Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck posts his Rockies Mailbag every other Monday during the 2011 MLB season. The next installment is slated for July 18.
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Given Dexter Fowler’s lack of offense yet superb defense, is he destined to be the Bobby Del Greco of this era?
— Jim Schwartz, Centennial
Jim – Dexter Fowler is a terrific athlete and a superb defender. He has not progressed as a hitter like the Rockies expected. If he’s going to be anything more than a fourth outfielder or trade bait, he must improve offensively.
The primary issue is his left-handed swing. He holds his hands away from his body creating a loop to the ball. It also makes him vulnerable to sliders at his back foot.
Fowler was optioned to Triple-A after his abdomen injury healed, but has not hit well at all for Colorado Springs. He could help the Rockies right now as an extra outfielder in place of Eric Young Jr. But doing that would be an indictment of his potential, suggesting that he’s no longer an everyday player.
At this point, the Rockies have to listen if teams call about Fowler, who’s in line to make money next year in arbitration. With Charlie Blackmon gaining traction in the big leagues and Tim Wheeler turning heads in the minor leagues, Fowler could help land the starting pitcher the Rockies clearly need.
The Rox are so close in regards to being a consistently good team. The pitching is there, but we need more offense. The Marlins seem to be in a weird, surreal death spiral. How about Dexter Fowler and Chris Nelson for Hanley Ramirez? If they say no, we can always say their manager took the call and got confused. My grandpa gets like that.
— Jarret McMillan, Phoenix
Jarret – The Rockies’ biggest need isn’t offense. The team has been among the NL’s best in June. Moving Carlos Gonzalez to the leadoff spot and promoting Blackmon and Chris Nelson flipped a switch. Besides, Ramirez is a shortstop only. He’s already a temperamental player. How do you think he would handle a move to second or third base? Poorly is a good guess.
The Rockies have room in their budget to make one splash — and that money should be reserved for pitching. Houston’s Wandy Rodriguez represents the best fit. But the money is a substantial obstacle. He’s owed $23.5 million through 2013 with a club option for 2014. He would give the Rockies a left-handed replacement for Jorge De La Rosa, while also giving them a well-armed rotation next season.
General manager Dan O’Dowd has long had a good relationship with Houston counterpart Ed Wade. O’Dowd shipped Wade shortstop Clint Barmes over the winter for Felipe Paulino and also acquired Matt Lindstrom.
As for Ramirez, how about the Giants making a run for him? Early prediction is that the Marlins trade Ramirez and Jose Reyes signs with Florida as a free agent.
Since Charlie Blackmon started as a pitcher, is he the position player the Rockies would use if they ran out of pitchers in a long extra-inning game or a blowout? Or would it be former Tennessee pitcher Todd Helton, or maybe Troy Tulowitzki throwing 95 mph fastballs?
— Ben, Boulder
Ben – If Todd Helton or Troy Tulowitzki pitch it will be the last game Jim Tracy manages for the Rockies. You can’t risk stars in a blowout game. Kevin Kennedy did that with the Rangers, and all Jose Canseco did was ruin his arm. Typically a utility infielder gets the call. Mike McCoy, a former Rockie, pitched for the Blue Jays this year. I would guess it would be Jonathan Herrera and possibly Blackmon.
What is the white thing over Jason Giambi’s batting-glove thumb?
— Bob Irwin, Aurora
Bob – Players wear it as a protective device to absorb the shock when the ball is hit. It’s common for players to bruise their thumb when hitting, especially pitchers. This helps prevent that.
With Jose Morales’s injury, why didn’t the Rockies call up Jordan Pacheco?
— Reid, Denver
Reid – Jordan Pacheco has all the makings of a solid major league hitter. Truth is, he’s not ready to catch in the big leagues. That’s not a criticism. He’s new to the position, having played infield in college. He was playing more than Matt Pagnozzi in Triple-A, but Pagnozzi was called up because he’s a traditional catch-and-throw backup.
It’s hard to have a backup catcher who isn’t ready defensively. Pacheco is hard worker, a driven competitor. I believe he will make himself into a serviceable catcher.
My husband has taught me to love Rockies baseball. This year he’s always expressing concern because the Rockies don’t get hits when there are runners are in scoring position. I don’t understand this comment. Wouldn’t our hitters have the same ability and desire to hit the ball every time they go to the plate? Why should he expect them to have a higher probability of hitting the ball just because a runner is in scoring position?
— Gayle, Littleton
Gayle – You shouldn’t. It’s a terrific observation. I remember doing a piece on clutch hitting during the playoffs seven years ago. I asked several players about who was the best with RISP, and most answered Derek Jeter. The reality is that Jeter just hits his season average in the playoffs. That’s what makes a superstar. When the lights are brightest, he does what he’s supposed to.
That players struggle in these moments is human nature. They want to do well so badly, they sabotage themselves. Baseball is a sport that must be played relaxed. If a player death grips a pitch or white knuckles the bat, his chances of failure increase exponentially.
When will Tulowitzki be held accountable for Little League base-running blunders? He’s consistently made the first or third out at third base.
— Lars, Durango
Lars – He makes aggressive base-running mistakes. And he’s the first to admit it afterward. But to identify him as a problem on this team is like criticizing Cindy Crawford for her mole. The guy is the best at his position in the big leagues, in my opinion, when combining offense, defense and leadership.
Do you think the Rockies should bring back Ian Stewart and give him consistent playing time to see if he could regain his third base job, with Ty Wigginton’s struggles defensively?
— Zach, Aurora
Zach – That was the plan. Then Stewart’s tendon near his knee became sore, followed by a terrible slump. He hasn’t hit in Triple-A for two weeks.
For me, it makes more sense to have Stewart on the roster than Eric Young Jr., who doesn’t have a defensive position. But Stewart isn’t hitting right now. They aren’t bringing him back while he’s struggling. Besides, Ty Wigginton has earned consistent at-bats. He has five home runs on this road trip.
For all of the criticism of Wigginton — some deserved, some not — he’s exactly who the Rockies thought he was. He’s serviceable defensively with real power. He has five home runs on this road trip, leaving him on pace for 23 home runs this season. Don’t be surprised if he wins NL Player of the Week honors on Monday. He’s definitely got a good shot.
Denver Post sports writer Troy E. Renck is in his 16th season of covering the Colorado Rockies, his 10th for The Denver Post. for the Rockies Mailbag.
