Acquired in late July in a five-player deal that sent John Thomson to the Mets, Jay Payton gave the Rockies a righthanded bat they needed so badly. Payton hit .335 in 47 games with the Rockies, including .473 at Coors Field, where he drove in 19 runs in 21 games. At season's end, however, he had once again fallen victim to a nagging injury, as he was sidelined by a pulled ribcage muscle.
The tools are there, though the results haven't always been. Payton is a line-drive hitter with the ability to drive balls in the gaps. He has a short swing that generates power, but will fall into major slumps when he gets overanxious on sliders. He has slightly above-average power potential, but with his line-drive nature and the elements at Coors, he could become the next Dante Bichette or Jeffrey Hammonds. Payton is best suited to the No. 2 slot, where his speed and ability to hit the other way can be maximized.
Payton has the speed to play center field, but gets so-so breaks on balls. Adjusting to the way the ball carries at Coors took a little longer than anticipated. He is not afraid to make the diving play, though that's where the nagging injuries come up again. He throws a tad above average, and he does throw to the right base and does hit cutoff men. Payton has plus speed, but never has refined the art of stealing bases. It's a part of his game that still can be advanced.
Payton fits very much into the Rockies' everyday plans. He has the ability to play center field, but his arm strength might make him the perfect left fielder for Coors Field. That's where the Rockies need someone with center-field range and an arm that's slightly better than average. Payton gives manager Clint Hurdle lineup flexibility with his ability to hit anywhere from first through seventh.