Blog Entry 30 of 48
The Lakewood Lowdown
Hi, I'm Erin Feese, a community journalist here at YourHub.com.
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Rockies pitchers 'like family' to Lakewood couple
Contributed by:
Erin Feese/YourHub.com
on 10/25/2007
In
Grace and
Bob Fink's Lakewood home, they have a door where they've tracked the heights of their grandchildren through the years. On her tip-toes, Grace Fink points to three names scratched on the very top of the door: Ubaldo, Franklin and Juan.
"They are just wonderful little guys," she said. And then, chuckling, "Oh, I mean, of course, they're not
little."
As the World Series unfolds, the Finks will be excitedly watching every moment. Not only because the Lakewood couple has been avid Rockies fans and season tickets holders since 1993, but they also have a special relationship with two of the current Rockies pitchers,
Ubaldo Jimenez and
Franklin Morales, as well as
Juan Morillo, a Rockies pitcher in the minors.
Through the Rockies' Winter Development Program, the couple has volunteered to host up-and-coming Latin ballplayers in their home for three weeks. They help the players get acquainted with the new language and customs and introduce them to life in Colorado, Grace said. Jimenez and Morillo are from the Dominican Republic and Morales is from Venezuela.
Grace also speaks Spanish, which helps make the transition easier for the players.
"They are really nice kids," Grace said. "It's just like having grandkids around."
Jimenez and Morillo stayed with with the Finks in January 2005. In 2007, the family opened their hearts and homes to Morales. The players ate with the family, went to church with them and even tagged along to grandkids' soccer and volleyball games, Grace said.
"They're just like family -- we don't do anything special for them. They help clean up, they clean their own rooms," said Grace with a smile. "They are very polite -- Ubaldo opens the car door for me every time. I tell my husband, 'Did you see that, honey?'"
Jimenez' s charm was apparent on Oct. 17, when he agreed to come to a Columbine High School volleyball game and, as a surprise, present the senior girls with flowers. One of the Fink's daughters,
Kathy Miks, is the head volleyball coach.
"When the girls saw that this tall, handsome baseball player was going to give them flowers, they just went nuts," Grace said. "Ubaldo has the most beautiful smile you've ever seen."
Jimenez hung around and signed autographs for two hours after the volleyball game, she said. "He was so gracious," she added.
The bond the Finks have formed with the ballplayers is unmistakable. Grace collects every newspaper clipping about the players and is putting together a scrapbook for both Jimenez and Morales. She has snapshots of their faces appearing on the JumboTron at Coors Field, as well as at family barbecues. A glossy photo of Jimenez throwing a pitch sits on a shelf in her dining room, with the words, "To Bob and Grace, mis queridos abuelitos (my lovable grandparents)."
Last Mother's Day, Morillo called Grace to wish her well, "and I just started crying," she said. "It feels like we've known them forever."
While Jimenez is busy with the World Series, Grace and Bob are playing grandparents to another --one of the four-legged variety. They are watching Jimenez's dog,
Kiko, at their home. The couple also has opened their home to Jimenez's father,
Ubaldo Jimenez Sr., who is in town to cheer his son during the World Series
Like any supportive grandparent, Grace gives the players a call after every game to tell them they did great, if even it's just to leave a message.
The Finks will be cheering their adopted grandkids from their seats in section 136 at Coors Field this weekend, and whatever the outcome, they will be proud.
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