Jeff Bridich is about to enter his 16th month as General Manger of the Colorado Rockies and, for many, the changes he has made have gone unnoticed. Aside from trading Troy Tulowitzki and signing Gerardo Parra a few weeks ago, few changes at 20th and Blake have occurred. There is little to no evidence that the culture of the franchise’s brass has changed in the past year and a half.
The signing of Parra, which brings a fourth left-handed outfielder onto the active roster, set off a feeling of despair off amongst Rockies fans. The same feeling fans had when Dan O’Dowd was running the team, seemingly, without much of a plan. At the time O’Dowd and Bill Geivett ran the team, it felt as though the organization was throwing money at problems they did not have while hoping for the 99th percentile of luck in order for the club to have a successful season. Of course, things came together for Colorado in 2007 and 2009 thanks in large part to Generation R. But the O’Dowd/Geivett era was showcased in the final four seasons when the team was a revolving door of similar players that didn’t have a ton of talent, and those players that did have exceptional talent were hurt more than healthy.
This cycle of circling and hoping never had a pleasant end. Truthfully, it’s an ugly period that the Rockies should avoid getting back to at all costs. But it seems like Colorado may have picked up where they left off in the planless circle of mediocrity.
Looking around baseball, most are claiming the Rockies moves this offseason to be curious at best. Some have even gone as far as to call Bridich as “clueless.” While I do not agree with the assessment that Bridich does not know what he is doing, there is little to show that the Rockies are trying to break the cycle.
Are the Rockies jaded for splurging on an outfielder they have no spot for in Parra? Are they jaded because they acquired an aged, slugging, right-handed, utility bat in Mark Reynolds? Are they jaded for ignoring to improve their pitching staff and instead getting rid of some of the young bullpen arms that may have had potential? Are they jaded for not completely rebuilding?
Possibly.
This winter has brought just about as much mystery as it has an understanding to the main question of whether or not the Colorado Rockies have a plan for sustained success.
“I learned that we continue to have a lot of talent in the organization,” Bridich said of his first year on the job, at Saturday’s fanfest. “I learned that we absolutely need to flood our organization with high-potential, high-impact pitchers, whatever their role. And I learned that we have an opportunity to have success and hopefully sustain that success as long as the talent that we have comes together and plays as a team.”
What the Rockies GM is saying is not only the truth but it’s also ignorant. Plain and simple this team has not had enough talent the last five season to compete. However, flooding the farm system with a depth and quality of youth is a method for success. Label what Bridich has said as you will, but the quote above matches up with what the team appears to be doing. That is, acquiring a wealth of high-potential prospects while trying to keep an admirable product at the major league level. Rarely have teams, in any sport, succeeded at doing two things at once, but Colorado may not even be doing this.
They could be in a full rebuild and adding Parra was just to gain more trade value for the future. And the reason they haven’t traded more of their big league roster is because opponents have not met the club’s asking price. Nonetheless, why not invest that quarter of one hundred million dollars on an intentional or amateur free agent?
It only seemed logical that the Rockies would move an outfielder with the addition of Parra, and they still can, but maybe, just maybe the club is buying back into the 99th percentile mentality. With the moves they have made this offseason they are only one more move away from the appearance that they are trying to win now. That move would be signing Yovani Gallardo who would not only cost a pretty penny but also cost them a draft pick.
Perhaps the Rockies are doubling-down on the success they’ve had against right-handed pitching by signing Parra. This would be Colorado forcing a market inefficiency upon their division, which may work, but it still begs the question of — how do you get four left-handed outfielders in the lineup consistently?
The fact that there are three legitimate guesses (rebuild, contend, try something new) as to what the Rockies are doing leads to the question is there even a plan? Is Jeff Bridich being jaded and taking after his predecessors?
If there is a plan, it is so well hidden that you would have to dig yourself down a rabbit hole all the way to insanity before finding it on the other side. But maybe, just maybe, the Rockies are thinking differently than everyone else right now, insane or not, this could lead them to success. Either way, the last thing Bridich should do is take after his emeritus who, coincidently, thought differently than many too.
For now, It looks like the Colorado Rockies have regained their position of cycling through mediocrity, but it might be a charade by Jeff Bridich, who could be using his Harvard degree to outsmart everyone in Denver and in baseball.
