Can the Mile High City Finally Depend on Health and Pitching?

Can the Mile High City Finally Depend on Health and Pitching?

 

 

Offense has never been a problem in Colorado. The thin air of the Rocky Mountains provides a boost to even the most mundane offenses. The Colorado Rockies are built offensively to sustain success in this environment. The problem is that their pitching staff is not and they can never get lucky when it comes to health. 

The Rockies lay claim to two of the most dynamic players in the game but these guys cannot stay on the field. Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez are a mighty righty-lefty punch that any lineup would welcome, but building around two injury prone stars presents the problem that the Rockies have faced the last few years. No matter what complimentary pieces you surround these guys with, and no matter what they accomplish (Michael Cuddyer being the 2013 NL Batting Champion), the stars need to be on the field and producing.

This season will be the first without the greatest player in team history Todd Helton so there will be a big void in leadership. Besides Tulo and Car-Go there are pieces here. Wilin Rosario is a good young backstop and Nolan Arenado may very well be the best defensive third baseman in the National League. Cuddyer is coming off the batting title and is a good clubhouse presence to have around in order to keep things loose. Justin Morneau isn’t quite the player he used to be but he can still get on base and knock in some runs when he has to. Once again though, the offense is not the problem here; it all comes down to pitching.

The Rockies made moves to improve and while I like what they’ve done, it again comes down to health. Jorge de la Rosa, Juan Nicasio, and Jhoulys Chacin can be effective in Colorado but all have injury problems. The additions of Brett Anderson and Jordan Lyles were decent moves, but Anderson also has his problems with injuries and Lyles may not be more than a long reliever or righty bullpen specialist. The Rockies also have Jonathan Gray down on the farm; a guy they and I both feel can be the future ace of the staff. The earliest fans will see him, if at all, will be in September where he can showcase what he offers and give a glimpse at the future.

I do not see Colorado making the playoffs this year but I do feel they are trending upward and going in the right direction. It’s asking way too much for Tulowitzki and Gonzalez to be completely healthy but they can hopefully play in at least 125 games. That may not sound like much but for them that would be great. Arenado will keep improving and will bring his offensive prowess closer to matching his defense. Patience is the key because in two years I see this team being an NL powerhouse.

We will be back tomorrow with a look at what a difference a year makes in Toronto. Be sure to follow us on Twitter @changingspeeds for all our coverage of the national pastime.