Ian Stewart's four RBI lead Rockies to victory

by Rox Girl on Mar 12, 2009 5:38 PM MDT in Rockies Game Wraps

Rockies 6, Angels 4

Ian Stewart

#9 / Third Base / Colorado Rockies

Height: 6-3

Weight: 205

Bats: L

Throws: R

Born: Apr 05, 1985

Ian Stewart smashed a three run homerun off of Angels ace John Lackey in the first inning, and wound up driving in four of the Rockies six runs as they held on to defeat the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday afternoon. This was the first time Los Angeles had been defeated in eight games at Tempe this Spring. Starter Franklin Morales pitched four innings against a starter filled lineup, giving up two runs on four hits and a pair of walks and was credited with the win. Huston Street pitched a flawless fifth and Jason Hirsh, Matt Belisle and Ryan Mattheus kept the Angels at bay. Dan Ortmeier and Clint Barmes continued their solid spring work and had the other two RBI for the Rockies, who are now 6-7 in Cactus League play.

The Big Question:

Can the Rockies afford to keep Stewart in Colorado Springs another year? This game showed the impact his bat could have if he's in the lineup on days when Garrett Atkins needs rest or Brad Hawpe is slumping. The Rockies may have to decide if they want to compete this season --meaning keeping Stewart on the 25 man roster even if his playing time is limited-- or play for next season by sending him to Colorado Springs.

WRAP RATING: Slovakian folk needlework art. Valuable, interesting to look at, yet still feels like only a crude interpretation of the real thing.

via upload.wikimedia.org

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Comments

Do you really think

playing for next year entails sending him down? I remain of the opinion (unpupular as its sure to be) that we are not really competitors this year and should be focusing on playing the younger guys in the bigs this year. Maybe not rushing Dex or CarGon, but certainly playing Stewart every day and not messing about with other vets that at best will be marginally valuable. We need to figure out who is good.

by Teekalong on Mar 12, 2009 6:01 PM MDT reply actions

What?

You mean you don’t think this Rockies team has a chance to win? Blasphemy.

Any lineup that features Clint Barmes is definitely a candidate for the world series. For realz!

by LawrenceDavis on Mar 12, 2009 6:34 PM MDT reply actions

I think....

They should keep trying to find a way to trade Adkins, and play Stewart everyday. I think it’s worth the risk. They won’t win without a healthy and productive Todd Helton.

Of course, They’d have to get a decent return.

by jlikesrockies on Mar 12, 2009 6:46 PM MDT up reply actions

Well if I was making this decision

I’d have Stewart starting at 2nd base. We need him to produce and to do in the bigs. He has nothing to prove or learn in AAA, unless it’s just to get him regular At Bats. Yes the defense goes down, but it puts Barmes in his best spot, and that of super-utility spot. Barmes is a good, nice player. The kind you want on your bench to fill in…not in your starting line up everyday.

Would Stewie be out of position? yeah. But he did actually better at 2nd last year (in very brief appearances) then he did at 3rd. I also like the potential of Stewart’s bat. He was nothing special last year, but should improve with experience.

Now we all know Helton will need at least 60 days off this season…maybe more. There will be plenty of starts/ABs to go around….but no one should get comfortable about batting in a certain spot or playing a certain position.

Rockies Mgr. Clint Hurdle on what needs improvement in 09: "Our Record"

by Redhawk on Mar 12, 2009 7:00 PM MDT up reply actions

Helton.

If you think Todd will need that many days off, why not keep Atkins at 3rd, Stewart at 2nd and move Hawpe to 1B?

That at least helps the OF defense, with CarGo in LF, Dex/Pods CF, and Spilly RF.

I'm not much for giving inspirational addresses, but I'd just like to point out that every newspaper in the country has picked us to finish last. The local press seems to think that we'd save everyone the time and trouble if we just went out and shot ourselves. Me, I'm for wasting sportswriters' time. So I figured we ought to hang around for a while and see if we can give 'em all a nice big s***burger to eat!

by The Lodo Magic Man on Mar 12, 2009 7:42 PM MDT up reply actions

I've been saying that for awhile

and every one thinks Hawpe is great in the OF and would be terrible in his natural position that he played in college and low minors (1st)

Rockies Mgr. Clint Hurdle on what needs improvement in 09: "Our Record"

by Redhawk on Mar 12, 2009 7:46 PM MDT up reply actions

Stewart should play third, I think

I agree that Hawpe could get some time at first when Todd needs a rest, and maybe even Baker as well. I think that it would be risky to lose Atkins, but I think they have to gamble that Stewart’s upside is higher. It would be great if they could trade Garrett for an upgrade at second, but that doesn’t seem likely.

by jlikesrockies on Mar 12, 2009 7:52 PM MDT up reply actions

Didn't Garrett

play 2B in one game last year?

by Tom (RFTN) on Mar 12, 2009 8:28 PM MDT up reply actions

Yep.

CDI played third.

"If we never try, we shall never succeed." - Abraham Lincoln

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ Oates on Mar 12, 2009 8:35 PM MDT up reply actions

Yeah

He made a great play too. That was the game Tulo hurt himself. It was weirdly awesome, Tulo hurting himself not withstanding.

Loving Greg Reynolds for no good reason since 2008.

by Silverblood on Mar 12, 2009 8:58 PM MDT up reply actions

The Rockies Won

even with all of the odd changes.

"A great catch is like watching girls go by; the last one you see is always the prettiest." ~Bob Gibson
JFK

by jrockies on Mar 12, 2009 8:59 PM MDT up reply actions

That's mostly because Dreamy

hit a home run off Lincecum and filled in like a man at third

"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

by Andrew T. Fisher on Mar 12, 2009 9:35 PM MDT up reply actions

The answer to the big question is...

No. IMHO, Shades needs to play in the bigs on a regular basis. Yes, he needs regular at bats, but if he can somehow play at least 3 days a week he’ll be a big plus for our offense. I could get behind Redhawk’s suggestion playing him at 2nd if it means that he plays regularly. The kid can rake.

I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better. -Georg C. Lichtenberg:

by rockhead on Mar 12, 2009 7:53 PM MDT reply actions