Warren Schaeffer is pushing his agenda.<\/p>\n
The Rockies\u2019 interim manager wants an aggressive, multifaceted team that steals bases, puts down bunts, and \u201ccreates chaos.\u201d That\u2019s part of the reason why he juggled the lineup for Colorado\u2019s game against the Dodgers Tuesday night at Coors Field.<\/p>\n
Hot-hitting Tyler Freeman (.323 average) was moved from the bottom of the order to leadoff, slugging catcher Hunter Goodman was moved up from third to second, Jordan Beck was moved from second to third, and a resurgent Michael Toglia took over the cleanup role.<\/p>\n
\u201cFreeman is doing a heck of a job from the leadoff spot, and he\u2019s given us everything you want from leadoff,\u201d Schaeffer said. \u201cHe\u2019s a tough at-bat, he\u2019s got speed and he\u2019s getting on base.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Goodman is our biggest threat at the moment. So we shuffled that around today, and we put Beck behind (Goodman) to give him a little more protection. And to give \u2018Goody\u2019 that extra at-bat in the ninth inning if it comes around.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schaeffer said that Tuesday night\u2019s lineup could, potentially, be the basic lineup moving forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day, we\u2019re trying to get the most out of everybody on the team,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
When Schaeffer replaced Bud Black as manager on May 11, he said he knew what kind of baseball he wanted the Rockies to play: hard-nosed and aggressive.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince Day 1, since I stepped into this job, that\u2019s one of the things I\u2019ve been preaching,\u201d he said. \u201cFor me, you just have to keep preaching it, and then see some good results on the field, which we are starting to see on a more consistent basis now.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s part of our game now, and we can beat teams and score runs in different ways now, as opposed to just going station to station and trying to hit a home run. That\u2019s tough to do at this level.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tovar update. Gold Glove shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, on the injured list since June 3 with a left oblique strain, is doing some baseball activities \u2014 hitting off a tee, fielding, throwing, and running. However, there is no set timetable for his return.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m trying to be patient,\u201d Tovar said. \u201cBecause you have to be with this kind of injury. If you push it too much, you\u2019ll be out even longer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Once Tovar is healthy enough to resume full baseball activities, he\u2019ll require a minor-league rehab stint before he rejoins the Rockies.<\/p>\n
Schaeffer is optimistic he\u2019ll have his starting shortstop back soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s progressing nicely, but he\u2019s not doing anything that requires extreme exertion,\u201d the manager said.<\/p>\n