyMountainNews.com

Long term

Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki's six-year contract is the fourth-longest guarantee in franchise history.

* Todd Helton, 11 years. In spring 2001, he signed a nine-year extension, binding him to the Rockies through 2011 with the club having an option for 2012. The total guarantee for 11 years was $151.45 million.

* Mike Hampton, eight years. In December 2000, he signed an eight-year, $121 million contract.

* Larry Walker, seven years. Before the 1999 season, he signed a six-year extension, binding him to the Rockies through 2005. The total guarantee for seven years was $80 million.

* Troy Tulowitzki, six years. Last month, he signed a six-year contract with an option on a seventh year that guarantees $31 million through 2013.

Under control

Tulowitzki is one of seven current Rockies signed to a contract binding them to the team for more than one year.

* Troy Tulowitzki, six years, $31 million, through 2013, with an option on 2014.

* Todd Helton, four years, $73.5 million, through 2011, with an option on 2012.

* Aaron Cook, four years, $34.5 million, through 2011.

* Jeff Francis, three years, $12.25 million, through 2010, with an option on 2011.

* Matt Holliday, two years, $23 million, through 2009.

* Luis Vizcaino, two years, $7.75 million, through 2009, with an option on 2010.

* Yorvit Torrealba, two years, $7.5 million, through 2009, with an option on 2010.

Short stuff

The Rockies' primary shortstops through the years:

* Vinny Castilla, 1993

* Walt Weiss, 1994 to 1997

* Neifi Perez, 1998 to 2001

* Juan Uribe, 2002 to 2003

* Royce Clayton, 2004

* Clint Barmes, 2005 to 2006

* Troy Tulowitzki, 2007

Dirtbags

Tulowitzki is one of six players from Long Beach State to be selected in the first round of the baseball draft.

Year Player, pos (pick) Drafted by

1989 Kyle Abbott, RHP (9) Angels

1995 Jeff Liefer, OF (25) White Sox

2001 Bobby Crosby, SS (25) Athletics

2004 Jered Weaver, RHP (12) Angels

2005 Troy Tulowitzki, SS (7) Rockies

2006 Evan Longoria, 3B (3) Rays 2005 revisited

Tulowitzki was the seventh player selected in the 2005 draft. Selections ahead of him:

Pick Player, pos Drafted by

1. Justin Upton, SS Diamondbacks

2. Alex Gordon, 3B Royals

3. Jeff Clement, C Mariners

4. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B Nationals

5. Ryan Braun, 3B Brewers

6. Rick Romero, LHP Blue Jays