NEW YORK — Every time the Rockies try to get rolling, they lose another wheel.
Missing from today’s lineup against the Mets is center fielder Willy Taveras, his spot taken by Scott Podsednik. Slowed ever since tweaking his left quadriceps on July 1, Taveras isn’t playing well enough to warrant a spot in the starting lineup.
“Willy is in a position now that he’s not able to what he needs to do at the top of our lineup, so he has to come out,” manager Clint Hurdle said this afternoon. “It’s probably fatigue. But you don’t need a runner not being able to run in your lineup, or being able to go get balls in the outfield.”
In Friday night’s 2-1 loss to the Mets, Taveras failed to charge a ball to center that could have been an out. Since injury his quadriceps, Taveras has just one stolen base, but his 39 steals still leads the majors. He’s hitting 2-for-15 (.133) on the current road trip.
With starting pitcher Jeff Francis, first baseman Todd Helton, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and outfielder Ryan Spilborghs all on the DL, the Rockies are struggling to stay competitive as the all-star break nears.
“We are treading water right now,” Hurdle said. “We’ve had our fair share of adversity and we are trying to battle through it. We are trying to dig it out of the dirt right now, to put it plain and simple. It doesn’t have to be pretty.”
Here’s the Rockies lineup for today’s game:
CF Scott Podsednik
SS Clint Barmes
LF Matt Holliday
3B Garrett Atkins
RF Brad Hawpe
C Chris Iannetta
3B Jeff Baker
2B Omar Quintanilla
1 Ubaldo Jimenenz
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
