USA Team outfielder Dexter Fowler leaps for a ball hit by World Team player Ivan DeJesus in the third inning of the All Star Futures baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, Sunday, July 13, 2008. Fowlers caught the ball for the out. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

The All-Star Game is not just about the best players in baseball competing against each other on the same field, it's also about pomp and circumstance.

From the ceremonial first pitch by Reginald Martinez Jackson to the post-grunge faux-hawk rock of 3 Doors Down to the inspirational ESPN montages featuring the music of the legendary alterna-rocker Rob Thomas, the All-Star Game (and all the events that surround it) is both a ceremony and a celebration, rather than a competition.

If there were any Colorado Rockies fans watching the Futures Game on Sunday, a showcase of the best minor league prospects, Rockies prospect Dexter Fowler has given them a reason to put Kool and the Gang in the tape decks on their boomboxes and celebrate good times.

Back in 2004, Rockies fans were irate when the greatest Canadian to ever rock the purple pinstripes, Larry Walker, was traded to the Cardinals for chicken feed. None of the three return players (Chris Narveson, Luis Martinez and Matt Burch) ever appeared in a game for the Rockies. Only Narveson is still in professional baseball.

What the trade press release forgot to mention was that letting the St. Louis Cardinals pay Walker's salary gave the Rockies a little extra money to spend on signing their draft picks from that year -- one of whom was a lanky 18-year old by the name of Dexter Fowler.

The Rockies took a flier on the fourteenth rounder who had the options of playing basketball at Harvard or playing baseball at the University of Miami. Instead of picking one of the most prestigious academic schools in the country or one of the most prestigious baseball programs in the country, Fowler decided to take the Rockies $925,000 offer.

On Sunday, in the top of the third inning, center fielder Fowler was playing shallower than a young Jim Edmonds, hovering behind second base. Ivan Dejesus, of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, promptly launched a ball into deep center field. Without wasting a moment, Fowler ignited his $925,000 jets. He covered what looked like the length of a football field in only a few seconds, making a leaping catch to rob Dejesus of what probably would have been a triple.

Did I mention that he is also 6'4" and is slugging .510 with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers?

Humans are not supposed to be made that way. They are supposed to be strong or fast or smart, but not all three at once. They aren't supposed to turn down Harvard to hit home runs and navigate the outfield with blinding speed.

Luckily for the Rockies, Fowler didn't do what he was supposed to do.

Now at 22, Fowler made his debut at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. He isn't looking very far removed from his Coors Field debut.

With over 350 at-bats in Double-A, Fowler has put up a daunting line--.325/.412/.510. He has hit for average, shown good plate discipline, and has hit for power with 35% of his hits going for extra bases. Not only is he good offensively, he is outstanding defensively -- his catch on Sunday is evidence enough of that.

His only major flaw right now is his base stealing ability. His stolen base percentage sits just below 70%, which isn't terrible, but it isn't particularly good. In order for stealing bases to be effective, or at least strategically sound, a player must steal successfully more than 70% of the time (according to Bill James).

So, Fowler isn't superior at the least important of his abilities. The ancillary skill of base stealing can be worked on as he moves up the system.

350+ at-bats of domination at Double-A should warrant a call-up to Triple-A Colorado Springs. The Rockies have very little left to lose this season, though they are somehow only 8.5 games back at the break.

To quote Kevin Garnett (in tears, of course), "Nothing is impossible!"

Though it's not impossible, a playoff appearance is far from probable and the Rockies ought to be looking into the future. An immediate call-up to Triple-A for Fowler, followed by a September major league appearance, could benefit the Rockies down the road.

Willy Taveras is a barely functional major league player; the Rockies should be working on replacing him as soon as they can. Dexter Fowler is the kind of replacement that would make even Keanu Reeves jealous.

Contact Eric Peterson about this story at (303) 443-6272 ext. 112 or sports@coloradodaily.com