The Rockies’ hitting issues can be summarized thusly: they need to be less Ozzie and Harriet and more Ozzy Osbourne.
If the Rockies can become more offensive, the season’s possibilities are limitless, agreed several players. The Rockies entered Tuesday ranked 21st in the majors in runs and 27th in home runs, and owned the eighth- worst batting average (.263) with runners in scoring position.
The rotation, whose 4.25 ERA ranks fifth in the majors, has kept the Rockies in contention. To catch the division leaders, the Rockies need their hitters to catch up.
“It starts with everybody going up there having quality at-bats, good at-bats,” first baseman Todd Helton said. “Guys need to work counts, get on base, not have me go up there and swing at the first pitch and hit a slow roller.”
Part of the reason Helton was switched to fifth in the order is to create more RBI opportunities. The Rockies have struggled to produce the big hit that changes the complexion of an inning. They were batting .227 with runners in scoring position with two outs, 27th in baseball entering Tuesday.
“When we have struggled this year it’s usually been when we haven’t hit,” said Garrett Atkins, the Rockies’ hottest hitter. “We don’t have the type of lineup where one guy is going to carry us. We need to get a bunch of guys going.”
Helton, hitting .217 in July entering Tuesday, remains confident the offense will regain its traction, a process connected strongly to him.
“I said I am going to have a good year and I believe that. Don’t get me wrong, I need to pick it up,” Helton said. “We have had great starting pitching all year. We know that something extraordinary doesn’t have to happen for us to win. We just need to do our part (offensively).”
Trade winds
Asked about baseball’s non- waiver trading deadline Monday, a high-ranking Rockies official shrugged his shoulders and said he didn’t expect much to happen. That doesn’t mean the Rockies aren’t involved in a little of everything.
They continue to listen to offers for first baseman Ryan Shealy, who was the subject of a column in a Pittsburgh news- paper Tuesday.
The Royals, who shipped reliever Elmer Dessens to the Dodgers, offered left-hander Jeremy Affeldt for Shealy. The Rockies have held firm, though teams that have spoken to them say they want young pitching in return. One intriguing trade possibility remains Baltimore’s Rodrigo Lopez. The Rockies continue to scout his starts, like his competitiveness and could use him in the bullpen. The Braves recently called about minor- leaguer Steve Colyer, a left-hander. The Rockies appear inclined to keep him since it is likely they will trade reliever Ray King.
Footnotes
Wes Carroll was named assistant baseball coach at Evansville, where brother Jamey Carroll was an All-American. … Manager Clint Hurdle said Albert Pujols has earned respect usually reserved for Barry Bonds, making it clear he would have no problem with his pitchers walking the slugger if necessary.
Rockies recap
Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter is always tough on the Rockies’ Garrett Atkins. Throw in the fielding prowess of third baseman Scott Rolen on Tuesday night, and Atkins didn’t stand much of a chance. In the fifth inning, Atkins hit a hot grounder down the third-base line, only to see Rolen slide through the mud on his knees, right himself, then fire a perfect strike to first base. He threw out Atkins by half a step. Atkins was 0-for-3 against Carpenter on Tuesday and is 0-for-12 against him in his career.
HITTING STREAK ALIVE: Rockies shortstop Clint Barmes beat out an infield hit in the fifth inning to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games. Barmes’ home run Monday gave him four homers in a 12-game stretch. He hit just three homers in his first 76 games of the season.
ARMS RACE: Jeff Francis threw a career-high 129 pitches Monday in his two-hit shutout of the Cardinals. That was the most pitches by a Rockies starter since Brian Bohanon threw 140 pitches on Sept. 13, 2000, at San Diego.
