Miller's camping trip
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The largest recycling center for miles around is here this spring, run by Colorado dudes, but it's not what you think.
As much as those hearty Coloradoans love the outdoors and do their share to care for the environment, this has got more to do with dirty sweat socks and extra bats than it does with green trees and clean air.
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| Royce Clayton, a non-roster invitee, earned a spot as the Rockies' opening-day shortstop.(AP) |
It is a Bring Us Your Tired and Your Weary kind of spring for the Rockies, who were a distant fourth in the NL West at 74-88 last season and who face the unpleasant prospect of opening the season with star outfielder Larry Walker on the disabled list.
Royce Clayton, invited to camp as a non-roster player and of late the Milwaukee Brewers (his fifth major-league team), will be the club's opening-day shortstop.
Infielders Denny Hocking (who played with Minnesota last season, his only team), Mark Sweeney (Colorado last season, his fifth team), pitcher Jeff Fassero (St. Louis, his sixth club) and veteran relievers Turk Wendell (Philadelphia, his third club) and Vladimir Nunez (Florida, his second club) all are fighting for roster spots. And until he was released on Sunday, infielder Damian Jackson (Boston, his fifth big-league club) was in the scrum, too.
The Rockies have already named veteran Shawn Estes, (Chicago Cubs, his fourth team) as their opening-day starter, even though he is not on their roster yet, for crying out loud.
Few here have seen anything like it.
"It seems pretty unusual that they do have this many non-roster guys (who are veterans) in camp," Fassero said.
"I think this organization, when they talked to the non-roster guys they brought in, they talked about character," Hocking said. "That's what this organization is trying to do, bring in guys with character, attitude and intelligence.
"You look around, you can tell they're serious."
From the east, from the west and from all points between, this ragtag bunch has migrated here for a variety of reasons with one common goal: To extend their careers in a place that will have them.
For Fassero, 41, buried in St. Louis' bullpen for much of last season, the Rockies were the only team offering him a chance to win a job in their rotation (hold your altitude jokes there, please).
For Wendell, who lives in Castle Rock, Colo., it was a chance to play close to home in front of his two children (daughter Dakota, 6, and son Wyatt, 4.)
For Jackson, taking a chance as a non-roster player in Colorado was worth trying to avoid taking a pay cut and salvage some pride after the way he was treated in Boston.
After batting .261 and doing whatever the Red Sox asked of him last season -- he played seven different positions, mostly the two middle infield spots and all three outfield slots -- Jackson was hoping to return to the Red Sox. And they invited him back, too -- but not at the $625,000 he made last year.
Now, he's back on the market.
"With Boston, I'd rather have heard, 'You did good, but not good enough.'" Jackson said before getting his release papers Sunday. "I was told that (Curt) Schilling wouldn't take less than $12 million and that (Keith) Foulke wouldn't take less than $10.5 million.
"I was like, 'Excuse me if I don't feel sorry for those guys.' Here I am making table scraps. Colorado didn't make me feel like that."
Jackson said that's exactly what he told Boston general manager Theo Epstein, whom Jackson has known since 1999 when the two were in San Diego.
"I told him, 'I hope you're not expecting me to feel sorry for those guys,'" Jackson said. "Theo told me, 'Just because we non-tendered you doesn't mean we don't want you back. It just means that you're going to have less money and less playing time.'
"I said, 'Theo, with all due respect, I'm a father of two.' I chose to keep the other comments to myself.... If I'm not going to be appreciated, don't hire me."
With Hocking and Sweeney around, and given the Rockies' affinity for young second baseman Aaron Miles, they ultimately decided they didn't need to hire Jackson.
As for the rest, Hocking fits in as a utilityman and Sweeney works as a left-handed pinch-hitter. Wendell likely fits into the bullpen, and Nunez probably will as well. Fassero is borderline, in a battle for the fifth spot in the rotation with Denny Stark and Chin-hui Tsao. Estes, Jason Jennings, Joe Kennedy and Scott Elarton line up as the first four starters.
Clayton and Estes, of course, are simply tuning up for opening day.
"You know what, I've never been a guy with a lot of security," said Clayton, explaining why he had no reservations about coming into camp without a guaranteed deal. "I've had one multi-year deal in 12 years. I've had to earn everything. I've never been in a situation where I've been spoon fed, so this is very comfortable to me. I don't have a problem with it."
With that attitude, Clayton certainly is in the right place. These guys on the fringe, they're all going to have to earn everything.
Because there are even more non-roster guys with much less big-league service time who have a chance to make this team: Outfielder Kit Pellow, a 30-year-old outfielder/infielder/catcher who started in Kansas City's organization in 1996, almost certainly will have a spot on the team. And pitcher Tim Harikkala, 32, who has knocked around pro ball since 1992, has an outside chance to win a relief job.
"Everybody knows who the big guys are here," Hocking said. " Todd Helton, Larry Walker, Vinny Castilla's first year back ... we have a very good foundation. Now, we've just got to fit the other pieces in the puzzle."
Miller's previous camping stops: White Sox in Tucson | Royals in Surprise | Diamondbacks in Tucson | Padres in Peoria | Rangers in Surprise | A's in Phoenix | Brewers in Maryvale | Giants in Scottsdale | Cubs in Mesa | Angels in Tempe | Marlins in Jupiter | Reds in Sarasota, Indians in Winter Haven | Cardinals in Jupiter | Mets in Port St. Lucie | Dodgers in Vero Beach | Orioles in Fort Lauderdale | Expos in Viera | Braves in Kissimmee | Tigers in Lakeland | Pirates in Bradenton | Devil Rays in St. Petersburg | Blue Jays in Dunedin | Twins in Fort Myers | Red Sox in Fort Myers | Yankees in Tampa | Astros in Kissimmee | Phillies in Clearwater | Red Sox in Fort Myers
