Hurdle flips switch with big bats

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published February 26, 2008 at 11:28 p.m.

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Photo by M. Spencer Green / Associated Press

First baseman Todd Helton will return to the No. 3 spot in the lineup, switching with Matt Holliday, who will bat cleanup.

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As he's deciding who's on second, what to do with the fifth spot in the rotation and two spots in the bullpen and what's most valuable in a fifth outfielder, Rockies manager Clint Hurdle added a lineup adjustment to his list of things to check out.

Todd Helton will return to the No. 3 spot and Matt Holliday will drop down to cleanup in today's exhibition opener against the Chicago White Sox at Tucson Electric Park, a move Hurdle said initially is an experiment but most likely will become the norm.

It's familiar territory for Helton, who hit third for the Rockies for four years before swapping places with Holliday last year.

And this time, Helton's move into the No. 3 slot is a lot less controversial than in 2003, when Larry Walker was moved to cleanup, challenging his superstitions that deal with the No. 3.

"Wherever I hit is fine," Holliday said.

Added Helton: "The only places I don't want to hit are eighth or ninth. If it comes to hitting ninth, I'm going to shut it down."

Earlier in the week, Hurdle said the only changes in the lineup would be inserting shortstop Troy Tulowitzki into the No. 2 spot, moving catcher Yorvit Torrealba into the seventh hole and hitting the second baseman eighth.

But Hurdle said Tuesday he had talks with various members of the organization about the move as early as last season. He broached the subject with Holliday and Helton earlier this week.

Hurdle said if he stays with Helton hitting third, he will continue to hit Garrett Atkins fifth and Brad Hawpe, the only left-handed hitter other than Helton in the projected lineup, sixth.

"When Todd and I talked, he brought up when he hit sixth and Walker hit third, and there were two (right-handed hitters) between them," Hurdle said.

"That puts the pressure on the other manager. If he brings a left- hander in to face Todd, does he leave him in for two right-handed hitters to face Hawpe or does he have to make a move?

"Until we put the lineup out there and look at it, you don't know what's going to happen. This is spring training. We have guys who are flexible, versatile and good hitters."

Even before games started, a pecking order appeared to develop in the position battles:

* Jeff Baker emerged as the main challenger for Jason Nix at second base, with Clint Barmes viewed as a valuable extra man because he can play every position except catcher and brings energy.

* Left-handers Mark Redman and Franklin Morales appear to have an edge for the fifth spot in the rotation, with Kip Wells capable of making a definite push but also fitting well into the bullpen, based on how well he worked in relief for St. Louis last year. Josh Towers remains a sleeper, but the Rockies could send him to Triple-A Colorado Springs to start and be ready when a need arises.

* The decision on the last outfield spot will come down to whether the Rockies want speed (Scott Podsednik) or defense and a strong throwing arm (Cory Sullivan). Sullivan and Hawpe are the only outfielders on the team with above-average arms.

Sullivan also is the Rockies' most consistent defensive outfielder.

With the batting order, the questions are, how serious of a test the Rockies will get in exhibition games and how much of Holliday's breakout season in 2007 was his maturing as a hitter as opposed to hitting in front of Helton?

While Holliday hit .333 with runners in scoring position last year, he went into last season with a.289 average in those situations. Helton is a career .347 hitter with runners in scoring position, second among active players to Ichiro Suzuki of Seattle.

But there are numbers that would seem to support the move. Helton led the Rockies with a .434 on-base percentage last year - 29 points higher than Holliday - and 116 walks, second in the National League.

Helton said he will make whatever move the Rockies feel will benefit the team but admitted he sees personal benefits to the new alignment.

"I definitely want to hit in front of Matt," Helton said. "In another sense, I will have to stay in shape because I will have to run a lot. He'll be driving the ball in gaps. Pretty much all I am hitting are singles and it's a long run from first to home."

It's also a month before the end of spring training, at which time decisions will be made.

NO RETURN

The Rockies flirted with the idea of bringing back Neifi Perez, one of their most popular players in the clubhouse when he played with them from 1996 to 2001 but decided against the deal.

The Rockies' hope was Perez, who has played with Kansas City, San Francisco, the Chicago Cubs and Detroit since leaving the Rockies, would assume a coaching role and help the Rockies with their Latin American program.

"Right now it's just not a fit," Rockies vice president of baseball operations Bill Geivett said.

With the Rockies' infield depth - they have six players battling for the second base job alone - in the major leagues and minor leagues, the decision was made that they could not give Perez playing time, even at Triple-A Colorado Springs, to try to resurrect his career.

Perez has 18 games remaining on a 50-game suspension for failing a substance test for amphetamines twice. During his days with the Rockies, Perez helped establish the Rockies' presence in the Dominican, where he is one of the most popular players.

QUICK HITS

* Right-hander Zach McClellan rejoined the Rockies on Tuesday, optimistic he will have a speedy return to work after Friday's surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee. McClellan said swelling was minimal and he was walking without a limp.

* Keith Schulz, the Rockies' clubhouse manager, suffered an apparent ruptured disk in his back and could be out two weeks.

* Right-hander Jose Capellan, who suffered a sprained ankle during bunting drills last weekend, is expected to return to the mound for a bullpen session by Saturday.

HE SAID IT

"I still have a lot to prove. Every time I step on the field, I am trying to prove more. Those guys are still trying to get me out, aren't they?"

Brad Hawpe, right fielder, on his approach to exhibition games.

Tracy Ringolsby

Wednesday's game

Rockies (Jeff Francis) vs. White Sox (John Danks), Tucson Electric Park, 1:05 p.m. (KOA-AM, 850).

Also scheduled to pitch for the Rockies: Josh Towers, Ryan Speier, Mark Redman and John Koronka.

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