Troy Tulowitzki doesn't like to lose. He didn't like it in 2008, when the team struggled a year after Rocktober gave promise of greater things. He certainly didn't like it this season and said as much to the Denver Post's Troy Renck recently.
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As we know, Tulowitzki is now the unquestioned leader in the clubhouse, and he's sending a message to some of the young guys who haven't lived up to their potential yet:
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↵"There are definitely some guys in this room that are at points in their career where it's make-or-break time. Either they establish themselves at this level, or they aren't going to be here," Tulowitzki said.
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Being vague is a great way to make every young player wonder if he is being called into question. Two of those guys certainly are third baseman Ian Stewart and center fielder Dexter Fowler. Stewart continues to strike out far too much and his OPS of .791 is not up to par for someone with the power he can have. And while Fowler set the club record with 14 triples this season, a .740 OPS fails to make anyone happy.
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Spring Training will also be a time for the Rockies to provide extended looks at Chris Nelson, who should be a strong candidate to start at second base.
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But all the young players the Rockies have should heed Tulo's advice on the offseason:
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↵"Those guys need to realize that. This offseason is huge. The offseason is no more enjoy yourself and going on as many vacations as you possibly can, then go to spring training and get ready. That's a valuable lesson that I think a lot of people learned this year. Not ⇥⇥⇥ ⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥ ⇥⇥⇥⇥⇥ ⇥⇥⇥⇥ ⇥⇥⇥⇥ ⇥⇥⇥⇥ ⇥⇥⇥⇥ ⇥⇥⇥everybody did that, and the guys that did that, it shows."
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Winners never stop practicing. Excellence is a habit formed by continuous work.
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