Stewart's power a big hit with fans

TUCSON -- The Colorado Rockies ought to sell tickets to watch rising prospect Ian Stewart take batting practice. It would be worth the price of admission -- as long as your car isn't parked in the vicinity of his swing.

Fans who gathered near the batting cage on Emil Bossard Field on Friday gasped at balls that flew well into the 450-foot range, one smashing into a windshield twhile two others bounced off a backdrop shed after meeting with Stewart's bat. His raw power stood out during a session in which he was grouped with Todd Helton, Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe.

"I'm just going to let him go play," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said of Stewart. "The power you see in batting practice needs to translate into game power."

Holliday was no slouch during the same batting practice session -- sending out one bomb that nearly pelted the vehicle driven by Rockies owner Charlie Monfort. Helton and Hawpe sprayed line drives all over the field.

Stewart, however, was the monster with the bat. "We know we have a special kid here, and we've known that for a while," Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said. "It's great to get him in camp so he can have a sense and feel of what the big-league pace is all about. Hopefully at the this camp he'll be that much closer to helping at some point and time, whenever that may be."

NOTEWORTHY

› Expect to hear a new song playing at Coors Field when Holliday is introduced before his at-bats. Last year the song "Holiday" from the band Green Day was played for the Rockies' outfielder. "I put the 'K-bosh' on that," he told me.

› FSN Rocky Mountain's Spotlight series hosted by Drew Goodman will feature Helton on Tuesday at 9 p.m.

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