Dexter Fowler’s Foot Is OK

Entering the season there was a long list of qualifiers before you could reasonably make the argument that the Colorado Rockies might be a good baseball team. In no particular order…

…If Jhoulys Chacin and Jorge De La Rosa stay healthy and pitch well…

…If Carlos Gonzalez regains his form with Troy Tulowitzki back in the lineup protecting him…

Look at this guy. Image: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

…If CarGo stays healthy…

…If Tulo stays healthy…

…If Michael Cuddyer and Todd Helton have something left in their respective tanks…

…If the bullpen remains solid and is not ridiculously overworked for a second consecutive season…

And finally, there was this one:

…If Dexter Fowler enjoys a full breakout season.

Fowler showed signs of finally getting “it” in 2012, especially during the second half of the season. The numbers were finally there (.300/.383/.474). His left-handed swing was finally consistent. He finally had the results to back up that distinct Dexter-swagger.

So far in 2013 he has built on that success. Actually, he has done far more than that. He has been dominant at times, bashing home run after clutch home run. Fowler has hit to the tune of .283/.367/.717 with 7 home runs and an 1.084 OPS, all with an apparent effortlessness, with not a hair of his dapper beard out of place.

Given that success, it was no small deal that he missed time this week with a bruised foot. Sure, it’s a minor injury and he returned without a problem on Thursday (hitting his 7th home run, to boot). But his brief absence served notice that we need to add another qualifier to the “If the Rockies are going to be good” list.

…If Dexter Fowler stays healthy…

Every team deals with injuries. Every team has its short list of players they cannot afford to lose for an extended period of time. Fowler, once a maddeningly inconsistent player and once thought to be trade fodder, is now officially on that list for the Rockies.

It matters that Dexter Fowler’s foot is OK. It means that, for at least one more day, the beat goes on for the surprisingly hot Rockies.