Saunders: Rockies will go 72-90 in 2021, and here’s why - The Denver Post

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — You’ve no doubt seen the predictions.

The Vegas wiseguys see the Rockies losing between 98 and 100 games. FanGraphs has them finishing 65-97, with zero chance of making the postseason. Sports Illustrated’s staff recently weighed in on the worst teams and only the woeful Pirates were projected to be worse than Colorado in the National League.

You’ve also no doubt heard the defiant words coming from Rockies players here at Salt River Fields.

“We’re going to shock the world,” left-hander Kyle Freeland said last month. That was before he suffered a strained shoulder on Tuesday that will probably sideline him until June.

As spring training winds down and Colorado puts the finishing touches on its roster, I asked manager Bud Black about the negative forecasts for his team.

“I’m not one for predictions,” he said. “But as far as the makeup of this team, the guys, the character, the work ethic, the desire, the will — all those things are in place.”

He added: “We are willing to take on this season and see where it goes. I’m looking forward to playing those games, and show, in a lot of ways, that we are a better group than some people think.”

There are a lot of things to like about the 2021 Rockies: Josh Fuentes’ exuberance and sheer love of the game; CJ Cron’s raw power, which will add some oomph to the offense; Trevor Story’s all-around game; the continued emergence of right-hander Antonio Senzatela.

But with the regular season right around the corner, it’s time to put spring training optimism aside and get real.

The injury to Freeland was a killer. He had looked so good this spring and now he’s rehabbing in the training room. Freeland’s more than just a starting pitcher, he’s an essential clubhouse guy. What’s more, the Rockies simply don’t have enough quality pitching depth to overcome Freeland’s injury.

Colorado’s offense should be a little bit better but there are too many red flags to ignore. Too many strikeouts, not enough walks, not enough power. There’s been a lot of chatter this spring about team speed and how it will translate to a more dynamic offense. But the Rockies’ on-base percentage was a franchise-worst .311 last season and unless that improves dramatically, team speed isn’t going to get them very far when no one is on base.

The bullpen, however, will be better. It couldn’t possibly be worse than last year when the relievers had a collective 6.77 ERA with a 1.67 WHIP, and .300 batting average against, while allowing 40.2% of inherited runners to score, most in the NL.

Daniel Bard, Yency Almonte, and, perhaps, Mychal Givens, will be solid. But the loss of Scott Oberg to a reoccurrence of blood clots in his right arm is devasting news.

Tyler Kinley shows a lot of promise, as does lefty Ben Bowden, who’s looked terrific in the Cactus League. But both Carlos Estevez (12.86 ERA, five home runs allowed) and Jairo Diaz (11.42, four homers) have been shaky. We’re told they have been “working on things.” Maybe so, but they have not looked good.

`

The annual concern for Rockies relievers is that overuse will lead to mistakes and a lack of precision, and that’s always a killer at Coors Field.

So it’s essential that the starting rotation log a lot of innings. But there are troubling issues: Jon Gray’s inconsistency; questions about how new lefty Austin Gomber (a flyball pitcher) will fare at Coors; and, of course, the impact of Freeland’s injury.

Toss in the fact that Colorado must play the mighty Dodgers and Padres 19 times apiece and it looks like a Mount Everest climb for the 2021 Rockies.

Make it 72-90 and fifth place in the National League West.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"Here" - Google News
March 27, 2021 at 11:00PM
https://ift.tt/3sufLkU

Saunders: Rockies will go 72-90 in 2021, and here’s why - The Denver Post
"Here" - Google News
https://ift.tt/39D7kKR
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update