Big swings leave indelible stamps on games and brains. That goes a long way in explaining why Yorvit Torrealba has supplanted Chris Iannetta as the Rockies’ starting catcher.
Torrealba extended his hitting streak Saturday to a career-high 14 games and has 10 hits in his past 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
“Yorvit has taken the bull by the horns. I am not being fair to the rest of the (players) if I don’t recognize that,” manager Jim Tracy said. “The way he’s going, he will get the bulk of the playing time.”
Two factors motivated this decision: Iannetta’s season-long slump and Torrealba’s improved defense.
Iannetta has one multihit game since Aug. 11 and is batting .197 against right-handed pitching. And while Iannetta is strong defensively, Torrealba’s throwing has steadily improved.
“But I know that I have to keep hitting to stay in there,” said Torrealba, whose current hitting streak matches Joe Girardi’s club record by a catcher.
Slumping Hawpe sits.
Brad Hawpe is not yet in danger of losing his job. The slumping right fielder was given Saturday off to “work in the laboratory with Dr. (Don) Baylor,” as Tracy put it. The plan is to start Hawpe the next five games, all against right-handers, then reassess the situation. Ryan Spilborghs replaced the all-star Saturday.
Hawpe struck out 39 times in August, the franchise record for a month, and is batting just .242 with five home runs since the all-star break.
Footnotes.
Closer Huston Street (biceps tendinitis) is unsure whether he will play catch today or Monday. . . . Aaron Cook (shoulder) continues to throw off flat ground. . . . Former Broncos guard Mark Schlereth, who flew back to Denver for Saturday’s game, admitted watching his son Daniel’s performance for Arizona on Friday from the ESPN studios was nerve- racking. “My heart was racing. I have started in three Super Bowls, and that doesn’t even compare. It’s impossible to describe the emotions when it’s your son out there.”
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
