Second's banana

After peel-filled path, Rockies' Nix reaching for top of bunch

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published February 23, 2008 at 12:45 a.m.
Updated February 23, 2008 at 2:06 p.m.

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Photo by Barry Gutierrez/The Rocky

Jayson Nix will be the Rockies' starting second baseman on Opening Day.

Photo by Barry Gutierrez / The Rocky

Jason Nix loosens up for batting practice. "He hasn't had an all-rosy path," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle says. "It has been an obstacle course."

Photo by Barry Gutierrez / The Rocky

Jason Nix, center in background, prepares to field a groundball at second base during spring training at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson this week.

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Jayson Nix has run into a few detours in his anticipated quick trip to the big leagues.

After seven years of bus trips and 5 a.m. wake-up calls, bouncing around the minor leagues from Casper to Asheville, N.C., to Visalia, Calif., to Tulsa, Okla., and then to Colorado Springs, he is about to reach his destination - maybe.

The Rockies conduct their first full- squad work of spring training at Hi Corbett Field this afternoon, and the one unsettled spot in the lineup is second base. That's Nix's position. And it's Nix who has the inside track among the six second base candidates the Rockies have in camp.

Now it is up to Nix, the Rockies' first draft choice and the 44th player selected overall in the 2001 draft.

"He needs to embrace the opportunity and play with the same focus and concentration he has the last few years," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He hasn't had an all-rosy path. It has been an obstacle course. He persevered. He won the players' admiration. You have to like what you see going in."

It's a matter of Nix giving the Rockies something to like when they see him in the next five weeks.

He will be pushed by Clint Barmes, the Rockies' Opening Day shortstop in 2005 and 2006, and Omar Quinta- nilla, both accomplished defensive infielders; Ian Stewart and Jeff Baker, highly regarded players within the system who are trying to make the conversion from third base; and veteran Marcus Giles, who is looking to revive his career.

Following Holliday

What those five do, though, will be tempered by what Nix does.

He is coming off his most complete minor league season, having hit .292 at Triple-A Colorado Springs last year, the highest average since he debuted by hitting .294 with Rookie Casper in 2001.

He opened eyes when he helped Team USA to the World Cup championship and was selected the World Cup MVP.

It brought back memories for the Rockies of the sudden emergence of Matt Holliday from underachieving prospect to legitimate major league player four years ago.

Holliday, who never quite put up the anticipated stats in the minor leagues, found a confidence boost from his unexpected selection to the U.S. Olympic baseball qualifying team and, in his seventh pro season, established himself as a regular in the Rockies lineup in 2004.

"His career path is similar to mine," Holliday said. "High prospect, struggled in the minors. Figured things out. It's about perseverance, sticking with it. He got the chance to play for Team USA and did well. I think that's the final step.

"Team USA is big from the confidence standpoint. You are chosen out of an elite group. You start to think, 'I might be ready. This might be the step that helps me go in and establish myself.' Then for him to go there on a team with players like (Evan) Longoria (of Tampa Bay) and he's the MVP, he has to realize he is capable of special things."

Rockies special assistant Marcel Lachemann was a coach for Team USA and said Nix's defense alone was the reason for two of the team's victories.

"He started out hitting down in the lineup and by the end, he was hitting leadoff," Lachemann said. "He has that makeup. He has that respect for the game and determination to get the job done. And defensively . . ."

Former All-Star third baseman Carney Lansford, Nix's hitting coach at Colorado Springs last year, described Nix as "the best defensive second baseman I've seen," and that included Lansford playing alongside the likes of Bobby Grich with the then-California Angels.

Hurdle said Nix also received a strong endorsement from former major league manager and second baseman Davey Johnson, who managed Team USA.

"He told me, 'The kid is ready,' " Hurdle said. "I told Davey that's easy for him to say. He's going to be playing golf in June and I'm going to be managing, and Davey told me, 'Don't worry about it. He is ready.' That's high praise from Davey. Guys can be tough on players who play the same position they played."

Lifelong dream

Nobody needs to be tough on Nix. He is tough enough on himself. There have been some who felt that Nix's biggest challenge in getting to the big leagues is the self-induced pressure to do well.

"I have gotten frustrated because I have not gotten the result I have worked to attain, but I always have appreciated the opportunity to play," he said. "That has never changed."

A year ago, though, the frustrations tempered.

"Last year, I really began to believe I belonged in the big leagues, that I'm a big-league player," he said, "and the World Cup reaffirmed that. I was confident going in, and that didn't hurt."

Desire never has been a question. Nix never can remember not wanting to be a major league baseball player.

He had an offer from the University of Texas to play baseball when he graduated from high school but never considered anything other than signing with the Rockies. The summer after his junior year in high school, when he had a break in his baseball schedule, he took a vacation with his dad. They went to Florida to watch his older brother, Laynce, play in the rookie Gulf Coast League for the Texas Rangers.

"I will never forget standing there in the humidity, sweating and watching him play," Nix said. "I knew that was what I wanted to do. It was a good feeling."

This spring, it's Jayson Nix who is being watched, looking to provide a "good feeling" for the Rockies about his ability to fill their second base void.

Second thoughts

The Rockies' second base candidates and their odds of winning the starting job:

* Jayson Nix

Odds: 2-to-1

Comment: Excels on defense and has some pop.

* Jeff Baker

Odds: 8-to-1

Comment: Baker, left, worked in winter to show he can make adjustment.

* Clint Barmes

Odds: 10-to-1

Comment: Versatility and energy assure at least a utility role.

* Omar Quintanilla

Odds: 25-to-1

Comment: Lone left-handed hitter, but hasn't shown he's an offensive threat.

* Ian Stewart

Odds: 50-to-1

Comment: Third baseman of future would benefit from a big year at Triple-A.

* Marcus Giles

Odds: 99-to-1

Comment: Veteran came to camp to resurrect career.

For openers

Rockies Opening Day second basemen:

* 2007: Kazuo Matsui

* 2006: Luis Gonzalez

* 2005: Aaron Miles

* 2004: Luis Gonzalez

* 2003: Ronnie Belliard

* 2002: Jose Ortiz

* 2001: Todd Walker

* 2000: Mike Lansing

* 1999: Mike Lansing

* 1998: Mike Lansing

* 1997: Eric Young

* 1996: Jason Bates

* 1995: Roberto Mejia

* 1994: Roberto Mejia

* 1993: Eric Young

What the candidates are saying

* Omar Quintanilla

Is offense the key for you?

"When I have been in the big leagues, I have struggled offensively. I know I can hit. I just have to come out and swing the bat and show the Rockies."

* Marcus Giles

Do you feel, as the outsider, you face bigger odds?

"All my career, the years I have had to play to prove people wrong are the years I've done better. Obviously, I have to do that again."

* Ian Stewart

Any reason you didn't slim down for second base?

"Hopefully, I get a good chance to show what I can do. I feel good at second base. At the same time, if it doesn't work out, I will go back to third base. It's why I did not try to lose a lot of weight."

* Clint Barmes

Do you feel your versatility will work against you?

"It could. I'm going to try to win the second base job, but if not, then I am a guy who, obviously, has to be prepared to move around."

* Jayson Nix

Do you feel you have an edge for the job?

"I feel like there is going to be competition, and I have to be ready to prove what I can do. I definitely think about it. I try to be prepared. Sure, I'm pumped. I feel like I'm going to get the opportunity (to win the job)."

* Jeff Baker

How big a challenge is the move to second?

"Every position has some unique aspects but I have always made a point during batting practice to take balls at different positions. . . . I feel I am a good enough athlete that I can make the move."

SOLE MAN

Rockies closer Manny Corpas hasn't forgotten the struggles of the lower minor leagues. Now that he is establishing himself at the major league level, he wants to help young Hispanic players.

Corpas has used part of his product exchange from Under Armour to supply baseball spikes to 14 players from his native Panama who are in the minor leagues with various organizations, as well as the Hispanic players in the Rockies' minor league system.

"When I played in the minor leagues, you would see big-league players and their shoes and wish you could have a pair that nice," Corpas said. "Now I have a chance to help some of the kids who are where I was."

GAME TIME

The Rockies have only four full-squad workouts before they play their first exhibition game Wednesday. It's the second year in a row they have scheduled the official reporting date for players other than pitchers and catchers later than any other team.

"Things worked out well last year, so why change them?" manager Clint Hurdle asked. "We just felt there is a lot of downtime for position players while pitchers are getting (their arm strength built up), so why not eliminate it? Spring training gets old quick enough."

Hurdle said he didn't plan to have an intrasquad game.

SIDELINED

Right-handed pitcher Zach McClellan underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to repair a torn meniscus Friday. McClellan, sidelined most of last season after having arm surgery, is expected to be out four weeks.

OUCH

Right-hander Jose Capellan suffered a sprained right ankle Friday, a setback in his bid for one of the bullpen spots. He hopes to be full speed before the exhibition season starts.

Capellan, 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds, was acquired from Detroit during the offseason for Denny Bautista in a swap of hard-throwing but inconsistent pitchers.

HE SAID IT

"I want to put someone behind (Brad) Hawpe who has some experience, can put the barrel on the ball and has driven in big runs."

Hurdle, on having catcher Yorvit Torrealba bat seventh and the second baseman eighth.

Tracy Ringolsby

ringolsbyt@RockyMountainNews.com

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