If you’ve watched the Rockies on the road, you already know they need all the offense they can get. They may have found some when they recalled Jay Payton from Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Payton went 3-for-4 with a double Wednesday, giving him five hits in nine at-bats since returning to the big leagues. On the other side of the ledger, Seth Smith has struggled for the last several weeks, hitting .151 since Aug. 1.
Could Jim Tracy find some at-bats for Payton at Smith’s expense on the Rockies’ make-or-break road trip? No one was saying so, but obviously Tracy is happy to have a nine-year veteran such as Payton at his disposal.
“This isn’t a guy coming up from Triple-A who’s had a cup of coffee at the major- league level,” Tracy said. “You’re talking about a seasoned major-league veteran that knows what’s going on at this time of year.”
Payton, whose career year — .302-28-89 — came with the Rockies in 2003, says he’s content with any role Tracy has for him.
“I want the team to win,” Payton said. “I’m not concerned about playing time in the least bit. If I don’t get an at-bat the rest of the season and we win every game, I’m fine with that.
“At this point in my career, I want to get to the playoffs and win a World Series.”
Stewart improves.
Ian Stewart swung at full strength, increasing the likelihood that he could be activated next week. He’ll travel with the Rockies to Los Angeles then head to Tucson on Sunday.
“It feels much better,” Stewart said.
Stewart, who has 16 home runs in 280 at-bats against right-handers, hasn’t played since Aug. 26 because of a strained right oblique.
Footnotes.
Jeff Francis will start against the Diamondbacks next Thursday on nine days of rest. “I look forward to getting another opportunity,” said Francis, who will be available in relief Saturday. . . . Edgmer Escalona exacerbated Tuesday night’s fielding gaffe by arriving late in the clubhouse Wednesday morning. Teammates shook their heads as Escalona sat at his cubicle. A veteran teammate went over to the pitcher’s locker to advise and help him understand that type of behavior is inexcusable. . . . Todd Helton wasn’t in the lineup by design. Tracy wanted Helton and Melvin Mora to get consecutive days off before facing the Dodgers on Friday night. . . . Dexter Fowler didn’t start because of a sore right knee and poor numbers (2-for-19) against Clayton Richard.
Jim Armstrong and Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
