A versatile contributor
Jason Hornick/News & Messenger
Jeff Baker and the Colorado Rockies play the finale of their series with Washington today.
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By Joe Conroy
Published: August 16, 2008
Jeff Baker’s versatility has been a blessing and a curse in his short major league career.
On the one hand, the Gar-Field High School graduate has been an option as a pinch hitter for Colorado manager Clint Hurdle as well as a back up at all four infield positions and right field.
On the other hand, he has rarely had the benefit of knowing his name would be in the starting lineup on an everyday basis.
Baker reached the majors in 2005 and played sporadically that campaign, a trend that continued through last year.
But this has been a different kind of season for Baker. With Kaz Matsui leaving Colorado for Houston after the Rockies’ first World Series appearance last October, there was an opening at second base and Baker was among those in the mix for the spot.
The job eventually went to Jayson Nix, but it was soon open again after Nix struggled by hitting just .125 in 22 games.
Then Colorado was hit hard by the injury bug and thanks to a hot June and July, the job was Baker’s.
“This year I had a little different mindset,” Baker said before Friday’s series opener in Washington. “I wanted to be more of a contributor and hopefully my playing time would increase.”
Baker made sure his playing time would see a bump by hitting at a .338 clip and adding a superb 1.033 on-base plus slugging percentage. That month he hit five home runs and drove in 14 runs in just 65 at-bats.
Many of those turns at the plate came about when Colorado lost middle infielders Clint Barmes and Troy Tulowitzki (second in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2007) as well as first baseman Todd Helton and outfielders Brad Hawpe and Matt Holliday for extended periods early in the year.
“Last year we didn’t really have any slots open up and obviously I was a rookie, so I was trying to earn playing time from those guys,” Baker said. “That’s where my versatility helped me - I play left, right, first and third.”
Baker took over at second base on an everyday basis after his hot June when Hurdle announced that the 27-year-old earned the starting spot on July 24.
His 86 games played entering today is already one more than he had all of last year, his previous high (Baker’s appearances have increased each year since his arrival in the majors).
“I was seeing the ball really well,” Baker said of the June through July stretch. “It was kind of my first extended time playing. Knowing I was going to be in the lineup everyday there’s some comfort mentally. Just come in, prepare and try to go out there and have some good at-bats.”
In July he cooled a bit, batting .278 but added four of his nine homers, a career-high.
With the July 31 trade deadline approaching during that same time, talk about Colorado possibly showcasing the former prospect swirled, but Baker isn’t so sure that’s what happened, not that it would have bothered him.
“I think it was more along the lines of they were trying to get me an opportunity to play,” he said. “But it’s one of those things where, if they are showcasing you, that’s never a bad thing because if you go to another team you’re going to get an opportunity and if you do, where ever it’s at you run with it.”
There was even a rumor indicating that Baker could be packaged with Holliday in a deal with Washington.
“I got some texts from buddies back home,” he said. “I said, ‘You know, I don’t really think I’m going anywhere with as well as I was playing. It’s kind of cool to know there are some teams out there that want you, but I’m here (with) Colorado.”
Baker said he feels he’s been putting pressure on himself in August, leading to a recent 3 for 23 (.130) homestand, lowering his season average to .264 before arriving in the nation’s capitol, but he’s confident he’ll return to the form that made him the National League Player of the Week for June 16-22.
“Obviously of late I’ve been pressing a little bit, trying to do a little too much,” Baker said. “But I’ll come out of it and get back where I need to be.
“You want to get locked into one position and play there. That’s anyone’s goal on this team,” he added. “No one desires to be a utility guy, but it’s one of those things where, if you’re versatile enough to do it, you give the manager options. You make yourself more valuable that way.”
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