Are the Colorado Rockies Even Trying to Get Better
By Joe Morrone
Sep 15, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies owner Dick Monfort before the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Rockies do know that there is no rule that says they can’t improve their team in the offseason, right? I ask because I am waiting for them to make a move, any move that would prove signs of life at 20th and Blake.
Ok they did sign utility infielder Daniel Descalso this week. He hit .242 last season and the Rockies are sure to prop him up as the next great free agent signing. You will pardon me if I don’t start doing back flips over the signing of Descalso.
While the Rockies and new General Manager Jeff Bridich continue to sit on their hands, every other team in the National League West has gotten better. That includes the San Diego Padres who the Rockies could always count on for company at the bottom of the division. My fellow editor Andrew Dill wrote a great piece on Friday: Same old story as the Rockies continue to stand pat while division rival San Diego Padres revamp their team. https://milehighmaniac.com/2014/12/19/colorado-rockies-doing-nothing-while-san-diego-padres-revamp-their-team/ …
So while everyone in the division is getting better, the Rockies are apparently drinking egg nog and congratulating themselves for signing a backup infielder. If you thought the starting pitching has been bad in the past, you haven’t seen anything yet.
The number one priority going into this offseason for the Rockies was to upgrade the starting pitching and they have done nothing. Rumors are swirling that they are kicking the tires on the likes of Aaron Harrang, Kyle Kendrick and Josh Johnson. Can you contain your excitement over those names? All three were terrible in 2014 and now the Rockies are possibly looking at one or two of them to be key contributors in 2015.
The Rockies do have some young talent of their own in John Gray and Eddie Butler but both are unproven, and asking them to be front line starters would be a colossal mistake. They traded Juan Nicasio to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Brett Anderson left via free agency. Neither one of those guys were world beaters but at least they were arms. As of today, the pitching staff for the Rockies is a complete disaster and improving it will be next to impossible.
At this point in the offseason, most good pitchers have found a home. For that matter, most average pitchers have found a home. So the Rockies are once again left with what’s at the bottom of the barrel. The good news is those guys will come cheap which we all know is the only thing that matters to owner Dick Monfort.
On top of the mess that is the pitching staff, the Rockies have failed to address the catching situation. They set out this offseason to upgrade that spot with a veteran yet day after day, those available veterans get signed by other teams. What are the Rockies doing? Are they paying attention?
It has to be so frustrating for fans of the Rockies to sit there day after day watching other teams get better while Bridich seemingly does nothing. I have no doubt that he has attempted to make moves but as former Rockies Manager Clint Hurdle once said, “This is a do good league, not a try hard league.” Rockies’ fans have been patient long enough and the inactivity in the offseason is completely inexcusable.
It’s not even January yet, and the 2015 season for the Rockies is all but over.