Rockies report: Fond farwell for Johnson?

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published September 28, 2008 at 9:03 p.m.

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Numbers game

15 losses for the Rockies in 18 games against the Diamondbacks, equaling a franchise record for most losses to one team in a season. The Rockies were 4-15 against the Dodgers in 2006. The worst season record against a team, though, was in 1993, the franchise's first year, when the Rockies were 0-13 against Atlanta.

Photo by Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press

Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki tags the Diamondbacks' Adam Dunn as Dunn is picked off second base to end the sixth inning in Colorado's season-ending 2-1 loss in Phoenix.

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If it was 45-year-old Randy Johnson's final appearance in his career, it was impressive. The Diamondbacks left-hander pitched a two-hitter, giving up two singles to Troy Tulowitzki, and struck out 10. It was the first nine-inning effort for Johnson since June 16, 2005, his second complete game this season (the other was eight innings in a loss) and the 100th of his career.

The win was the 295th of his career. Johnson has indicated a strong desire to reach 300 wins, but there are concerns in Arizona about how committed Johnson would remain once he got to 300. That makes the Diamondbacks tentative about whether to bring him back and start a season uncertain about the rotation.

Johnson has been on his own program in recent years, which includes not traveling with the team, and a few eyebrows were raised when, with the Diamondbacks still in the National League West race, he did not accompany the team to Colorado for a Sept. 19-21 series. Then, when he arrived in St. Louis on Sept. 22, instead of joining his teammates at the ballpark, he went directly to the team hotel, across the street from Busch Stadium.

STEP FORWARD

Rockies right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez bent, and bent a lot, to begin the season. He didn't break, though. He bounced back strong. Jimenez had a no-decision in the season finale, but he worked seven shutout innings, giving up three hits, and struck out 10, one short of his career best. He allowed only one Arizona baserunner to get into scoring position.

"From where he was (when the season started) to where he got to was impressive," manager Clint Hurdle said. "It was all due to his hard work and adjustments. . . . His composure and mound presence grew as much as anything."

ETC.

Infielder Garrett Atkins and outfielder Willy Taveras were the only Rockies players to earn incentives based on game-related stats. Atkins picked up $52,500 total for finishing with 664 plate appearances. He earned $17,500 each at 600, 625 and 650. He failed to reach the $20,000 for 675 and 700 appearances. Taveras had 538 plate appearances, picking up $50,000 for 500 plate appearances, but with a stress fracture in his right tibia, he was unable to reach 550 or 600 plate appearan- ces, which also had $50,000 payments. Right-hander Aaron Cook and outfielder Matt Holliday each earned $25,000 for All-Star selections. . . . The Rockies led the National League in stolen bases, with 141, but their inability to steal a base during the weekend in Arizona cost them the major league lead. Tampa Bay had 142, thanks to Eric Hinske on Sunday in Detroit. It is the third- best stolen-base total in Rockies history, behind 1996, when they stole 201, and 1993, their first year of existence, when they stole 146. . . . The Rockies failed to have a player with 100 RBI for the second time since 1995. Atkins finished with a team-best 99. Atkins also led the team in 2005, with 89. . . . Catcher Chris Iannetta was hit by a pitch 14 times, tops on the club and third in the NL but seven short of the club record set by Eric Young in 1996.

Tracy Ringolsby

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