NewsBarmes drawing praise in the field
Second baseman utilizing natural instincts as a shortstop
By Thomas Harding / MLB.com
04/12/09 3:18 PM ET
DENVER -- The Rockies' Clint Barmes was taught growing up that a good shortstop can do anything.So even though the only way Barmes will play short on a regular basis is if something bad happens to Troy Tulowitzki, Barmes is a shortstop at heart, even if the lineup card says second base.
"To me, I'm still a shortstop playing second base," said Barmes, who entered Sunday's game hitting .333. "That's the feel and the thought that I've got. I enjoy playing second base and with this team I really enjoy playing up the middle with 'Tulo.' We're a great fit.
"But that's telling you the way that I feel."
Shortstop is a position like quarterback in football. A player can be moved, but a part of him never leaves a position where a player can control a game with his brain and his athletic ability.
"I've always believed that, from Little League on," Barmes said. "I did move around. I played center field. At that time, I pitched. But everybody always told me, and I believed it, if you can play short, you can play anywhere."
Barmes broke in as a shortstop and held the starting position for the Rockies in 2005 and 2006. He took over as second baseman last year, but played 36 games at short. Most of those were when Tulowitzki was out with injuries.
He and Tulowitzki have made several eye-popping fielding plays. Both are tall for their positions, can make plays throwing against their body momentum and are willing to take risks.
Barmes' work at second is becoming noticed, but he credits his work at short with making him better at second.
"Coming up in 2005, I'll be honest, there was talk of whether I could play every day at shortstop and I had the same thoughts, because at the time I didn't know," Barmes said. "Then in '06 it kind of clicked for me. I had a solid year defensively at short, and it's only continued to get better."
Thomas Harding is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
