With the Phillies-Astros World Series beginning on Friday, it’s time to look at what the Rockies must do to legitimize their dreams of participating in such an exciting time.
We will delve deeper as the offseason continues, but let’s lay out some questions:
1. What are the holes?
The Rockies need a bona fide everyday center fielder, a leadoff hitter and left-handed hitting -- all the better if it’s the same guy. They could use a quality starter alongside Kyle Freeland and Germán Márquez, each of whom vow to produce more consistently in 2023. And the bullpen, which wasn’t deep enough when healthy, has holes because of injuries and potential free agency.
2. Will the Rockies depart from the norm and trade aggressively?
Mid-career pitchers at high value simply don’t come to Colorado, which dictates a deal is the best way to fill the rotation hole. Can that deal, or possibly multiple deals, also fill one or both of the other holes (lineup and bullpen)?
This is a roster with a $182 million player in Kris Bryant, who will be coming off a season mostly lost to injury. Having invested in Bryant and several homegrown core players, it makes little sense for the Rockies to simply spend ’23 waiting for prospects -- even if they are coming from a farm system that’s gaining respect around the sport.
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3. How much more shakeup is coming?
The pivot to young players in the final two months of 2023 was necessary, but it left core players frustrated and hoping for change quickly. Looking to improve a languishing offense, the Rockies parted ways with hitting coach Dave Magadan. In a move that surprised many, they also separated from third-base coach Stu Cole, whose work with infielders was well-respected. (Cole turned down reassignment to a Minor League position.)
But what happens with the roster? Do the Rockies deal first baseman C.J. Cron (due a club-friendly $7.25 million in ’23 to finish his contract)? Which players who have received consistent playing time in recent years will be removed to allow a clearer path for the prospects?
4. How about that bullpen?
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Many believed the Rockies should have dealt closer Daniel Bard at the Trade Deadline; instead, they extended his contract for two years at $19 million. But it makes little sense to hang onto a contender-quality closer without building the setup crew. It’s logical to re-sign free agent Carlos Estévez (if he doesn’t find a closing opportunity elsewhere), but the team could use at least two accomplished high-leverage relievers, one righty and one lefty.
5. Whom do they trust?
This is somewhat contradictory since many of the previous questions point toward a need for a shakeup. Still, the Rockies thought the 2022 team would hit more home runs and pitch better. Which players will they move away from, and which do they trust to rebound?
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Matt Holliday’s 15 postseason hits are tied for most in club history. Who else has 15?
A.) Carlos González
B.) Todd Helton
C.) Yorvit Torrealba
D.) Kazuo Matsui
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Two Rockies infielders were announced as Gold Glove Award finalists. One definitely will not win. Expect Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado to win his 10th straight. Second-time finalist Ryan McMahon had a better argument last year than this one. McMahon finished with 17 errors, including eight in his first 34 games, and one on an Aug. 21 grounder that escaped between the fingers of his old, once-trusty glove.
Brendan Rodgers is a finalist at second base, and his improvement in concentration and execution as a defensive second baseman was one of the Rockies’ best developments in 2022.
Rodgers was second among all Major Leaguers in defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs, with 22. Under Statcast measurements, he finished with three Outs Above Average, nowhere near the off-the-charts 27 of the Tigers’ Jonathan Schoop at the position or the National League favorite, the Cardinals’ Tommy Edman (8).
Rodgers showed up well in success rate at 81 percent.
Here is a quick breakdown on Rodgers:
Consistency: Rodgers had a rough three-week stretch of seven errors from May 13 to June 2. He committed only three others for the rest of the year.
Strengths: As noted in an earlier newsletter, the toughest play for a second baseman -- going to the right for a chopper or slow-hit ball -- became his play. Here is one:
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Manager Bud Black also acknowledged that Rogers is solid going to his left. “I don’t want to say it’s been easy, but it’s come more natural for him,” said Black.
Here is such a play:
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What’s next? Eliminating the cluster of errors is clearly at the top of the list, along with improving anticipation on double-play opportunities -- a must for a team that has built a rotation around ground-ball pitchers.
Although Rodgers has become adept at the across-the-body throws, Black noted late in the regular season that the play doesn’t have to be so as difficult. As Black put it, “catch the ball, plant his feet and make a firm throw.”
The play Black is referring to takes shortstop-type arm strength. It took a while after his 2019 rotator cuff surgery to regain confidence and arm strength. But the following play, after a diving stop, shows he has it, and just needs to incorporate it when he keeps his feet.
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Rockies righty reliever Justin Lawrence is in the beginning stages of a raffle to benefit Autism Speaks, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that sponsors research, raises awareness and conducts outreach for families, governments and society.
The story behind it is a cool one.
After the Minor League season was canceled in 2020, Lawrence coached youth players at Rip City, a baseball and softball training facility in Jacksonville, Fla. One of his youngest players was Beckham Brown, a son of facility owners Jared and Krystal Brown.
Beckham Brown showed Lawrence just how colorful things can be on the autism spectrum.
“He’s 9 years old and on the autism spectrum, but the way he plays the game is unbelievable,” Lawrence said. “He’s playing in 11u baseball and he’s only nine. He sees the field so differently, you know, he does things that just seem to be just years above what a 9-year-old baseball player should be doing.”
His heart captured, Lawrence decided to do something for Beckham and other similar children and their families. Barely established in the Majors, Lawrence does not have a foundation but it doesn’t mean he can’t use his platform. Based on a similar raffle that Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland conducts for Special Olympics Colorado, Lawrence teamed with 44 Pro Gloves, which provides gloves for many Major Leaguers.
“I talked with Beckham’s parents and asked if they were cool with him designing a glove,” Lawrence said. “And I got the OK from [44 Pro] and Autism Speaks. [44 Pro] sent it to me for free. I’ve put it on throughout my social media to bring awareness to people on the spectrum in general.”
Here is a link to Lawrence’s Instagram post.
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TRIVIA ANSWER
C.) Yorvit Torrealba
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