By Jordan Long
The Colorado Rockies 2021 season starts tomorrow against the L.A. Dodgers. The Rockies are coming off a 26-34 record in a shortened year due to COVID, missing the playoffs for the 2nd year in a row. Expectations aren’t high for the Rockies.
The Rockies traded arguably the best third baseman in all of MLB, Nolan Arenado, to the St. Louis Cardinals in the offseason. This was a panic move because Arenado wanted out of Colorado and his relationship with Colorado Rockies’ General Manager Jeff Bridich soured during 2020. Colorado didn’t need to make the trade because Arenado had one more year before he could opt-out of his current deal to become a free agent at the end of 2021. With him out of Colorado a void was created in the lineup. It is going to be solved by Ryan McMahon. McMahon isn’t exactly Arenado. He is in his 5th year in Colorado. McMahon has played 56 games at third base with two errors. The Rockies will give him a chance to start the year at 3rd, but if his play starts to go south, McMahon will be at 2nd base.
Colorado is known for hitting because of the ballpark they play in, Coors Field. The Rockies lineup isn’t as scary as it once was. They should be able to hit the baseball to drive the ball in the gap to score runs or over the wall for home runs. Their lineup includes shortstop Trevor Story, outfielders Charlie Blackmon and Raimel Tapia, and third baseman Ryan McMahon. That should be the heart of the lineup. The offense more than ever needs to carry them to victories. If the offense doesn’t show up for them in games, those could be losses because of their pitching.
The Rockies’ pitching is always a question mark. A playoff team has decent starting pitching and a bullpen to shut teams down. Last season, the Rockies as a team ended with a 5.59 ERA, 29th in MLB. The only team worse was the Detroit Tigers who had a 5.63 ERA. Starting pitching ERA wasn’t bad with an ERA of 4.83 20th in MLB. The relievers couldn’t do their job with a disappointing 6.77 ERA, 29th in MLB. The Philadelphia Phillies bullpen was 30th with an ERA of 7.06.
Colorado didn’t upgrade the pitching in the offseason. Colorado’s starters of German Marquez, Kyle Freeland, Antonio Senzatela, and Jon Gray must keep the Rockies in games. They have to pitch at least 6 or 7 innings in most of their starts and not allow games to get out of control. If Colorado’s starters give up hits, runs, or walks they will not be pitching that long in games. Manager Bud Black needs to be able to remove a pitcher early when they don’t have it that day. He can’t wait because games will be over by then.
For the Rockies bullpen, they must find a way to shut down opponents. Last year, too many times they permitted rivals to score runs. Those tight games ended up in blowouts. The Rockies have to keep games close so they can go to their closer, Daniel Bard. Bard showed last season he can handle the duties of being the closer with 6 saves without blowing any with an ERA of 3.65. If the Rockies call on Bard for the 9th he needs to step up like he did in 2020. A few blown saves could cost him his job. The Rockies are projected to win 63 games this year and lose 99. The best case for this team is if the hitting is there and the offense leads the way for around 70 to 75 wins. Otherwise, it could be 99 losses or worse. Colorado’s worst season in franchise history was in 2012 when they finished 64-98. They could break that mark depending on what happens this season. The Rockies take on the Dodgers tomorrow for a 4-game set at home. They play at home until April 9th when they hit the road to take on the San Francisco Giants.
Leave a Reply