Eddie Butler shines in return to Colorado Rockies rotation

Much of the hope for the Colorado Rockies immediate future rests on Eddie Butler’s right arm.

On Saturday, Butler gave far more reason for excitement than he did in his lone big league start back in June. His six innings of one-run baseball was impressive, even if it came against the one team int he National League worse than the Rockies.

Butler only struck out one, but he got eight outs by ground ball and four by fly ball. The lone run that he gave up was on a home run to Jake Lamb. He wiggled out of trouble on two occasions. In the end, Butler threw just 81 pitches in his six innings before the Rockies decided to hand the ball to the bullpen.

It was a very impressive performance from the guy who the Rockies need to be the real deal. It was the type of performance that many Rockies fans had envisioned seeing throughout June and July, not for the first time in September.

The Rockies, while their offense on the road is a major concern, and their bullpen is in need of a complete overhaul, need as much help in the starting rotation as possible. With Jhoulys Chacin being a huge disappointment, then injured, the rotation was essentially Jorge De La Rosa then anyone else who could possibly throw a few strikes. Tyler Matzek emerged and Jordan Lyles impressed on many occasions, but besides De La Rosa, the starting rotation overall was a complete mess.

It was no secret, even in spring training of this season, that the Rockies would need considerable help in their rotation from guys in their minor league system in order to compete. Fans were calling for Jon Gray and Butler to start the year with the big league club in order to get things going. Instead, the Rockies decided to keep seasoning both of them in the minor leagues and put them on the back burner until next year.

The Rockies season has been a huge disappointment. It has been the latest example in a long line of them as to why the club needs to make major changes in the front office. However, the Rockies have an outside chance of turning things around quickly in 2014. They have a group of young pitchers who could make things better in a hurry.

If Butler and Gray can make an impact quickly in 2015, and De La Rosa can keep up the pace that he has been at since his return from Tommy John surgery, the Rockies would have three good options at the top of their rotation. Throw in Matzek and a competition between Jordan Lyles and Christian Bergman for the fifth spot and the Rockies would at least be able to send a formidable pitcher to the mound every single day. At some point, Tyler Anderson, who was impressive at Double-A Tulsa, would have a chance to crack that rotation as well. That is the depth the Rockies have needed for years.

Of course, those are all “if’s.” The Rockies seasons are always surrounded by if’s. However, the options seem much better than they have in recent years. They seem like a better option than trying to get a solid outing from Yohan Flande or Christian Friedrich.

While the end of the season can’t come soon enough, the Rockies are in a position where they need to see where some of their young starters stand before heading into the winter. The club needs to use all seven remaining games as a spotlight for the future.

On Saturday, Eddie Butler did a good job of bringing a slight bit of comfort to the Rockies.

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