MLB: COLORADO ROCKIES , THE WAY BACK “& UP!” and brief Talk w/Rockies Outfielder, Dexter Fowler.
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“SPORTS NOTEBOOK” posts its columns Tuesday and Friday of every week---Ed. & Publ., Marvin Leibstone.
MLB: WITH 46 games left to play in the 2012 MLB season, could the Colorado Rockies finish up from last place in the National League West, when 26 of these challenges are against NL West rivals (L.A. Dodgers, S.F. Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks, S.D. Padres), the rest versus NL East and NL Central clubs, each having maintained better records than the Rockies since May 1 (Miami Marlins, N.Y. Mets, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies)?
So, evolving across late August, September and into October will be 14 series for the Rockies to appear in, five consisting of four games per, these against. Miami (now in progress), N.Y., Atlanta and S.F., the rest three each vs. the Chicago Cubs, the Dodgers, Phila., S.D., S.F., Ariz.
The question regarding a lasting Rockies rise from below .500 can seem to underscore “the Quixotic,” “the impossible quest,” given that the team’s current 45/71 win/loss record is second worst in the NL above the Houston Astros 39/80; for to obtain a dramatic bump upward and an MLB season finish above marginality, the under .390 Rockies must play better than .500 baseball until last day of play October 3, no easy task for any team to accomplish.
More precisely, of the 46 games that are left, to be a winning team by October 3 the Rockies need to win as many as 26, an added value from a lion’s share of the 26 wins being against NL-W clubs, especially vs. Arizona and San Diego, so that the Rockies could ascend from fifth to fourth place in the NL-W, while toughest for the Rockies will be their six games against the Dodgers (three in August, three in September) and seven vs. the Giants (four in Sept., then three starting four days later), teams now respectively in first and second place of the NL-W.
Too, for a significant Rockies climb upward, the team’s NL-W rivals have to lose at least a third of their remaining contests.
But about the “Quixotic,” “the seemingly impossible” becoming reality and a winning record, such isn’t new to baseball. Hope springs somewhere at unexpected moments during every baseball season, even if “dimly,” and that the Rockies have won seven of their last 10 games and their last four games straight (three vs. the Milwaukee Brewers, one vs. the Marlins) isn’t “dimly.”
Yes, and quite suddenly, stats are signaling a bubbling up of progress for the Rockies .
Thus far for the month of August, the Rockies are second best in team batting average re. both leagues, behind the 63/55 Detroit
And in 14 games from July 31 through August 15, the Rockies accumulated 72 scored runs, 10 home runs, 69 RBI, three triples and 38 doubles---this is hitter fulfillment finally offsetting a Rockies starter rotation and bull pen that still gives up runs, fact: only one of the team’s seven losses of August has been by fewer than three runs, while in each of the losses the Rockies accrued three or more runs, “in many of these wins and losses of the period the Rockies line-up delivering up to 10 hits.” Also, on Wednesday the Rockies achieved their seventh walk-off win of the season.
Moreover, when it comes to most runs accrued in first innings, the Rockies are now leading both leagues from its total of 98, as of August 15.
And some individual Rockies players have sizzled, of late. For example, in his last five games played at home, left fielder Carlos Gonzalez has had multi-hits and a run scored during each. Since July 31, outfielder/infielder, now leadoff hitter, Eric Young, has had the most hits in the National league since August 1---24; and, Young has reached base safely in his last 10 games. Centerfielder Dexter Fowler leads the NL in number of triples for the season---11, to date, while maintaining a .350 batting average. Second baseman D.J. LaMahieu is hitting .383 since July 17, with a home run, four doubles, five RBI and six runs scored.
Sustaining what’s been an upswing since August 1 may not deliver a post-season billet for the Colorado Rockies, but such can lift the franchise above that line that divides winners from all others---bye-bye Astros, goodbye Cubs and Twins, wish you the best for 2013!
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Our brief talk with Rockies outfielder, Dexter Fowler
On Tuesday, August 15, and against the Milwaukee Brewers, Rockies center fielder, Dexter Fowler, executed a slide-across- the-earth catch that had it been during a pennant or World Series game, well, it would have listed as candidacy for MLB history. Batting .350 now, and leading the NL in triples, Dexter Fowler has been a leading figure in what may be a Rockies season comeback from its current below .400 status. First impression of Fowler: tall and lean, and were he a bit heavier his stature could remind an observer of Usain Bolt, slightly more elegant, and you’d find Fowler affable and choosing words carefully, no sign of vanity or of stress. Below are comments that this intrepid outfielder and hitter provided during my conversation with him Thursday, August 16---
Q: Dexter, for some time you’ve been leadoff hitter in the Rockies line-up. That’s changed, for now. Is the leadoff position a preference for you?
Dexter Fowler: Actually, my first preference is being in the line-up, and that means anywhere, whether leading off, next up, wherever. You can help win a ballgame from any position in the line-up.
Q: You’ve been doing well in defense, that is, as a center fielder. If you had to play another position on the Rockies , where would you want that to be?
Fowler: Right field, for sure (Dexter wouldn’t want to suggest upstaging left fielder and friend, Carlos Gonzalez, no way!).
Q: How did you feel immediately after that amazing sliding upon the grass catch you made the other day?
Fowler: Tell you the truth, awful! I mean physically. Happy to have made the catch but physically I was hurting, a bit beat up.”
Q: What are your thoughts after the recent Rockies wins, especially the series win versus the Brewers?
Fowler: Something real good is happening, and it has us winning games and we can win a lot more. We’re rising up again, as a winning ball club?
Q: Is there a sense you have, and that others on the team have, that the Rockies can finish the 2012 season with a greater share of wins and fewer losses?
Fowler: We can do that now, we’re up to our potential.
Q: What’s you special objective for the 2013 baseball season?
Fowler: Right now, to concentrate on just that, on making sure that I do what it takes for me to help the Rockies win lots of ball games.
END/ml
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