All draft picks under contract

The Colorado Rockies signed 14th-round draft pick Derek Fowler, team officials said Wednesday.

The outfielder from Milton, Ga., was named first-team All-America by Baseball America and USA Today after hitting .457 with 14 home runs and 37 RBIs as a high school senior.

The right-hander, who signed Tuesday, was listed as the 10thbest position player available in the 2004 draft and the second-best in his state behind the Rockies' first-round choice, shortstop Chris Nelson. Fowler's stock dropped when teams feared he would demand too much money.

The club has now signed all 25 of its draft picks.

Rainout

Wednesday's game between the Rockies and the New York Mets was rained out. The game will be played at 6:05 p.m. today, after the 1:05 p.m. game. Neither game will be televised, but the Sept. 30 game against the Los Angeles Dodgers will be televised.

Shawn Estes is scheduled to start the afternoon game for the Rockies while Jeff Fassero will start in the evening. Kris Benson and Al Leiter are the Mets' starters, respectively.

Tickets for Wednesday's game are valid for the 6:05 p.m. game. Exchanges may be made for any game throughout the season before the 6:05 game.

Getting the bunt down

Rockies rookie second baseman Aaron Miles has done just about as much as a manager could expect from a rookie.

But as a leadoff hitter, he is missing one vital part of his game - - bunting.

"We are confident that Aaron's next bunt single -- will be his first," manager Clint Hurdle said. Hurdle said that Miles works on his bunting more than anyone else on the team before games and that he nearly got on base after a bunt in Philadelphia but the ball barely rolled foul.

"He's put more time into bunting and not had a bunt single than anyone to ever put on a Rockies' uniform," Hurdle said. "We think he's about to go on a bunting frenzy."

Decisions, decisions

In the ninth inning of Tuesday's game against the Mets, Rockies first baseman Todd Helton overthrew Royce Clayton at second base on a double play opportunity.

When asked about the play, Hurdle said Clayton didn't see the ball until it came out of the view of the baserunner.

"I think if Todd had to do it again, he'd take the out at first base," Hurdle said.

Helton was charged with the error and a run scored on the play that left runners at first and second. Reliever Shawn Chacon got out of the inning by getting Danny Garcia to strike out and pinch-hitter Todd Zeile to pop out.

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