Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders with the latest installment of his Rockies Mailbag.
Pose a Rockies — or MLB — related question for the Rockies Mailbag.
We begin the final mailbag of 2022 with two similar questions about the Rockies’ path to a return to the postseason.
When do you think the Rockies will get back to the postseason in the heavily contested NL West? 2024? 2025?
— Alexander Arcidiacono, Fort Collins
Watching Bill Schmidt being interviewed on MLB Network. I basically felt like we are punting on 2023, while all these “amazing” things are happening that fans aren’t smart enough to see. What year is the year when we, as fans, are supposed to look forward to?
— Carson, Aurora
Guys, I think it’s obvious to everyone that even though the Rockies never used the word “rebuild,” the team was a long way from being a contender in 2022, and ’23 looks like a challenging season, too.
For those who missed it, here’s what Schmidt told the MLB Network: “We’re not where we need to be. But I use the bamboo theory. There’s a lot of stuff growing underneath that people don’t see, and it’s gonna pop here. When it does, we’re going to be good.”
Alexander, I noticed that you couched your question when you wrote “back to the postseason,” rather than “win the NL West.” And you’re right, winning the first division title in franchise history seems a long way off. But getting back to the playoffs should certainly be a goal.
I think the Rockies could make a run in 2024. Theoretically, they would have shortstop Ezequiel Tovar making an impact and outfielder Zac Veen getting comfortable as a major-leaguer. Plus, a number of other prospects could be on the roster by then.
The big question mark, as always, is this: will there be enough quality pitching to pair up with some exciting, talented young position players? And keep in mind that right-hander German Marquez is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2024 season.
We also have two questions about how the Rockies have been able to draw fans to Coors Field, despite fielding a losing team.
Season’s greetings, Patrick. With so many of the same inquiries in the past few years, it’s difficult to discern what you haven’t addressed sufficiently. Knowing the Rockies aren’t going to compete in “who can spend (and lose) the most money?” what should Rockies/baseball fans settle for? Is a decent day/night in a great ballpark for entertainment (and a new schedule) as good as it gets? Cue Jack Nicholson. Cheers!
— Robert Emmerling, Limon
Quite remarkable. The Rockies’ attendance is always so high. Another last-place finish, no free-agency signings, and San Francisco and San Diego being so aggressive on that front. Do you see another year of excellent attendance? I would think the sunsets and party deck go only so far, but I guess not.
— Ken Fonda, Greeley
Guys, the Rockies averaged 32,467 fans per game at Coors in 2022, ranking ninth in the majors in home attendance. That, for a team that finished 68-94 and last in the National League West and was just 41-40 at home. It is remarkable. Philadelphia, a star-powered team that won the NL pennant, averaged only 28,459 fans per game.
Clearly, summer days and nights in Colorado at a family-friendly ballpark are the primary drawing cards right now. And with so many transplants in Colorado, many fans also come to watch the teams they grew up supporting.
Robert, you ask, “What should Rockies/baseball fans settle for?” I would hope that true baseball fans won’t “settle” for the current product on the field.
I also hope owner Dick Monfort and the front office are also aware that there is a limit to the fans’ patience and enthusiasm. In 2005, after the novelty of Coors Field had worn off, and with the Rockies fielding a nondescript team, the club drew an average of 23,634 fans per game, ranking 14th in the National League. It’s the only time the Rockies failed to draw more than 2 million fans. If the club doesn’t put a better product on the field this season, attendance is going to dip.
Patrick, please explain to me why the Rockies traded Connor Joe for a minor-league pitcher. Connor was one of the few exciting players the team had.
— Geoff, Pueblo
Geoff, I get where you’re coming from, but this was a smart move by general manager Bill Schmidt. Joe is an exciting, hard-working player and a class act, but he didn’t fit into the Rockies’ future.
For one thing, major-league pitchers figured out how to handle Joe. He slashed .285/.379/.469 with eight homers over 211 plate appearances in 2021 and started off hot last season, but he slumped badly as the season went on and saw his playing time shrink. He finished 2022 with a .238/.338/.359 slash line and seven home runs over 467 plate appearances. Defensively, Joe was just OK as an outfielder and as a backup first baseman.
For another thing, outfielder Sean Bouchard showed promise late in the season, slashing .297/.454/.500 with three homers in 97 plate appearances. Bouchard essentially supplanted Joe on the depth chart as an extra outfielder, and with prospects Brenton Doyle and Zac Veen on the near horizon, there simply wasn’t room for Joe.
The Rockies could have simply non-tendered Joe, but instead, they received right-hander Nick Garcia in a trade with Pittsburgh. Garcia, who turns 24 on April 20, was a Pirates third-round pick in 2020 and he gives the Rockies much-needed pitching depth in the minors. In two professional seasons, Garcia is 9-8 with a 3.88 ERA in 46 games (36 starts), with 192 strikeouts in 187 2/3 innings.
“He is someone we liked as an amateur,” Schmidt told me. “He’s got good size (6-foot-4, 215 pounds). He has a solid-to-average, and at times, a plus fastball.
“He’s shown a feel to pitching, with an average changeup, and has a curveball that has a chance to be average. He adds to our depth and he’s ready to compete in Double-A.”
Who else will be leaving the Rockies this offseason?
— Dorothy Star, Frisco
Dorothy, unless the team makes another trade, I don’t see a roster shuffle for the rest of the winter. Come spring training, we’ll likely see some limited movement, based on performance and minor-league signings.
As for trades, first baseman C.J. Cron is the most logical candidate. He’s in the final year of his contract and will make “only” $7.25 million. But there hasn’t been a ton of interest in him, so he will likely be the Rockies’ starting first baseman to open the season.
In a search for starting pitching, the Rockies would listen to deals for third baseman Ryan McMahon and second baseman Brendan Rodgers, but they would have to get a quality, rotation-ready starter in return. That would be a hard deal to swing.
If the Rockies finish fourth or fifth in the division as well as being under .500 (both feel like a formality at this point) in 2023 does this affect the status of Bill Schmidt or Bud Black? Is there anyone under any pressure in the entire organization if 2023 is a failure again at the big-league level?
— Bobby, Denver
Bobby, Black is entering the final year of his contract, so there is no guarantee about his long-term future in Colorado. If the Rockies suffer another losing season and fail to show significant improvement, the club could very well make a change at manager. However, I would hope that if the Rockies do improve and look like a playoff contender in 2024, Black would get a chance to lead that team. I think he’s a good manager.
As for Schmidt’s future, I believe his job is secure for a number of years to come unless the team completely implodes and loses 100-plus games. Front-office shakeups are not part of the Rockies’ DNA. They have had just four general managers over 30 years — Bob Gebhard (1992–1999), Dan O’Dowd (1999–2014), Jeff Bridich (2014-21) and Schmidt (2021-present).
With it being difficult to add arms via free agency, do you believe the Rockies could make a trade for either a starter or bullpen arm? An intriguing starter that appears to be available is Pablo Lopez. The Marlins have a surplus of pitching and he is under team control for a few more seasons. It could make sense to include C.J. Cron (plus more) since they’re looking for bats and let Elehuris Montero/Michael Toglia get more ABs while also improving the staff. What are your thoughts? Thank you very much for your coverage.
— Cody, Jewell, Iowa
Cody, the Rockies have shown a little bit of interest in Lopez, but he’s certainly not a primary target. In part, that’s because he is under team control for only two more years, becoming a free agent after the 2024 season.
Lopez, 26, owns a 3.52 ERA over the past three seasons and is coming off a year in which he pitched 180 innings, averaging 7.1 strikeouts and 2.8 walks per nine innings.
Trade rumors swirled around Lopez leading up to the trade deadline and the Yankees and Dodgers reportedly came close to putting a deal together. According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the Marlins asked for second baseman Gleyber Torres and shortstop Oswald Peraza for Pablo López and shortstop Miguel Rojas. The Yankees thought the price too steep.
The Rockies have installed a humidor and adjusted the fence with some success, but what do you think they should change next to the ballpark to make it a pitcher’s park? Could this help retain pitchers?
— Paul, Denver
Paul, Coors Field is never going to be a pitcher’s park. Playing baseball at a mile above season level simply won’t allow that to happen. Plus, the outfield at Coors is the largest in baseball which leads to a lot of bloop singles, as well as doubles and triples into the spacious alleys.
That doesn’t mean the Rockies can’t win. What they have to do is beat up other teams at home and make their own pitchers realize that while it might not always be pretty, success comes when the Rockies’ pitchers manage Coors better than the opposition.
Who do you see as a reasonable expectation for the Rockies to add this offseason to address their situation in center field? I’m thinking about a trade for the Royals’ Michael Taylor. Or do they just run it back for another year with Yonathan Daza/Randal Grichuck as they wait for the young outfielders to reach the bigs? Thanks for all your work in keeping us up to date on what’s going on with the team.
— Dave, Fort Collins
Dave, I don’t see Taylor as a solution. Taylor, who turns 32 before opening day, has only got one year left on his contract and he’ll make $4.5 million. Plus, he’s a right-handed hitter and the Rockies would really like to add a left-handed hitting center fielder. Taylor is a below-average hitter and above-average center fielder. As it stands now, the Grichuk/Daza combo is what the Rockies will go with for 2023.
Are the Rockies ever going to seriously attempt to put together a team that can compete for a National League championship, or are they simply going to fill holes with mediocre free agents who might get them to a .500 record?
Coors Field is HR heaven. Have the Rockies ever considered signing one of the very expensive free agents so that the fans can have a season where we see him chase the HR records? They would fill the stands every game.
— Tim Neely, Castle Rock
Tim, the Rockies went that route — kind of, sort of — when they signed Kris Bryant last season for seven years and $182 million. But they are never going to sign someone like Aaron Judge to a nine-year, $360 million contract. Besides, a superstar like Judge not only wants to get paid, but he also wants to play for a World Series contender.
Hi Patrick, is it just me, or is this one of the most boring Rockies teams ever assembled? I’ve followed the Rockies for 15 years so I have seen my fair share of Rockies teams with abysmal records, but even then it was fun going to the ballpark because they always had a couple of players that were really fun to watch or just straight-up generational talents, from Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez, Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story and Ubaldo Jimenez to scrappy grinders like Dexter Fowler, DJ LeMahieu and Michael Cuddyer. Right now this team is bad at pitching, fielding, hitting, and contains one all-star-level talent (Kris Bryant) but no one who will threaten for the Hall of Fame.
How long until the Rockies are at least entertaining (not even asking for playoffs) to watch again, and WHO will be the next player to actually make me want to go to the ballpark?
— Isaac Bowen, Fort Collins
Isaac, I agree with you. The 2022 Rockies were boring. They were a team without an identity. And it’s not just you and not just me who believed that. Nearly everyone who covered the team — and I’m including most of the TV and radio folks — told me that the team was boring.
Looking ahead, I believe shortstop Ezequiel Tovar will be worth watching. He’s a sparkling fielder and can provide some fireworks as a hitter. Outfielder Zac Veen will provide some power and some stolen bases when he arrives, likely at some point in 2023. Outfielder Benny Montgomery also plays with some flair, though I wouldn’t expect him in the majors until 2025.
I also believe that Bryant can be a fan favorite — if he can stay healthy. As second baseman Brendan Rodgers gains confidence, I think he has the potential to become an all-star.
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