LaTroy Hawkins knew David Ortiz when he was “Little Papi.” They were teammates with the Minnesota Twins, and Ortiz was a popular member of the team. Now he is “Big Papi,” a Red Sox star on a first-name basis with the baseball world and considered one of the best clutch hitters of his generation. Ortiz reached base safely in his first four plate appearances Tuesday night.”When you play for the Red Sox, you are a rock star. But it’s more than that with David,” Hawkins said. “He’s a god here.”
SHORT STORY: There are days he provides painful reminders he still is a rookie - Sunday, for example, when he struck out four times. And there are games when he puts on a show that makes the All-Star Game seem within reach over the next few seasons. In the sixth inning Tuesday, Troy Tulowitzki showed off his arm, completing a 4-6-3 double play with a laser to first to erase J.D. Drew.
RELIEF ROLES: Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca confirmed that Taylor Buchholz will work in the seventh inning, with Jeremy Affeldt. Hawkins and Manny Corpas own eighth-inning roles. “Taylor’s not strictly the long guy. If he was, he might as well take a cot down to the bullpen and take a nap,” Apodaca said.
