September 10, 2008 Changing course, the Rockies will indeed start youngster Dexter Fowler on Wednesday night as he will bat leadoff, according to the Rocky Mountain News. “I thought I might find a way to light a spark at the top of the lineup..." manager Clint Hurdle said.
Our View:The Rockies had said all along that Fowler wouldn't start until the team was clearly out of the playoff chase. Perhaps they finally realized that being seven games behind the Dodgers is virtually in insurmountable lead.
September 8, 2008 The Denver Post suggests that Olympic outfielder Dexter Fowler won't start a game unless the Rockies fall out of playoff contention. Manager Clint Hurdle said, "As long as we are tied to this thing, he will have opportunities coming off the bench or pinch hitting. If the season turns a different way, then the opportunity is there to start. We need to keep things in a certain vein. If the vein of the game changes, we'd love to get him out there and watch him play."
Our View:Fowler only holds fantasy value if the Rockies are eliminated from the postseason race, which could potentially go down to the final week of the season, as the club currently only trails the Dodgers by 6.5 games in the NL West.
September 2, 2008 Dexter Fowler has been recalled from Double-A Tulsa, according to the Rocky Mountain News.
Our View:He is fresh off winning a bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics, and should see time in the outfield as an audition for 2009. He is viewed as the Rockies' center fielder of the future. He should be scooped up in keeper leagues, and is worth a look as a flier in deeper NL-only leagues for September.
June 14, 2008 Outfielder Dexter Fowler is tearing it up this June with a .347 average and eight extra-base hits over 12 games at Double-A Tulsa. The 22-year-old is hitting .301-6-35-51-14 with a .860 OPS over 65 games and has been especially hot of late, going 14-for-31 (.452) over the past seven games).
Our View:Fowler is a five-tool guy who is thought to be the Rockies' center fielder of the future. We could see him up in the majors late this year, and with Willy Taveras toiling at .233, Fowler's timetable may be growing shorter.
March 26, 2008 Dexter Fowler will open 2008 at Double-A, but he showed the Rockies this spring that his time is near. "He didn't seem to be intimidated by anything," manager Clint Hurdle tells the Denver Post. "He has the skills to play center field. He has a feel in the outfield that you don't always see. He goes and gets the ball and his arm strength is good enough. He can flat-out run. The strides he takes are beautiful to see." Fowler, 22, hit .273-2-23-43-20 over 65 games High-A Modesto in 2007. Judging by the comments, he could get a cup of coffee this September and make a run at a starting gig in 2009.
