JASON GIAMBI REJOINS ROCKIES AS HITTER MENTOR
Jim Thome
"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 Minnesota Twins before they signed Jim Thome to serve as a designated hitter.
 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 only plays first base  and hits left-handed  so Colorado wasn't sure he would fit this year's roster.
 "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. You dream about having an impact. I got lucky as a young player to have Mark McGwire help me " Giambi said. "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 Giambi is in Colorado not just because he fits  but because he believes the 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."
"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 Minnesota Twins before they signed [TGT] to serve as a designated hitter.
 In [TGT] last 20 at-bats with the Rockies last season [TGT] knocked in 11 runs. [TGT] won multiple games with pinch-hits. But [TGT] only plays first base  and hits left-handed  so Colorado wasn't sure [TGT] would fit this year's roster.
 "[TGT] had an invaluable effect on our club beyond anything I even imagined " O'Dowd said Wednesday. "[TGT] really helped teach our younger players what it means to slow the game down."
 In Tulowitzki's case  [TGT] is a perfect sounding board. [TGT] 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. You dream about having an impact. I got lucky as a young player to have Mark McGwire help me " [TGT] said. "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. [TGT] discusses situational hitting and how to game plan opposing pitchers. And [TGT] passion is infectious  according to teammates.
 "[TGT] just has a presence about [TGT]. 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 [TGT] personality and profile  but a smallness in the clubhouse. [TGT] doesn't think [TGT]'s better than anybody else and [TGT] really cares."
 But [TGT] is in Colorado not just because [TGT] fits  but because [TGT] believes the team can win a ring  something that eluded [TGT] with the Yankees.
 "We better kick some (butt) this year " [TGT] said. "I didn't come here to finish second. I came back to win a championship."