The Rockies designated Jose Lopez for assignment in part because they wanted to get a long look at Ty Wigginton at third base. And Wigginton is confident they’re going to like what they see.
He’s healthy, having recovered from a strained left oblique, and he’s playing every day.
Wigginton believes that combination will lead to solid production at a position that has been a sinkhole, contributing heavily to the Rockies’ offensive meltdown.
“It’s just a matter of time,” Wigginton said. “I feel really good. I think we’ll see things turn around. I can feel in my body that things are really starting to click.”
Wigginton is hitting .238 with three home runs and 13 RBIs, not the type of production the Rockies envisioned when they signed him to a two-year, $8 million contract in the offseason. But he has shown signs that he’s ready to rediscover the player who averaged 20-plus home runs from 2006-10.
He has hit .280 in his last six starts with a home run and three doubles. Not bad, considering that Rockies third basemen as a group went into Saturday hitting .179 with three homers and 14 RBIs in 184 at-bats.
“I feel pretty good, especially lately, with what I’ve tried to do at the plate,” Wigginton said. “As a player, you have to stay focused on the process of the thing by grinding out whatever it is.”
Lineup roulette.
One night after using Eric Young Jr. in the leadoff spot, Rockies manager Jim Tracy penciled in Young and Dexter Fowler in the top two spots in his lineup.
“Speed . . . energy,” said Tracy, when asked about the move. “You want to get them on base and give these guys (middle-of-the-order hitters) an opportunity. Hopefully, that will show up because they need traffic out there in front of them.
“That’s what it’s going to take to get us going.”
Quote, unquote.
Tracy was talking about the hole the Rockies could have dug for themselves if not for their 11-2 start: “We need to get our butts busy because if we don’t, we’re putting ourselves into position to jump back into that hole.”
Footnotes.
Right fielder Seth Smith sat out again because of a slight groin strain. . . . As expected, the Rockies sent right-hander Bruce Billings back to Triple-A Colorado Springs to make room for Saturday’s starter, Juan Nicasio.
