Will Jhoulys Chacin return to form for the Colorado Rockies in 2015?
By Andrew Dill
In case you didn’t follow the Colorado Rockies closely during the disappointing 2014 season, starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacin simply wasn’t himself. Chacin battled a shoulder injury that sidelined for the early part of the season and eventually sat him out the entire season. He initially had a rotator cuff strain which reported by The Denver Post “revealed a shoulder strain in two places.”
Chacin, who just turned 27 Wednesday, felt numbness and what you call dead arm which he couldn’t essentially strengthen.
"I really don’t know what’s wrong with my arm. I can’t get it strong. Even if I throw extra hard, I can get one (pitch), but then I can’t throw the next one hard."
Chacin was sidelined throughout Spring Training due to shoulder stiffness as well, something he couldn’t shake off in a disappointing 2014 season. You could tell that the native of Maracaibo, Venezuela was dealing with something after noticing his velocity dropping quite a bit. According to TheScore, Chacin’s velocity dropped roughly two miles per hour less than the 2013 season, going from 89.8 MPH to 88.1. It was frustrating to see such a good pitcher starting the game out throwing 85-88 MPH when he usually was up in the 90’s. Then again, it’s not all about velocity, it’s about where you locate it.
Chacin’s last start of the 2014 season came against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 28th. Jhoulys gave up three early runs in the first inning on a three-run home run from Carlos Gomez. Then once the fifth inning came around, Chacin gave up a two-run triple to Ryan Braun, followed by an RBI groundout from Jonathan LuCroy to push Milwaukee’s lead to 6-0. Chacin finished the afternoon allowing 7 earned runs on 11 hits, walking one and striking out four over 5.2 innings.
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Throughout his career, Chacin has collected a record of 38-48 with an ERA of 3.78, including 514 career strikeouts. Last season was one to forget however, as Chacin was hammered for a 5.40 ERA, inheriting a record of 1-7 with just 42 strikeouts over 63.1 innings pitched. It was a complete 360 degree turn from his 2013 season. Chacin recorded a career-high 14 wins during 2013 while notching a WAR (Wins Above Replacement) of 5.9 according to ESPN.
With the release of Brett Anderson and the uncertainty of top pitching prospects such as Eddie Butler, Jon Gray, and Tyler Anderson, Colorado needs their pitchers healthy and desperately. Last season, rookie LHP Tyler Matzek and veteran southpaw Jorge De La Rosa rose to the occasion; the two lone bright spots of the rotation minus Jordan Lyles‘ hot start to the season. Having a healthy righty Jhoulys Chacin to slide in between Matzek and De La Rosa will only improve the Rockies pitching woes.