Baseball’s best hitters search for their yin and yang at the plate. They balance aggression with patience.
Brad Hawpe is entering that zone, and he’s been a bright spot in what’s been a disappointing start by the Rockies. Hawpe entered Friday’s game against the Marlins ranked second on the team in average (.321), tied for second in home runs (four), first in RBIs (18) and second in on-base percentage (.418).
Three of the left-hander’s four home runs have come against left-handed pitching. His splits are good — .292 average vs. lefties, .333 vs. righties. Hawpe has struck out 12 times and walked 12 times. That 50-50 ratio is much better than his career numbers of 510 strikeouts vs. 297 walks.
“I think he’s slowed the game down offensively,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “He’s always going to be a little unorthodox at the plate as far as his swing goes. But he has honed his swing to be a very good two-strike hitter. It comes through experience and maturity.
“He knows he doesn’t have to pull the ball to cause damage. And he knows the importance of the protection he provides others in the lineup.”
Hawpe, never one to slap himself on the back, watered down his strong start.
“I just wish we were winning more games,” Hawpe said. “I feel pretty good, but obviously there are situations where I could have come through and changed a couple of more games. There have been some at-bats that I have been happy about, but a bunch I haven’t been.”
PFP time.
Hurdle said it was just coincidence the Rockies spent a half-hour holding pitchers’ fielding practice (PFP) before Friday’s game. Thursday, the Rockies committed three errors, two by pitcher Jason Marquis.
During PFP, pitchers practice fielding bunts and other groundballs, throwing to a base, and covering first base and home plate. It’s designed to keep the entire infield in sync.
“We weren’t able to get on the field for three days in San Francisco,” Hurdle said, referring to last weekend’s rainy days.
Hurdle let the players know Thursday they would have PFP on Friday.
“It just so happened that we posted it before yesterday’s game, and it reared its ugly head then. It was pretty appropriate,” Hurdle said.
Footnotes.
Rockies pitchers entered Friday with the fewest walks allowed by any National League club in May (14). . . .
Hurdle on the Diamondbacks’ decision to fire manager Bob Melvin just 28 games into the season, “There is not much in this game that surprises me.”
