Rockies expect Fowler to rebound from poor spring
The Colorado Rockies entered spring training thinking they knew what they had in center fielder Dexter Fowler, 26, and confident he could finally be consistent for a full season.
Their reasoning was based on Fowler's strong second half last year, following a stint on the disabled list and a demotion to Class AAA Colorado Springs. And Fowler had a productive offseason, spending time working out first with teammates Jason Giambi and Troy Tulowitzki and then with Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp. Fowler came to camp stronger and more muscular, but his spring training was forgettable.
The switch-hitting Fowler hit .149 (8 for 51) in the Cactus League, with a .186 on-base percentage. All 17 of his strikeouts came batting left-handed, where he went 8 for 51 (.157). Hitting coach Carney Lansford said the added strength was not working to Fowler's advantage, because he was trying to hit the ball far, which is not his game.
Manager Jim Tracy expressed confidence in Fowler, saying the center fielder was one swing away from finding a hitting groove like last year.
Indeed, in the second half, Fowler hit .288 with a .381 on-base percentage and .498 slugging percentage in 316 plate appearances. Those numbers were .238/.340/.347 in 247 plate appearances in the first half. Fowler began using a leg kick in the second half with success, but that timing device seems to have disappeared this year.
In the waning days of spring training, Tracy said Fowler would not lead off, which was the plan all offseason, but would rather bat second, changing spots in the order with second baseman Marco Scutaro. And Tracy indicated Fowler could be moved farther down the lineup; he did bat eighth once in spring training.
The Rockies moved Fowler out of the leadoff spot to ease the pressure on him. He started the first two games of the season but was on the bench Sunday, along with several other regulars, as Tracy gave left-handed Tyler Colvin his first start. Colvin gives Tracy an option who can be used for more than a day here or there, if necessary.
General manager Dan O'Dowd said, "Dexter's not a perfect swing guy. But we have to find out one way or another on him. It's like (Carlos Gonzalez's) situation in 2009. Either we are all in or we're not. We know Dexter can hit at Triple-A. And there will be matchups that make sense for Colvin when Dexter needs a day (off)."
Gonzalez began the 2009 season at Triple-A and after two hot months was recalled by the Rockies. With a strike zone that extended from his visor to his ankles, an anxious Gonzalez initially struggled before gaining some strike-zone discipline, settling in and taking off with the Rockies.
Gonzalez was making $403,000 in 2009. Fowler, who was arbitration-eligible for the first time in the offseason, is making $2.35 million this season. And Gonzalez is a much more natural hitter than Fowler, who did not begin switch-hitting until after he signed his first professional contract with the Rockies in August 2004.
