Whatever happens to the Colorado Rockies, they probably have former Cubs assistant trainer Dave Called to thank for even having a shot at the wild-card spot this season.
Called, now the head trainer of the Rockies, teamed up with manager Don Baylor to design a special protective batting glove for slugger Andres Galarraga, who was lost for the season last year after getting hit by a pitch and breaking his hand on July 28.
“We were a half-game out of first last year when Galarraga went down. It killed us,” said Called. “At that time, Baylor and I got together and tried to find something to prevent it from happening again.”
They came up with a 2-by-3-inch steel plate with a plastic covering and padding underneath that attaches to the back of Galarraga’s batting glove with a piece of Velcro.
Does it work?
“All I can tell you is, Galarraga got hit on the hand a couple weeks ago and he’s fine,” said Called, who, together with Baylor, has applied for a patent on the still-unnamed device.
“This is going to save clubs ,” said Baylor, who was hit by a pitch a major-league high 267 times in his career. ” have a lot invested in guys who are going on the disabled list.”
More Top Picks Best Smallest Microwave Ovens
Sympathies: Former Astro Luis Gonzalez was looking for Colorado coach and former Houston manager Art Howe before Thursday night’s game. Howe’s daughter was seriously injured in a car crash in Houston on Monday. Howe was still in Texas with her.
In the fold: The Cubs signed their third-round draft pick, 19-year-old pitcher Jeffrey Yoder of Pottsville, Pa. The right-hander will report to Ft. Myers in the Gulf Coast League for the final two weeks of the season.