Is there any hope for Ian Stewart?

by samjjones on Jun 2, 2007 11:12 AM EDT

Stewart's other numbers look okay. .305 batting average, .374 OBP...however, he has just 3 home runs in 187 at-bats. By all accounts, his defense at third is acceptable, and with Atkins' struggles, there is finally some opportunity.

Where did Stewart's power go? Have the Rockies' screwed with him by trying to get him to hit the ball the other way? At this point, I can't see him becoming a future regular third baseman or corner outfielder given the lack of home run power.

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Eh..

I used to support Stewart more than ANYONE here, but I am actually quite worried. His 2003 and 2004 seasons are starting to look like flukes, along with last years ST performance.

I can picture him hitting .280, 15, 85 on a good year, maybe a little better.

by ISC on Jun 2, 2007 12:46 PM EDT reply actions

yeah i agree

the lack of power is alarming, i am curious what is wrong myself.

All hail Lincecum...the Expedition Sorcerer!

by realityconquest on Jun 2, 2007 12:50 PM EDT reply actions

why say....

why say that the Rockies screwed him up? i think it's weird that everytime a prospect doesn't work out it's said that the organization screwed with them. a good player produces. some guys turn out not to be good. perhaps Stewart is in the latter group.

by scooter on Jun 2, 2007 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

Wrist

It isn't the Rockies fault.

Everything about his performance over the past two years is consistent with a lingering wrist injury. The Rockies management didn't hurt his wrist.

by FI @ Minor League Ball on Jun 2, 2007 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Response

Don't really get the issue here.

Last year people weren't happy with his batting average, although he showed good pop. This year he's not showing nearly as much pop, but his batting average has jumped, he's improved on his BB/K ratios, and perhaps best of all he's showed a vastly improved approach against LHPs.

So what is it? Is he going to be the Stewart of last year of whom his critics said he didn't look like he was making enough contact to make it as a ML hitter? Or is he going to be the Stewart of this year, who's hitting for a nice average but isn't showing the power numbers?

Personal feeling: buy heavy on Ian Stewart stock before it explodes. This is a guy who is on the verge of a major, major breakthrough.

by mrkupe on Jun 3, 2007 1:08 AM EDT reply actions