The Rockies need pitching. The Rockies always need pitching, but they really need it now. Pitching has never been more important in Major League Baseball, and right now the Rockies are the worst at it in the entire league, squandering the tremendous offensive abilities on the roster.
The contrast between the hitting and pitching of the 2014 Rockies was stark, so much so that Gambling.com used it as a prime example of how necessary it is to research both sides of the game before placing a bet (or faith) in a team. Looking at the full season statistics illustrates just how much failure in a single aspect of the game can derail an otherwise excellent team.
The Rockies were in the top three in all of baseball in a number of major offensive categories, trailing only the powerhouse Detroit Tigers or Los Angeles Angels in almost every case where they didn’t lead baseball. Colorado led in OPS, slugging percentage, and total bases, second in batting average, hits, and home runs (behind Baltimore), and third in RBI and runs scored. Basically, they hit like an American League team last season, and an elite one at that.
And still, they had the second-worst record in baseball, finishing just two games ahead of the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks. That can almost entirely be laid at the feet of a pitching staff that was the inverse of the offense, finishing last or second to last in a huge number of pitching categories.
Rookie Tyler Matzek had the lowest ERA among the Colorado starters at 4.05, while the overall staff ERA was the highest in baseball at 4.86, over a quarter of a run higher than the next worse team. They were also last in saves, runs and earned runs allowed, WHIP, and home runs allowed, while finishing second to last in hits allowed, strikeouts, and walks. All of which contributed to a measly 66 wins.
For his part, new GM Jeff Bridich recognizes how much of a problem the pitching was, acknowledging that while the Rockies won’t be able to compete in a bidding war for the top names they will be taking runs at a number of other quality pitchers on the market. The fact that the team finally appears willing to listen to offers for Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez also puts the potential for a blockbuster trade or two in play.
So once more, Rockies management is looking for arms to bring to Colorado. In an age where pitching has become more and more important, continuing to fall so far behind the rest of the majors will spell nothing but continued failure.
6 Comments
Brett Anderson was worth the money. Any starting pitcher is going to be paid 10.5 million. The Rockies were already on the hook for 1.5 million. There's still a July 31 trade deadline you could have flipped Anderson.
I would have been fine with a starting 4 of DeLeRosa, Anderson, Lyles , and Matzek.
Bullpen must get blown up
the Rockies also must address on base percentage. Learn more about how to take a walk. They would be much better on offense.
One last thing on pitching. Find better catching than Rosario. There's a catching guru out somewhere who can teach framing pitches.
glad to have you back David.
Goodbye Rosario. See how easy it is to help the pitchers?
I'll get to the pitching staff in a sec, but let's first remember Tom Murphy is a stud catching prospect that should have seen Denver last year if not for injuries. There's also Garneau, Casteel and Swanner who's Rule5 fates are yet to be decided. These in addition to the usual "vet" fillers like McKenry.
DeLaRosa, Lyles, Matzek, Bergman and Butler. Yep, we're screwed.
Those last four should be competing for the 4th to 8th spots in the rotation, not penciled in. Realistically we need 2-3 good starters for '15 with the rest, Gray, Chacin and Chatwood (DL), Anderson and Winkler(R5), and usual AAAA lifers (Flande') as depth/development.
The bullpen. And bullpen depth. Yeah, nuff-said.
As long as the shopping list's out, we have zero infield depth. Rutledge stinks, Culberson can't hit, and the farm's so bare (Ynoa?) we put Cuddy at 3B – a fireable offense for whoever suggested it.
Lastly, head over to RockiesRoster.com and look at the contract situation of our farm. AAA is expectedly slim, but AA is almost completely Rule5, SingleAs about half. We have no farm to speak of. It needs to be rebuilt from scratch.
Welcome back D.Martin and RockiesReview. A break was surely needed and deserved.
After watching Bumgarner in the playoffs you have to wonder if anyone on the Rockies staff qualifies as an actual pitcher? He was impossible to outguess as he was up, down, in and out – throwing any pitch in any count. He limited the freebies with something like six walks in 50+ innings. Bumgarner was in zone for sure, but you can also tell he understands and actually thinks about how to get hitters out. Is there anyone on the Rockies staff that gives that impression in the slightest? Maybe DeLaRosa on occasion. The Rockies develop throwers rather than pitchers. We have a lot of guys that can light up the radar gun, but if you throw it flat and down the middle a major league hitter will drill it.
You always hear that 80% of baseball is pitching. What is rarely discussed is that 80% of pitching is mental rather than physical. Rockies pitchers have always been too fragile mentally. They operate in an organization where excuses to fail are built in (hello altitude and Coors Field) and accepted. There is no doubt that if a Kershaw or Bumgarner made half their starts at Coors Field they would learn how their pitches are impacted and ADJUST. Colorado is a state full of actual rocket scientists – no doubt one or two would be glad to in and explain the physics of 20th & Blake.
As well as needing pitching, the Rockies need to dump lousy pitchers and protect developing ones from the Rule5 draft today.
I'd expect starters Tyler Anderson, Daniel Winkler, reliever Ken Roberts and possibly starter Carlos Hernandez, relievers Cole White, Nelson Gonzalez and Josh Mueller to be added to the 40-man. To make room the Rockies could DFA Chad Bettis, Johan Flande, Christian Friedrich, Chris Martin, Kraig Sitton(AA) and Jayson Aquino(A+).
This is all just upkeep and doesn't address the lack of quality starters nor the poor bullpen. The same type of moves could also be made for position players to bolster our thin C and 3B depth.
Agreed – and many more things like better front office personnel, scouting, managing etc etc.
well, its an interesting blog….