STEWART READY, ABLE WHEN CALL-UP CAME
CINCINNATI — This time, Ian Stewart was ready when the call came.
“I knew that when I did get called up again, that I was going to be more prepared,” the Rockies rookie said. “I feel more relaxed now, and I’m letting the game come to me.”
Since July 19, when he got his second call-up of the season from Triple-A Colorado Springs, Stewart has ignited the Rockies’ offense. Entering Saturday night’s game, Stewart had an RBI in six straight games and multiple hits in four of his last five games. His average has climbed from .238 to .304.
When Stewart was called up early this season (May 24), he quickly discovered that pitchers had a book on him. He appeared in 18 games, hitting just .218.
“Pitchers forced me to make an adjustment,” Stewart said. “They were throwing me a lot of hard stuff inside. They’ll keep pounding you until you prove them wrong.”
So on the advice of hitting coach Alan Cockrell, Stewart shortened up his swing and started practicing his swing off a batting tee.
Stewart’s acrobatic, rangy defense at third base was never a question mark, but Friday night he wowed manager Clint Hurdle with two strong-armed throws from the seat of his pants.
“He’s made four plays like that since he came up, two last night, but (former Yankee) Graig Nettles was the guy who made that play that way — very athletic,” Hurdle said.
Starter search.
Hurdle hasn’t officially announced who will start Monday’s game in Pittsburgh, but one thing’s for sure: It won’t be Kip Wells, who gave up eight runs in one-third of an inning in the Rockies’ 16-10 loss to the Dodgers on Monday.
The most likely scenario: Right-hander Jason Hirsh will move up from Triple-A Colorado Springs for a one-game start, or until Jeff Francis returns from the disabled list.
Hirsh started Wednesday for Colorado Springs, losing 5-3 to New Orleans, allowing nine hits and five runs in seven innings. Hirsh began the season on the disabled list because of a strained rotator cuff suffered in spring training. He’s 2-3 with a 5.24 ERA for the Sky Sox.
Footnotes.
Josh Fogg, the Reds’ starter for today’s game, has heard no rumblings that the Rockies are interested in bringing him back to Colorado. “All I know is that I’m pitching for the Reds, and plan to be,” he said. . . . The Yankees designated reliever LaTroy Hawkins for assignment Saturday, but Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd said bringing Hawkins back is not in his current plans.
