To complete the cycle, Tulowitzki hit a seventh inning triple. He previously had a home run in the first inning, a second inning single and a fourth inning double. He added another hit in the eighth inning to finish the game 5-for-5 with two runs and seven RBIs.

Although he struggled earlier in the season, Tulowitzki has been especially hitting the ball well after the All-Star break. On the season, he’s now hitting .276 with 21 homers, 60 RBIs and an on-base percentage of .361.

The 24-year-old shortstop out of Long Beach State is starting to once again show the promise he illustrated in 2007. That season, Tulowitzki lead the Rockies to the World Series and appeared to be on his way to superstardom. However, after a poor year last year and a slow start this year, doubt started to enter the equation.

Not anymore. Tulowitzki’s cycle once again elevates him to an elite prospect.

Troy Tulowitzki Hits for the Cycle (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Troy Tulowitzki Hits for the Cycle

Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies (Image: Newscom)

As a rookie, Tulowitzki played 155 games, had a batting average of .291 with 24 homers, 99 RBIs and 104 runs. As a sophomore, his numbers began dropping — hitting .263 with eight homers, 46 RBIs and 48 runs.

Hit-less in his last 19 at-bats, the Rockies have shut Tulowitzki down to have him work on his swing and get him to calm down at the plate. Scouts say Tulowitzki oftentimes swings too hard and pitchers have adjusted by giving him less pitches to hit. Even more worrisome than his .167 batting average is the fact that he has 17 strikeouts already this season.

Don’t expect the shortstop to be out for long. He’ll likely be out a couple days and then the Rockies will put him back into the lineup to judge his progress.

Post from: EveryJoe

Troy Tulowitzki Benched by the Rockies

The Giants smoked the infield during the eighth inning of their game against the San Diego Padres. They lost the game in the 13th (7-3), but aw heck . . . this is what made the newsreel highlights (21s):

Post from: EveryJoe

VIDEO: Giants Turn a Pretty Darn Cool Triple Play

Before we show you the video from the other day, we want to note two things.

1. “Asdrubal” is one of the coolest first names ev-ah, and J.K. Rowling is probably going to use it in a book some day.

2. We find it amusing that Cabrera is Johnny-on-the-spot enough to make an unassisted triple play but not swift enough to remember to keep the ball.

Post from: EveryJoe

VIDEO: Asdrubal Cabrera’s Unassisted Triple Play

As we scour the spring training reports and can’t wait for the Red Sox to dominate in 2008 and make the Yankees look like fools prepare for the upcoming baseball season, we thought this 2007 gem would whet the appetites of baseball lovers near and far. 

Troy Tulowitzki of the Colorado Rockies made it look easy. But as the announcer says here (36s), the unassisted wonder-play has only happened 13 times in MLB history.

Post from: EveryJoe

Baseball Video: A One-Man Triple Play