Great Spring Training Article About Fins
Ageless Finley Continues To Get It Done
TUCSON, Ariz. -- When Steve Finley was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1987, Corey Sullivan, Jeff Salazar and Ryan Spilborghs were 6, 6, and 7 years old, respectively. But while there are those who may want to make an issue of age in the Rockies' center-field sweepstakes, the 41-year-old Finley would never exploit the youth and inexperience of his new teammates.
"I've always watched him play," said Spilborghs. "I always joked with Salazar back when we were in the Minor Leagues, I said, 'Dude, you're a Steve Finley-like player.' Now that Finley's here, it's neat -- especially because I've grown up watching him."
With 18 big-league seasons under his belt, Finley, who turns 42 next week, remains a hallmark to measure other players against. Perhaps more to the point, he remains confident in his own abilities and in his value to a team.
Defensively, Finley has set the standard in center field, winning five Gold Gloves between 1995 and 2004. Offensively, he has a rare combination of speed and power, one of only six players in Major League history to notch over 300 homers and 300 steals, keeping company with Bobby and Barry Bonds, Andres Dawson, Reggie Sanders and Willie Mays. He is the active leader in triples, and his 12 three-baggers in 2006 marked the first time a player in his 40s hit more than eight triples since Honus Wagner had 17 in 1915.
Good company, if you can get it.
But even more important than the two-time All-Star's personal accomplishment is the fact that Finley finds way to help his team win. He's made seven trips to the postseason, twice tasting the World Series and once (with Arizona) winning baseball's ultimate honor, the World Series championship.
This spring, Finley is keeping company with a youthful Rockies roster, where he hopes to find a spot and help the club overcome one of its deficiencies from the '06 season, a lack of production in center.
"From across the field, you see a professional guy who knows how to play and plays smart," said manager Clint Hurdle of his years watching Finley from the opposing dugout. "He's been a thorn in our side on occasion. He's always been one of the best defenders in the game. He's steady. There's not a lot of panic in him. He's got a slow heartbeat everywhere he plays."
Finley is in the midst of his 21st Spring Training camp, having signed a Minor League contract with the Rockies the day of their first workout.
"I'll come here and let my abilities speak for themselves," Finley said about the Minor League contract, a logistical necessity, given the fact that the Rockies' 40-man roster was already full. "I have complete confidence in my abilities to go out there and play the game at the level I've been playing. That's what I'm going to show them I can do."
The soft-spoken Finley is off to a strong start, with his actions speaking louder than his words. He's hitting at a .385 clip, and on Wednesday, he legged out his first spring triple and made an outfield assist. Though he is determined to make an impact between the lines, he has already made his presence felt outside of the context of the games.
"I've tried to pick his brain," said Spilborghs, a candidate for a job in center. "He's a great defensive outfielder, a great player. I try to learn things from him about how I can try to be better. Since Day 1, he's been really good with us younger guys, teaching us a lot."
Spilborghs made special note of Finley's habit of working on his jumps in the outfield during batting practice, taking his initial hard steps, then projecting the ball's path in his mind and watching where it lands without physically chasing it down.
"That way you get an idea of your route without ever actually having to run one," said Spilborghs. "That's a nice veteran move, right there."
Finley doesn't make too much of the mentoring, though he acknowledges that his expertise and battle-tested know-how is part of his value to the Rockies.
"I'm not going to go up to everybody and say, 'Hey, you should try this,'" Finley said. "If guys have questions, I'll answer any questions they got. I have a lot of experience in this game and a lot of information to offer people. If they want it, it's here to take."
Meeting a need in center field was one of the Rockies' offseason priorities, and Willy Taveras, acquired in the Jason Jennings trade, was scheduled to be part of the solution. But with a trio of young players vying for an everyday role, and the veteran Finley making a case to join the mix, the outfield is flush and deep with viable candidates to play between Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe.
Finley emphasized the importance of depth in Colorado, where the expansive outfield territory and the effect of playing at altitude can be especially taxing.
"In Colorado, more than any other team in this division, it's important to have a good strong bench, where you can run guys in and out all the time and keep everybody fresh," he pointed out. "That's important if you're going to win."
Finley knows a winner when he sees one, and he likes what he sees in the Rockies.
"They have some good talent," Finley said. "They have some good young guys that are starting to make their mark now. They brought in some veteran players. They have a solid bullpen, a solid starting staff. Last year, they showed they can play with everybody, it's just a matter of maintaining it for the whole year."
This spring, the Rockies have one more weapon in their arsenal. After 14 years of playing against him, they can finally play with the ultimate Steve Finley-like player: Steve Finley.