"ne minute into the first spring training game, Ian Stewart raced down the left-field foul line for a popup. He never lost sight of the ball and never saw outfielder Carlos Gonzalez bearing down on him. Stewart was in a hurry. The players collided, and Stewart suffered a right knee injury.

Suddenly, his fast track to stardom hit the brakes. Stewart never regained traction, undermined by injuries and confusion at the plate. His zero home runs remain a scarlet letter in a Rockies' season stained by disappointment.

"I thought I was ready when the year started, but I don't think I was. I came up and didn't do anything," Stewart said. "It just steamrolled.""