TUCSON — Forget his private plane and Las Vegas nightclub. Here’s how you know Jason Giambi is a big deal with the Rockies: First baseman Todd Helton endorsed his return, and Troy Tulowitzki demanded that Giambi’s locker be placed next to his, both here and during the regular season.
“My at-bats got so much better with him on the team. He relaxed me and put me in a better state of mind, reminding me that I don’t need to carry the team,” Tulowitzki said. “I can’t tell you how much he helped me.”
Thumb through the Rockies’ history and it’s hard to find a bench player with more cachet than Giambi. He’s a former American League MVP, and he still grinds out at-bats with such intensity that manager Jim Tracy nicknamed him “The Gladiator,” referencing Russell Crowe’s character in the movie.
That’s where Giambi won over Helton last September. Everyone knows Helton hates days off. It’s how he’s wired, and he never completely trusted his backups in years past. His respect for Giambi, however, is such that he asked him to come back during the offseason, and told him there would be enough at-bats to make it worth it.
“That was huge to hear that from Todd. He’s getting older, and he’s coming off back surgery. And I know he wants to be strong at the end of the season,” said Giambi, who received interest from the Twins before they signed Jim Thome to serve as a designated hitter.
“This could be a way to extend both of our careers.”
In his last 20 at-bats with the Rockies last season, Giambi knocked in 11 runs. He won multiple games with pinch hits. But he plays only first base, and hits left-handed, so Colorado wasn’t sure he would fit this year’s roster.
Then general manager Dan O’Dowd dug deeper on the issue and was surprised by what he learned.
“He had an invaluable effect on our club beyond anything I even imagined,” O’Dowd said Wednesday. “He really helped teach our younger players what it means to slow the game down.”
In Tulowitzki’s case, Giambi is a perfect sounding board. Giambi has lived in the shortstop’s shoes, dealt with the pressure of a big contract and huge responsibilities.
“It’s definitely humbling to have this role,” Giambi said. “You dream about having an impact. I got lucky as a young player to have Mark McGwire help me. I have obviously had a lot of ups and downs, so I can relate to most guys.”
Giambi’s advice is more cerebral than you might think. He discusses situational hitting and how to game-plan opposing pitchers. And his passion is infectious, according to teammates.
“He just has a presence about him. I remember telling people that regardless of what happens, I will get to say I played with Jason Giambi,” pitcher Huston Street said. “There’s a bigness about his personality and profile, but a smallness in the clubhouse. He doesn’t think he’s better than anybody else, and he really cares.”
But let’s be upfront: Giambi is in Colorado not just because he fits, but because he really believes this team can win a ring, something that eluded him with the Yankees.
“We better kick some (butt) this year,” Giambi said. “I didn’t come here to finish second. I came back to win a championship.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
