Tyler Colvin has been hotter than Colorado’s scorching summer, but he wasn’t in the starting lineup Saturday night against the Padres.
Jim Tracy could have started Colvin in right field, moving Michael Cuddyer to first base. Or Tracy could have started Colvin at first in place of Todd Helton.
Instead, Helton was back at his usual post, even though the veteran entered the game hitting .246 and had just seven extra-base hits in June.
After Friday’s game, Colvin was riding a seven-game hitting streak in which he’d hit .417 (10-for-24) with two doubles, two triples and a home run.
“We have a guy who’s played here for a number of years at first base … a guy that is always one swing away from being really hot,” Tracy said regarding his decision to start the 38-year-old Helton. “I don’t think it hurts at all to give a guy a little bit of a break. Tyler Colvin will be in there tomorrow and he could be in there before tonight is over.”
Big Brothers. Since getting recalled from Triple-A on June 2, lefty reliever Rex Brothers has been sensational. Friday night, he bailed out Tyler Chatwood, squelching a potential Padres rally in the eighth. Brothers struck out Chase Headley and Carlos Quentin, and then got Yonder Alonso to line out to right.
Brothers has struck out 21 of the 50 batters he’s faced and walked only three since his recall.
“I think going to Triple-A reminded me of a few things … like taking a moment to regain my focus,” Brother said.
One of the things Tracy likes most about Brothers is his tenaciousness.
“He’s fearless,” Tracy said. “The first time through this season when he was stubbing his toe a little bit, it wasn’t because of fear or uncertainty or anything. It was maybe just wanting to do it too badly.”
Remembering Akerfelds. The Padres are wearing No. 48 patches for the remainder of the season in honor of longtime bullpen coach Darrel Akerfelds. The Denver native died last Sunday after a nearly two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 50.
Akerfelds attended Columbine High School and played college baseball for Mesa State. The right-handed pitcher was drafted by the Mariners in the first round of the 1983 draft. He made his major-league debut with the A’s in 1986 and went 9-10 with a 5.08 ERA in 125 games over five seasons with the A’s, Indians, Rangers and Phillies.
The Padres have worked with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (Pancan) to establish the Darrel Akerfelds #48 Legacy Fund.
Footnotes. Juan Nicasio, rehabbing a strained left knee, threw a productive, three-inning, 45-pitch live bullpen session Saturday. Nicasio could begin a minor-league rehab assignment this week. … Catcher Ramon Hernandez (left-hand tendinitis) has been working as the bullpen catcher as he works his way back. Hernandez is likely to begin his minor-league rehab assignment next week. Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
