The Rockies are a weird and flawed team.
They’ve stumbled and bumbled their way to a 12-50 start as they entered their weekend series vs. the Mets at Coors Field.
Their starting pitching has been mostly a train wreck. Starters have a combined ERA of 6.55, worst in the majors and more than a run higher than the Marlins’ 5.50.
The offense continues to scuffle at an almost unbelievable rate, considering that the team calls Coors Field home. The Rockies rank last in the majors in batting average (.216) and OPS (.635), while ranking worst in strikeout rate (26.6%). Their 53 home runs rank 26th, and their 30 stolen bases are 28th. In other words, the Rockies don’t hit for power or average, strike out too much, and can’t run.
Colorado’s defense, purported to be a strength before the season began, has the majors’ worst fielding percentage (.977) and second-most errors (52).
OK, now here’s where it gets weird: Their bullpen is pretty good. And it’s been very good lately.
No, I haven’t been drinking purple Kool-Aid. And yes, I realize that Colorado’s 5.44 bullpen ERA is the second-highest in the majors. But hear me out.
Now that the relievers’ roles have been sorted out and some of the young talent is gaining confidence, the bullpen has been sturdy. On the just-completed nine-game road trip through Chicago, New York (Mets) and Miami, relievers allowed one or fewer runs in all nine games. In Colorado’s sweep of the Marlins, the bullpen allowed zero runs over 12 2/3 innings.
Still skeptical? You say that the wind was blowing in at Wrigley Field? You say that Miami’s loanDepot Park is a pitchers’ paradise and the Marlins are awful? You say that when the weather heats up at Coors, the bullpen will melt down? I get it.
Colorado’s current eight-man relief crew has a combined ERA of 3.21, and that includes veteran right-hander Tyler Kinley’s 6.04 ERA. But Kinley, he of the magical vertical slider, has posted a 2.45 ERA over his last 11 appearances. A month ago, his ERA was 8.79, and I thought he was washed up. But the exit velocity against him is 84.5 mph, well below the league average of 88.5 MPH. Kinley’s hard-hit percentage of 29.3 is well below the league average of 34.3%. He’s inducing a lot of weak contact.
Middleman Jake Bird is one of the best relief pitchers in baseball. Through 26 appearances, the right-hander has a 1.53 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 35 1/3 innings. Middle relievers don’t make All-Star teams, but Bird has been sensational.
Former manager Bud Black told me over the winter that rookie right-hander Zach Agnos had the right stuff and the right mentality to be a big-league closer. Agnos is now the Rockies’ closer, and he’s thriving.
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Right-hander Seth Halvorsen brings the firepower. His four-seam fastball averages 101.1 mph. Over his last two outings, he threw 17 of 32 pitches 100 MPH or faster. Still, Halvorsen’s been inconsistent. He has three saves and two blown saves, a 4.38 ERA, a 1.459 WHIP, and an 11.4% walk rate. Those numbers will improve if the right-hander commands his fastball, split-finger change and slider better.
Right-handers Jimmy Herget (3.03 ERA), Juan Mejia (3.07) and Victor Vodnik (2.92) have given Colorado some quality depth.
Who knows how long I’ll remain bullish on the bullpen? Like I said, the Rockies are flawed, and they’re weird. It wouldn’t surprise me to see the offense heat up in June, July and August, while the overworked relievers start getting scorched.
But during this Rockies’ season of discontent, the bullpen deserves credit for the job it’s done.
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