The Rockies’ rocky season got rockier today when the club placed infielder Clint Barmes and right fielder Brad Hawpe on the 15-day disabled list. Taking their place on the 25-man roster are Seth Smith and Ian Stewart, both called up this morning from Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Smith starts in right field this afternoon against the Mets at Coors Field. In 45 games with the Sky Sox, Smith was hitting .321 with six homers and 30 RBIs.
Today will mark Smith’s first major league start. He did play in 14 games for the Rockies last season during their drive to the playoffs, going 8-for-14 (.571).
Stewart, who will likely get some limited playing time at third to spell Garrett Atkins, was hitting .281 with 12 homers and 43 RBIs. Manager Clint Hurdle also said there’s a chance Stewart could play first base if Todd Helton gets a rare day off.
Atkins was a late scratch for today’s game. He’s suffering from a stiff neck. Stewart will start at third in place of Atkins.
Barmes, the Rockies’ hottest hitter, sprained his right knee in the 10th inning Friday night in the Rockies’ 6-5, 13-inning win over the Mets. Barmes is awaiting word on an MRI to see how severe his knee injury is. Mets shortstop Jose Reyes smashed into Barmes with his shoulder on a leadoff double, bending Barmes’ knee backward as he slid into second base. Barmes went 2-for-5 Friday with two doubles, lifting has average to .343. He’s hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games.
Although Hawpe continues to insist he can play despite a sore right hamstring, the Rockies decided to place him on the DL, believing he’s not ready to make sudden moves in the outfield. Hawpe last played on Tuesday, when he went 0-for-3 against the Giants. Hawpe is in the midst of a prolonged slump. He’s hitting just .231 with three homers and 17 RBIs.
Center fielder Willy Taveras also is banged up and he’ll be replaced today by Scott Podsednik in center and in the leadoff spot. Taveras bruised his right knee Friday night running into the center-field wall trying to chase down a homer by the Mets’ Carlos Delgado. Taveras said today that he’s available for pinch-hit duty, but added, “It’s still pretty sore. It swelled up a little bit, but I think I’ll be OK.”
Here’s the Rockies’ lineup for today’s game:
CF Scott Podsednik
2B Jonathan Herrera
LF Matt Holliday
1B Todd Helton
3B Ian Stewart
RF Seth Smith
C Chris Iannetta
SS Omar Quintanilla
LHP Jeff Francis
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
