26-year old lefty swinging 3B Ian Stewart has been awful this year for the Rockies. He has played in 48 games for the Rockies so far this year and he is 19 for 122 (.156 avg, .464 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 0 homers, 6 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Those are pathetic numbers for a guy who came into this season as the Rockies’ starting 3B. Stewart has now played in 432 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 293 for 1,242 (.236 avg, .751 OPS) with 178 runs scored, 54 homers, 187 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. The Rockies are going to try to deal Stewart over the winter, hoping to at least get something for him.

28-year old righty swinging catcher Chris Iannetta is not taking advantage of the Rockies giving him the starting catcher job this year. He has played in 79 games for the Rockies so far this year and he is 53 for 241 (.220 avg, .777 OPS) with 37 runs scored, 10 homers, 36 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He has now played in 425 games in his first six years with the Rockies and he is 307 for 1,325 (.232 avg, .786 OPS) with 182 runs scored, 59 homers, 217 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. If Iannetta doesn’t show improvement the rest of this season, I think his days as the starting catcher for the Rockies could be coming to an end.

Starting 3B Ian Stewart is hurting right now and it’s hurting his performance. Stewart has played in 8 games for the Rockies so far this year and he is 1 for 17 (.059 avg, .118 OPS) with 1 stolen base. He has whiffed 9 times without a walk so far this year. When he gets healthy, Stewart is going to have to pick up the pace because Ty Wigginton (an A.L. All-Star last year) will be pushing him for ABs.

UPDATE: (4/19/2011) - The Rockies have sent Stewart to AAA. He played in 12 games for the Rockies this year and he was 2 for 26 (.077 avg, .220 OPS) with 2 runs scored, 1 stolen base and he whiffed 11 times. Stewart needs to get his act together quickly in AAA, or his old position just isn’t going to be there for him.

37-year old lefty swinging 1B Todd Helton appears to be running low on his gas tank. He has played in 109 games for the Rockies this year and he is 94 of 369 (.255 avg, .713 OPS) with 46 runs scored, 6 homers and 33 RBIs. It’s sad to see Helton losing his skills as a hitter that made him one of the better 1B for years. I think the Humidor is one of the biggest reasons why Helton hasn’t hit at least 20 homers in a season over his last 5 years. Helton has played in 1,921 games in his 14 years with the Rockies and he is 2,228 of 6,875 (.324 avg, .979 OPS) with 1,268 runs scored, 331 homers, 1,235 RBIs and 36 stolen bases. I think Todd Helton’s run as a Colorado Rockie could be nearing an end.

36-year old lefty swinging starting 1B Todd Helton is off to a very slow start this year. He has played in 55 games for the Rockies this year and he is 49 of 192 (.255 avg, .684 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 1 homer and 11 RBIs. Helton has played 14 years for the Rockies appearing in 1,867 games in which he is 2,183 of 6,698 (.326 avg, .985 OPS) with 1,244 runs scored, 326 homers and 1,213 RBIs. I blame the Humidor and Helton’s age as the reasons he’s not hitting like he used to. The Rockies can’t make the playoffs with Helton hitting like he is right now so they need him to wake up…..and soon!

Dexter Fowler and Todd Helton appeared to wake up with the bat last night but the Rockies need that to continue. Fowler is 2 for 10 with 2 RBIs in this series while Helton is 2 for 12 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBIs. But starting 2B Clint Barmes has been truly awful so far in this series as he is 0 for 10. The Rockies need all hands on the deck as they face elimination tonight so these three guys need to step up.

Yorvit Torrealba might become the Rockies’ backup catcher soon as he is clearly getting outplayed by Chris Iannetta. Torrealba has played in 39 games this season for the Rockies and he is 30 for 137 (.219 avg, .595 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 2 homers and 15 RBIs. The Rockies should have been more careful about re-signing Torrealba in the off season after his deal fell through with the Mets due to right shoulder issues. Chris Iannetta had a terrible rookie season but he’s swinging a good stick right now and it should earn him even more playing time than he is already getting. Iannetta has played in 33 games so far this season for the Rockies and he is 30 for 104 (.288 avg, .938 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 6 homers and 21 RBIs.

Kazuo Matsui was outstanding in the first half of the season but he’s been average in the 2nd half.  Since the All-Star Break, Matsui has played in 46 games and he is 47 for 175 (.269 avg, .687 OPS) with 33 runs scored, 1 homer, 13 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.  For the season, Matsui has played in 92 games and he is hitting .291 (.754 OPS) with 72 runs scored, 4 homers, 34 RBIs and 30 stolen bases.

Jeff Baker, Chris Iannetta and Jamey Carroll have all had tough first halves.  Baker is struggling because he just isn’t getting enough playoff time to stay sharp.  Baker is only hitting .230 with 9 runs scored, 2 homers and 7 RBIs in only 100 atbats this season.  Jamey Carroll has also been pretty bad with the stick in his hands this season.  Carroll is hitting only .212 with 25 runs scored, 1 homer and 7 RBIs in 132 atbats this season.  Chris Iannetta was given the starting job at catcher when the season started but he lost it to Yorvit Torrealba because of his poor play.  Iannetta is hitting only .198 with 14 runs scored, 2 homers and 15 RBIs in 131 atbats.  The Rockies should do the right thing and send the kid to AAA to get his confidence back.

I wonder if the Rockies are going to give Javy Lopez a call to see if he stayed in shape because their catchers have been pathetic with a bat in their hands so far this season.  The Rockies had high hopes for rookie Chris Iannetta and he’s been awful so far this season.  In 31 games this year, he is 16 for 87 (.184 avg, .628 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 1 homer and 10 RBIs.  He also has whiffed an amazing 29 times already as he’s often looked overmatched at the plate.  Yorvit Torrealba hasn’t been a whole lot better this season.  In 35 games, he’s 26 for 121 (.215 avg, .553 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 1 homer and 17 RBIs.  Look for the Rockies to make a move soon if neither of these guys pick it up with their bats.