ARLINGTON, texas — Dexter Fowler is not only fast. He’s a lightning rod. When his name doesn’t appear in the lineup, pitchforks raise on Twitter. He is arguably the Rockies’ most perplexing player. Does he sit because he doesn’t hit? Or does he not hit because he sits? Manager Jim Tracy appears to send messages to Fowler with his playing time.
“They aren’t benchings in Dexter’s case. We are trying to bring along a Tyler Colvin,” Tracy said. “I have two pretty good players for one spot. When Dexter does his thing, he’s an electric player.”
Mired in a 4-for-23 slump, Fowler delivered three hits Saturday while hitting ninth.
Fowler batted .333 in May, and is hitting .250 in June, losing playing time to Colvin. Despite his maddening streaks, Fowler has delivered 23 extra-base hits, including a career-high nine home runs.
He said his recent dry spell was connected to his mechanics.
“We looked at it, and my leg kick was getting too high and throwing my timing off,” Fowler said.
Footnotes. Rockies’ players filled out their all-star ballots Saturday. The two teammates who received the most votes based on an unscientific poll were outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, considered a lock to go as the Rockies’ potential lone representative, and reliever Matt Belisle. Belisle was embarrassed by the praise. … The Rangers’ Josh Hamilton went 0-for-5 with a career-high tying four strikeouts.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
TODAY Rockies at Rangers, 5:05 p.m., ROOT, 850 AM
Alex White is the first true guinea pig of the four-man rotation. Unlike Josh Outman, who had never exceeded 75 pitches, White has worked longer. Like his teammates, he has had to adjust his routine. He does upperbody lifting the day after his start, followed by leg lifts and a side session, then light running the day before the start. “You just have to make the adjustments,” White said. White must do a better job of establishing his fastball if he’s going to reach five innings and win for the first time since June 3. Matt Harrison (9-3, 3.41), while having a terrific year, has won only twice in six home starts with opponents hitting .289 against him.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Upcoming Pitching Matchups
Today: Rockies’ Alex White (2-5, 6.06 ERA) at Rangers’ Matt Harrison (9-3, 3.41), 5:05 p.m., ROOT
Monday: Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg (8-1, 2.45) at Rockies’ Jeff Francis (0-1, 8.56), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Tuesday: Nationals’ Gio Gonzalez (9-3, 2.55) at Rockies’ Christian Friedrich (4-4, 5.65), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
Wednesday: Nationals’ Jordan Zimmermann (3-6, 2.89) at Rockies’ Josh Outman (0-3, 8.64), 6:40 p.m., ROOT
