Rockies report: Fogg, Affeldt to collect their rings

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published August 21, 2008 at 5:24 p.m.

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20 stolen bases and 24 home runs for left fielder Matt Holliday, the fourth player to reach the 20-20 level this season, joining Grady Sizemore of Cleveland, Hanley Ramirez of Florida and Brandon Phillips of the Reds. He also is the fourth Rockies player to have a 20-20 season. Dante Bichette did it in 1994 and 1996, Larry Walker in 1997 and Ellis Burks in 1996.

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Reds right-hander Josh Fogg and left-hander Jeremy Affeldt will be presented their 2007 National League championship rings during a home-plate ceremony tonight before the series opener with Cincinnati.

Fogg was a key member of the Rockies rotation and Affeldt served as a second lefty in the bullpen with Brian Fuentes when the Rockies won the first NL pennant in franchise history last season.

They both became free agents and signed during the offseason with the Reds. Affeldt leads the Reds with 63 appearances. He has a 1.98 ERA his past 23 appearances. Fogg is 2-6 with a 7.66 ERA in 20 appearances, 12 starts.

IN THE MIDDLE

Outfielder Seth Smith, above, made his second big-league start in center field, and his second in the six games on the just-completed trip, Thursday afternoon.

Smith's ability to do a decent job in center, along with the presence of right-handed-hitting Ryan Spilborghs, would give a left-right-center field option to the Rockies as protection for next year.

The expectation is that Dexter Fowler will get the chance to make the jump from Double-A to the big leagues in 2009, most likely being called up in September after returning from the Olympics. With the idea that current center fielder Willy Taveras could be dealt in the offseason, a Spilborghs- Smith combo would provide alternatives if Fowler wasn't ready. "It will add value to his game and the team's game if he can pull it over," manager Clint Hurdle said.

ETC.

Outfielder Ryan Spilborghs joined Triple-A Colorado Springs to begin his medical rehab assignment. He has been out since July 9 with a left oblique strain. . . . Outfielder Scott Podsednik, out since July 28 with a fractured little finger on his left hand, is expected to be activated today after playing four games with Colorado Springs. Catcher Adam Melhuse is the likely roster move, with the team convinced that Yorvit Torrealba and Chris Iannetta are healthy enough that the club can return to carrying only two catchers. . . . James Loney led off the seventh with a home run off Rockies right-hander Luis Vizcaino, the only run the bullpen allowed in 19 innings during the trip. . . . Taveras leads the majors in reaching base 11 times this year on an error. He also leads the NL with 21 bunt hits, 36 infield hits and 59 stolen bases.

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