Not even Peyton Manning and Eric Decker sitting in the front row could inspire the Rockies to beat the Mets
Denver, CO – It’s not even May quite yet, but yours truly already has a grasp of what 2012 will end up being for your Colorado Rockies. It’s already turning out to be what many, including me, feared would happen this season. Some ups, with just as many downs. Some high scoring wins, with just as many high scoring losses. Some great offensive outings, with just as many awful pitching performances. 21 games in, and the Rockies are 10-11. Sunday’s loss to the Mets epitomized what the problem has been, and will be, all year long. Coors Field has always been known to be a park where no lead is safe…Not exactly what Rockies fans wanna hear after watching this dreadful display of pitching so far this season.
Colorado has already lost 3-game series to the Astros, Pirates, and Mets. Yep, those teams that have been awful the last few years and should be bottom feeders this year as well. Coming into this season, pitching was the key question. Many players that were here a while like Seth Smith, Chris Ianetta, Jason Hammel, Ubaldo Jimenez, and Huston Street were sent packing over the last year. In return, the Rockies got a slew of young pitchers, some of which are either currently starters or in the bullpen. Veteran Jeremy Guthrie was brought in from Baltimore to be our ace. Ace? In a little over 8 years in the Majors, Guthrie has a 49-66 record with a 4.23 ERA. Um, that screams 2nd or 3rd starter in a rotation to me. Match him up with inexperienced, but talented starters Jhoulys Chacin, Juan Nicasio, and Drew Pomeranz, and we have a very combustible situation. Oh yeah, just for good measure throw in noodle-armed and 49 year old Jamie Moyer, and we have a rotation that is being held together by masking tape and super glue. Did I mention it’s not even May yet?
The stats are not good, folks. Keep in mind, there are 30 teams in MLB. The Rockies pitching staff currently ranks 27th in ERA, 27th in quality starts, and 28th in batting average against. Defense was supposed to be one of the teams strengths coming into this year. So far, nope. The Rockies are tied for 5th most errors in all of baseball. On the other hand, the offense has been pretty good for the most part. Colorado ranks 11th in batting average, tied for 8th in Home Runs, and 6th in runs scored. With these stats, a 10-11 record seems about right, don’t ya think?
This years edition of Rockies baseball actually reminds me a lot of the mid to late 90′s. A lot of high scoring, fun games to watch. The middle of the lineup that includes Cargo, Tulo, Helton, and Cuddyer has proven to be lethal at times. Plenty of 9-7 and 12-10 games will happen at Coors Field this summer, which in a way takes us back to the days of the Blake Street Bombers. The pitching will undoubtedly have some good outings, but unfortunately too many bad ones to make Colorado a true contender in the West. Enjoy the games this year Rockies fans, just don’t expect this fall to be another “Rocktober”.
Denver Sports by J Simp
3 comments
J Simp
May 1, 2012 at 2:05 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
Hey K Loco, I am not pessimistic. I said they would win 86 games. I just don’t give em a free pass every year like you and 90% of Rockies fans do…….and Ladyluck, I hope I don’t see you on the news handcuffed by police outside of Peyton’s home anytime soon….jeez, stalkerrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Kris Loco
April 30, 2012 at 12:35 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
J Simp – always so pessimistic about our Rockies – Let’s see how they do against the Dodgers this week.
Ladyluck
April 29, 2012 at 9:21 PM (UTC -6) Link to this comment
There were players and other people at Coors field today Manning?? Huh, I never would have noticed that.
:)