Two weeks into his first stint in the majors, 22-year-old center fielder Dexter Fowler is past the wide-eyed stage, but he’s still a kid adjusting to life in the big leagues.
“The game is definitely faster than in the minors,” Fowler said Monday. “Everything happens a lot faster, the games are quicker and everything is just more crisp. But it’s the same game, so I just have to go out and play ball.”
Fowler has two starts under his belt and is 1-for-11 at the plate. Manager Clint Hurdle plans to get Fowler a few more starts and might even play him in left or right field. He also wants the 6-foot-5, 185-pound Fowler, a switch hitter, to get more at-bats from the right side.
Though it’s too early to make any sort of judgment about Fowler’s first trip to the majors, Hurdle’s first impressions are positive.
“You have to like the frame and the speed and the range,” Hurdle said. “He’s got a good arm, and his defensive skill set is impressive. Offensively, he’s made adjustments and gotten better at every level he’s gone to.”
Before his call-up on Sept. 2, Fowler hit .335 with 31 doubles, nine triples, nine homers and 64 RBIs in 108 games with Double-A Tulsa.
Numbers crunch.
Statistics illustrate the Rockies’ offensive woes this season. They have just one full-time position player, Matt Holliday, hitting above .300. Last season, they finished with four — Holliday (.340), Todd Helton (.320), Garrett Atkins (.301) and Willy Taveras (.320 in 97 games). Troy Tulowitzki (.291) and Brad Hawpe (.291) almost made the cut.
With 11 games remaining, no player has reached 100 RBIs. Atkins leads the team with 89. Last year, three Rockies — Holliday (137), Hawpe (116) and Atkins (111) — topped 100. Tulowitzki finished with 99, Helton 91.
Only four times in club history have the Rockies failed to have a player drive in 100 runs. The last time was in 2005, when Atkins led the team with 89.
Yost reaction.
Hurdle said he didn’t know why the Milwaukee Brewers fired manager Ned Yost on Monday, but added: “I’m sorry to see a manager fired anytime. He’s invested some time in that organization. There are two weeks to go and you are tied for the wild card? I’ve been in this game long enough so I don’t say ‘That’s unbelievable’ anymore.”
Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
