Farewell, Paul Janish

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Urgent: can somebody please refer me to a vendor that will still sell me a Paul Janish Colorado Rockies shersey? I know I can create a custom version anytime I want, but it’s just not the same, you know?

For much of the spring it sounded like the veteran, smooth-fielding shortstop would crack the roster. But with things winding down and final decisions on the way, Chris Cotillo of MLB Daily Dish reports that Janish will not be donning the purple pinstripes this year…at least not for now.

Janish showed more life offensively than anybody probably expected this spring, but the Rockies appear to have identified those results (.413 batting average!) as fool’s gold. Given the fact that Janish is a career .214 hitter, they are probably correct to do so.

The Rockies always have to account for the possibility that franchise shortstop Troy Tulowitzki will miss an extended period of time due to one injury or another. Janish was signed as a possible option for just such a bench role, but it appears the Rockies are comfortable with the likes of Josh Rutledge and Charlie Culberson as their utility players and possible fill-ins at short.