Rockies midseason grades, outfielders…
Brad Hawpe (A) Makes his first all-star appearance this year with a team leading .320 average and 59 RBIs. Hawpe has 14 homeruns, 27 doubles and 2 triples and a slugging percentage of .577. All of this despite 63 strikeouts on the season. He’s been more than consistent the first half of the season and he should continue to do so in the second half. Hawpe is clearly the Rockies team MVP this season.
Dexter Fowler (B+) When your first pitch of the season results in a homerun, you know to expect only great things from yourself in your rookie season. The fans have come to expect nothing but the same from Fowler. Dexter’s blazing speed allows him to cover some serious real-estate in centerfield with his .994 fielding percentage and committing only 1 error. And it’s no difference on the basepaths with 20 steals and 5 in a single game early in the season against the Padres. Patience goes both ways with Dexter, who leads the team in walks (44) and also strikeouts (73), while batting .260. If this is what it means to learn on the job, then next season and beyond should be really exciting for Dexter and for Rockies fans.
Ryan Spilborghs (C+) The unfortunate thing for Spilly is that on this team he is nothing more than a utility outfielder with Dexter Fowler setting up shop permanently in centerfield. Spilly is batting .258 and is capable of playing all three outfield positions, which makes him valuable. He has 6 homeruns and has drawn 21 walks and stolen 8 bases. He is also dependable in pinch hitting roles. Though he was the talk briefly of some trade rumors, Spilly should remain in a Rockies uniform, at least for the remainder of the season.
Seth Smith (B) I admit I wasn’t a fan of Smith at the start of the season but that all changed on a Sunday afternoon game against the Marlins back in May. Smith’s hustle and prowess in left field that day was none too shabby. His catch banging hard against the left field wall in foul territory and a homerun robbing catch at the wall made me a fan. Smith carries a .298 average with 7 homeruns and 23 RBIs. Smith is also good in pinch hitting situations and has recently taken over in left field in place of Carlos Gonzalez who is in a hitting slump. Smith has a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. Smith and Gonzalez are interchangeable in left field.
Carlos Gonzalez (C-) With less than 30 games under his belt with the Rockies, Carlos has been a bit of a letdown, but we’re only talking a month’s worth of games. He’s currently struggling with a .202 average after tearing up Triple A pitching with a .339 average, 10 homeruns and 59 RBIs. Gonzalez like Fowler is a threat on the bases and in the outfield, which is the main reason he hasn’t been sent back down to Triple A. Are we expecting too much to soon from the man who is to replace Matt Holliday in only his second major league season? Possibly. But his potential is great and he should be a major player in this team’s success the remainder of the season, despite his early struggles at the plate.
Matt Murton (C) While both Murton and Gonzalez had perfect fielding percentages, Murton grades slightly above Gonzalez mostly due to a higher batting average (.267) during his time with the Rockies, with a homerun, 5 doubles and 6 RBIs. Matt is currently batting .374 in Triple A and should get another shot with the Rockies before season’s end.
Next up: Pitchers.
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