Rockies manager Jim Tracy delivered some cold, hard facts before Sunday’s game against Milwaukee at sun-baked Coors Field.
“If we’re going to be a club that gets back into this (National League West race), we need Ian Stewart and we need Dexter Fowler to both make a contribution offensively,” Tracy said. “If they don’t, then we won’t.”
After a 4-3 loss to the Brewers, Tracy delivered some even colder and harder facts.
“We’ve talked about Dexter’s problems offensively left-handed,” Tracy said. “He has to continue to work on that and figure some things out in regard to that. The progress we had seen with Ian going back to the Washington series (July 8-10), I think it’s safe to say he took a major step backward today.”
Fowler and Stewart were a combined 0-for-5 with four strikeouts.
Also, the usually sure-handed Stewart made two errors at third base, and Fowler had an error in center field.
Fowler was close to beating out a bunt in the fifth inning, but Milwaukee pitcher Shaun Marcum made a great play.
Both Stewart and Fowler spent time at Triple-A Colorado Springs this season. Stewart was recalled July 5, and Fowler returned Friday.
Before the game, Tracy huddled with Fowler and hitting coach Carney Lansford for about 40 minutes. Tracy would like to get Fowler back in the leadoff spot in the order.
Last season, Fowler hit .286 with a .371 on-base percentage batting first. But this season he’s hitting .235 with a .348 on-base percentage, including 53 strikeouts in 170 at-bats from the top spot in the order.
Fowler hit eighth Saturday and second Sunday in his first two starts since being recalled.
“We’re completely on the same page,” Tracy said. “We’re trying to continue to educate a very talented player on what will make him as good an offensive player as he is a defensive player.”
Tracy has other reasons not to rush Fowler to the top of the order. His earlier decision to move Carlos Gonzalez into the leadoff spot helped CarGo shake a long slump. Gonzalez is batting .360 with a .417 OBP batting first, compared with .242/.309 batting third. Gonzalez is coming back from a wrist injury, and Tracy wants him to hit where he has had success, at least for a few more games.
“You’d love to have (Fowler) up at the top of the order,” Tracy said. “With all the things we’ve dealt with and the things he has to be mindful of, you have to move him around a bit and put a lineup together that makes sense for everyone.”
Tracy looks at Fowler as a potential force at the top of anyone’s lineup.
“But you have to get him consistent where you can come to grips that he’s going to get an extra at-bat hitting at the top of the lineup and you’re going to get a quality at-bat,” Tracy said.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
