5 things Rockies need in second half
| July 15, 2009 | 6:50 PM
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1. Dexter Fowler emerges or moves down in the lineup.
Fowler starts the second half batting .260 with 41 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. His batting average has been hovering in the .250 to .270 range for all but three days since May 3, encouraging consistency for a player who played all of 13 games above Double-A before this season. Fowler, 23, the Rockies’ top prospect and one of the most exciting players the organization has produced, has shown amazing poise despite his age and relative inexperience. When he strikes out, it’s rarely on three pitches; but he has struck out 73 times in 335 at-bats and his batting average is low for a leadoff hitter. A hot streak going into the break — 8-for-18 (.444), four runs scored, four stolen bases and just two strikeouts in his final five games — is encouraging, perhaps suggesting he is about to bust out of medium where he’s been stuck most of the season. If not, the Rockies could consider dropping him down in the order, especially if Seth Smith continues to see regular playing time in left field.
2. Todd Helton picks up where he left off.
There’s no denying that Helton has reemerged this season. His .319 batting average, 10 home runs and 57 RBIs have him on track for his best season since 2004. Helton hit in 17 of his last 20 games going into the break, and the four days off — he sat Sunday with flu-like symptons — could not have come at a better time. The guy needs a rest because the team needs him. If Helton hits 20 home runs and drives in 100-110 runs — numbers not beyond the realm of possibility if he maintains his pace — the Rockies will stay in the race through the summer.
3. Bullpen gets some help in the seventh and eighth innings.
Huston Street likely has been the Rockies’ most reliable closer ever, rivaled only by Manny Corpas when he took over from Brian Fuentes in the middle of the 2007 season. But beyond Street, things get a little scary. Corpas was just starting to get his season together when he went on the disabled list. Since then, Joel Peralta, Matt Daley, Alan Embree and Juan Rincon have shared duty in tight spots with — to be honest — surprising success. But the Rockies need more reliability leading up to Street if they’re going to make up any ground in NL West, especially with Embree now out for the season. Franklin Morales has been intriguing since returning to the majors and moving to the bullpen, Corpas will be back soon, top prospects in the minors could help, but there’s always the chance of a trade. Garrett Atkins or Ryan Spilborghs could bring a quality reliever in the right deal.
4. Troy Tulowitzki starts hitting with runners in scoring position.
Tulowitzki is tied for the team lead in home runs (16) but just fifth in RBIs (37). With the bases empty, Tulowitzki is batting .311 with 12 home runs. With runners on base, he’s batting just .179, and the number drops to .164 with runners in scoring position. Tulowitzki has mostly turned around his season since early May, but his offensive success since then has not come when the team needs it most.
5. Fourth and fifth starters find some consistency.
Aaron Cook? Great since the beginning of May. Ubaldo Jimenez? Ditto. (Someone should look at postponing April for Rockies pitchers). Jason Marquis? All-Star. Beyond the top three, the Rockies rotation has been up and down. Jason Hammel had been very good until his past two starts. Jorge De La Rosa has won six of his past seven starts, but even during that time has shown some of the frustrating lapses of concentration that made the first half of his season such a struggle. Either Cook, Jimenez or Marquis emerging as dominant instead of just very good — bets on Jimenez — will help the Rockies, too, but all three already give the Rockies a chance to win every time out. With no margin for error in the NL West and very little room for error in the wild card, the Rockies cannot afford to take a wait-and-see approach with the final two spots in the rotation. Either they keep winning, or they’re out.
Journals, Sports, Steve Foster
bullpen, colorado rockies, dexter fowler, jason hammel, jorge de la rosa, todd helton, troy tulowitzki
