This week the variables fell into place. The offense slumped, the home field didn’t host many home runs, so the question flooded the e-mail inbox: When is the kid coming up?
Folks remember Ian Stewart in the same way they think of Paul Bunyan. With a magical spring training, Stewart became something of a mythic legend. The reality is Stewart is only 21 years old, toiling in Double-A and playing a position that is occupied by Garrett Atkins.
Which raises a more salient point asked by hard-core Rockies fans: Is it time to consider Stewart for another position?
“That’s a conversation for a later day. We aren’t thinking about that right now,” Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “He has enough on his plate adjusting to Double-A pitching. We know he’s better than he’s shown.”
Clearly, the timing is not right to consider a move, not with Stewart hitting just .254 for Tulsa with two home runs in 138 at-bats. Besides, admitted O’Dowd, he’s reluctant to move Stewart off what he described as a “premium position.”
Look around the big leagues and statistics show it’s easier to unearth a brutish outfielder than a slugging third baseman. Even at his size – 6-feet-3, 220 pounds – Stewart displays tremendous athleticism. One Rockies official predicted the club’s top prospect could win a Gold Glove at third base someday in explaining why patience should be exercised.
Stewart left an indelible footprint on spring training, leading the Rockies with five home runs and 14 RBIs in 22 games.
“I was very impressed with his approach as a young hitter,” San Diego Padres manager Bruce Bochy said. “And obviously he had a lot of power.”
Crime doesn’t pay
Few players test Brad Hawpe’s arm and live to tell about it. In two years, he has made only one bad throw to home plate, this week when Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brett Tomko scored from second base.
“I knew how well he could throw,” Tomko said. “I just got lucky.”
Hawpe admitted Tomko’s green light surprised him, leading to an errant throw. Hawpe quickly redeemed himself Tuesday, smoking Kenny Lofton in the first inning in what became the game’s biggest out. Manager Clint Hurdle said Hawpe has made the transition from infielder to outfielder as well any player he has seen.
Hawpe’s accelerated learning curve can be traced to his arm slot. As a first baseman, he threw sidearm with maximum effort. As an outfielder, he began throwing over the top, using his body’s momentum to increase velocity.
“I stopped trying to throw hard and started focusing on where I was throwing it. That really helped,” said Hawpe, who has four outfield assists after posting 10 a year ago. “I am having fun out there, just like when I played first, and that’s the whole trick.”
Footnote
Sun-Woo Kim will make a Triple-A start tonight for Colorado Springs. His performance will be weighed against Josh Fogg’s this weekend as the Rockies determine whether to make a roster move.
