The Mancrush Log: August 2008

The month of August saw some very predictable mancrushes and some very unlikely mancrushes. I guess this is about how Rockiescast would like the mix to look every month: the 3-4-5 hitters are all represented, the front office makes the list, and we get an emotional lift from an unexpected place. It’s got all the makings of a Shakespearean play. You know, one that’s full of baseball and completely heterosexual homoerotic mantension. It’s like reading the Cliff’s Notes for Othello.

7/28-8/3

The Man: Matthew Thomas Holliday, LF, Colorado Rockies
 
The Crush: Entering the season, Matt Holliday was easily the favorite to be the subject of the most mancrushes this season.  I mean, just look at the man.  He’s also a pretty good ballplayer.  Surprisingly though, this is the first mancrush on MTH since the second week of the season.  It seems when expectations are so high, it’s hard to catch Rockiescast’s undivided attention.  MTH’s 10-26, 4 home run performance this week stomped on all expectations.  Perhaps even more impressive, this week fell in the midst of a 15-game scoring streak for ol’ Matt.  That’s right: he scored at least a run in every Rockies game for over half a month, and he touched the plate every single time.

8/4-8/10

The Man: Dan O’Dowd, GM, Colorado Rockies

The Crush: This was the week the Rockies picked up the remainder of Livan Hernandez’s contract from the Twins.  Thanks, waiver system!  While Livan’s pitching for the Rockies so far has left something to be desired, Rockiescast recognizes that this move was never really about him.  As the trade deadline passed, the Rockies found themselves barely clinging to playoff hopes with some holes in the rotation.  And after a month of rumors that the front office would soon pull the plug on the season and cash in some high profile players, the Rockies’ players and fan base needed some reassurance that the 2008 campaign wasn’t over yet.  The usually conservative Dan O’Dowd provided that reassurance when he picked up the remaining $1.5 million or so of Livan’s salary for two months of work.  With a few pen strokes, O’Dowd sent a signal to the baseball universe that the Rockies front office still has playoff hopes for 2008.  Among fans and local writers, it also showed that the Rockies are willing to throw some cash behind a playoff push under the right circumstances.  Now if only we could get this Livan character to pitch well at Coors Field.

8/12-8/17

The Man: Brad Hawpe, RF, Colorado Rockies

The Crush: This week, Brad Hawpe once again proved that you don’t need to be named Walker or Helton to be a heartthrob on the left side.  It’s fair to say that Brad’s a streaky player, but when he’s on…holy jeez is he on.  If you throw out his numbers from August 12 (a day before there was an audible “click” coming from LoDo), his work at the plate this week was a masterpiece.  Brad went 10-20 with 3 doubles and 3 home runs.  In his usual clutch fashion, 2 of those home runs turned out to be game winners.  The other one was still awesome.  Speaking of awesome, this was also the week Brad used his cannon arm to make Ronnie Belliard look silly running the bases.  Okay…in fairness, Ronnie’s weight made him look silly running the bases; Brad’s cannon made him look foolish.

8/19-8/24

The Man: Omar Quintanilla, SS-2B, Colorado Rockies

The Crush: Admittedly, Rockiescast has been looking for an excuse to fall head-over-heels for Omar for several years now.  It’s hard to maintain such a high level of respect for a ballplayer without it spilling over into mancrush.  After flirting with a .300 batting average (and our hearts) for the month of June, Omar’s playing time and offensive production dropped in July and August.  Then one Sunday afternoon, Omar belted his way back into the hearts and minds of Rockies fans everywhere with his 12th inning walk-off home run.  And that’s how you turn the lemon of being a late-inning defensive replacement into glorious mancrush lemonade.  When can we see you again, Omar?

8/25-8/31

The Man: Garrett Atkins, 3B-1B, Colorado Rockies

The Crush: Garrett Atkins’ swing is a thing of beauty.  Rockiescast feels tingly all over for a few seconds when Garrett gets the swing just right.  That happened so many times this week, there was little doubt the mancrush moment would be dedicated to Mr. Atkins.  He went 2-5 in each of the Rockies’ three victories this week, driving in 7 runs in the process.  Garrett’s swing was at its prettiest on Friday night in San Diego, when he crushed 2 home runs in the heavy sea air.  So uh, Garrett…you still want to sign a long-term deal to stay in Colorado, right?