HOUSTON — Dan O’Dowd loves DJ LeMahieu. As general manager of the Rockies, O’Dowd traded for LeMahieu. Watched him become a batting champion and Gold Glover. Admired his professionalism.
One day just beyond midseason on the MLB Network set — recognizing I was preaching to the choir — I was extolling LeMahieu to O’Dowd, wondering how anyone could be more valuable amid all the Yankees injuries than someone as durable, versatile and productive as LeMahieu.
O’Dowd patiently let me prattle and then said, “all of that is true. But, you know, Gleyber Torres is the best hitter on the team.