via Rock Talk 7 things the Rockies can do to improve in the off season. - Coors Field Troy Tulowitzki has grown frustrated with his teams lack of success in recent seasons. Future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter has announced that he will retire at season’s end and when he does, he’ll pass the torch to the next most important shortstop who wears No. 2 in major league baseball: Troy Tulowitzki of the Colorado Rockies, who might be handed the NL MVP award this offseason. Tulowitzki is not only the best player on the Rockies, he’s also their team leader and he made that fact extremely clear this week when he publicly ripped the Rockies front office by saying, “something needs to change” with his team before the 2015 season. Heres a direct quote from his recent comments: “I think that’s why I came out numerous times and said I want to win. It doesn’t mean I want out of here. It means I’m sick and tired of losing. Something needs to change. Hopefully that comes fairly quickly. You can’t force it. But at the same time, we’re all frustrated with this year, especially me.” The Rockies have had a difficult time over the years trying to find pitching that can win at Coors Field and the balance of power, speed and defense that can score enough runs at home as well as on the road. It hasn’t been an easy task as shown by their win-loss records and splits. The best way to make the changes that Tulowitzki and Rockies fans would like to see made is to look back in history to see how the Rockies actually did win while playing half of their games at Coors Field. It’s not a long list, since they won 90 or more games on only two occasions, in 2007 and 2009. In fact, since 2001, they’ve finished over .500 only three times. Therefore, let’s concentrate on 2007 and 2009 and see what qualities actually worked for the Rockies. In 2009, they finished second in the National League in runs scored (804), home runs (190) and on-base percentage (.343), and fifth in the NL in stolen bases (106). Their team ERA was 4.22, finishing eighth out 16 teams in the NL. In 2007, they also finished second in the NL in runs scored (860), while leading the league in on-base percentage (.354) and finishing seventh in home runs (171) and stolen bases (100). Their team ERA was 4.32, which put them in the familiar eighth position in the senior circuit. The similarities are clear: A pitching staff that finishes in the middle, and an offense that flat out puts up big numbers. So how do the numbers compare with this year’s team? The Rockies lead the NL in runs (542), home runs (128) and slugging percentage (.443), and are second in on-base percentage (.329). They are on pace to be an even better offensive team than the two clubs that won 90 games. But looking at the pitching staff makes it easy to understand why they are a last-place team. They are last in the NL in ERA (5.03) and WHIP (1.46), and have given up the most walks (393) and allowed the highest batting average (.279). You don’t pitch well, you don’t win. The Rockies could also use more speed up the middle, especially when they’re on the road and need to both manufacture and prevent runs. Upgrading the top of the starting rotation, adding more speed, better defensive range and perhaps one more 40-home run power bat for Coors Field should be the offseason priorities. Of course, several people want to see them trade their two best players, Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez. Im not one of them, unless they got overwhelmed by a huge offer. Instead, I’d concentrate on ways of building the team around Tulowitzki and Gonzalez and making the team good enough to win and compete next season. If it doesn’t work, then a fire sale a year later to completely rebuild would be warranted. In the meantime, here are seven moves for them to consider in order to contend in 2015: Move 1: Promote both Jon Gray and Eddie Butler now. Gray and Butler are the teams two best pitching prospects. Neither one is completely ready, but the Rockies should promote them anyway, so that they can finish their development at the major league level in August and September; part of development for a Rockies pitcher includes the adjustments to pitching at Coors Field, which you really only understand when you have to pitch there. Promoting Gray and Butler now will allow them go through the growing pains and the early failures in a year that doesn’t matter for the Rockies. These two are an important part of the Rockies future, and it will help the veteran players to see the talent both of them have and how they bode well for the future. It will also be beneficial for Gray and Butler to work directly with the Rockies major league pitching coaches on a daily basis, which will lessen some burden for next year. Move 2: Trade Justin Morneau and Ryan McMahon to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Pedro Alvarez. The Pirates are once again in the middle of a pennant race, and once again need an overall upgrade at first base. Morneau is batting .318 this season, with 13 home runs and 64 RBI, and should do better than he did last year for the Pirates, when he struggled down the stretch. The Pirates will have to trade Alvarez this offseason, anyway, because his power numbers will bring him a salary they cant afford in 2015, and this gets a jump start on the winter deals. McMahon will be the key to the trade for the Pirates. Hes a 19-year-old third baseman who has a chance to either be a regular for them someday or an important trade piece to spin elsewhere. After making this deal, the Rockies would move Alvarez to first base, and let him learn the position the final two months of the season (the Pirates started Alvarez down this path recently). The combination of his power and the Coors Field conditions should result in 40-plus homers over the course of a full campaign. Move 3: Sign Max Scherzer to a six-year, $162 million contract this winter. Signing Max Scherzer would give the Rockies a legitimate ace for their pitching staff. Scherzer turned down a six-year, $144 million deal from the Tigers before the season started, and agent Scott Boras is out to prove that he could get more for him on the free-agent market. Sure, no pitchers want to pitch at Coors Field, and of course, the failure of free-agent pitcher signings Mike Hampton and Denny Neagle are well documented and continue to scare the Rockies away from spending on free-agent pitching. However, a few thoughts on why they should take the plunge with Scherzer. First, Boras history shows that, for the most part, he will recommend that his clients take the best deal, meaning the most money and the most years. This offer should accomplish both. Second, Scherzer’s dominating stuff should work at Coors Field. Third, the Rockies could give him an opt-out clause after the second year of the deal, and if he doesn’t like it there or isn’t pitching well, give him the chance to go elsewhere. In the meantime, the Rockies can take advantage of having a legitimate ace pitching for one of the leagues best offenses. Move 4: Re-sign Jorge De La Rosa to a three-year contract extension. De La Rosa, 33, has been one of the most effective starting pitchers in recent seasons for the Rockies. He has won double-digit games every year that he’s been given 23 starts or more since joining the Rockies back in 2009. Last year, he finished 16-6 with a 3.49 ERA; this year, he’s 11-7 with a 4.27 ERA. For his career, he’s a whopping 42-14 with a 4.06 ERA in 72 starts at Coors Field. Enough said. They have to sign him, the quicker the better. Move 5: Trade Charlie Blackmon in a package to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for right-handed starting pitcher Mat Latos. Mat Latos has certainly pitched well at Coors Field during his career. Blackmon, 28, was an All-Star this year, and is batting .291 with 20 doubles, 14 home runs and 56 RBI. The Reds desperately need an inexpensive left fielder with pop, and Blackmon would fit nicely in their lineup. On the other side, the Reds will have to start moving salaries this offseason because of the ridiculous financial exposure on their books in Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Homer Bailey. They’ll probably have to decide between keeping Johnny Cueto and Latos, and its clear that they should go with Cueto. From the Rockies perspective, Latos has always pitched well at Coors Field -- where he is 3-1 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in five starts -- and would quickly move to the top of the rotation. Latos also has an edge to him that would certainly shake things up a little in the Rockies clubhouse. Move 6: Trade Kyle Parker and DJ LeMahieu to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for second baseman Brian Dozier. Parker, 24, would give the Twins another middle-of-the-order bat for their future, to hit behind Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano. Meanwhile, LeMahieu would replace Dozier at second base. On the other side, the Rockies would acquire their long-term solution at second base. Dozier would give them a solid table-setter, capable of 30 home runs and 30 steals per season. Move 7: Trade Brett Anderson and outfielder Raimel Tapia to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for rookie center fielder Mookie Betts. The Red Sox need to rebuild their starting rotation, and Anderson, 26, would be a perfect fit for them, though his health is a bit of a concern. In eight starts this season, he has a 2.91 ERA; equally important, he has the mental toughness to succeed in Boston. The Red Sox continue to put Jackie Bradley Jr. ahead of Betts on their center-field depth chart because of Bradley’s elite defense, which means they might be willing to part with Betts. Betts is still learning to play the position, but clearly will develop into an above-average center fielder because of his speed, range and glove. He can also hit, and has the potential of being a 35-steal, top-of-the-order bat like Dozier. Heres how the roster would look after these seven moves: Starting rotation: Max Scherzer, Mat Latos, Jorge De La Rosa, Jon Gray and Eddie Butler. This is a rotation that should be good enough to compete for a postseason berth immediately in 2015. Lineup: Betts and Dozier would give them two top-of-the-order table-setters with the ability to steal 30 bases each next season. Tulowitzki, Gonzalez and Nolan Arenado should all be able to drive in 100 runs apiece, while Alvarez will join Wilin Rosario at the bottom of the lineup, where they should combine to hit approximately 70 additional home runs. It would be a strong, deep lineup that should hit at home and on the road, and would likely be at or near the top of the NL in home runs, steals, on-base percentage and slugging. Tulowitzki has asked for change and he’s right, the Rockies need to make bold changes and fast. Ownership needs to do its part and commit financially, then let the front office wheel and deal this team back to the playoffs.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 16:55:08 +0000
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