Season 20
Won/Loss (place in division) & Playoffs: 74-88 (tie 3rd), missed playoffs
Offense: 685 runs (11th)
Pitching: 4.12 ERA (9th)
Major Changes
FA Departures: OF R.J. Henry, OF Alex Santiago, RP Jim Thompson, C Don Towers, RP Bill Hayes, SP Braden Holt
FA Signees: CF Felix Satou, CF Javy Martinez, SP Kyle Nicholson
Rule V: IF Donovan Sears (#11), IF Al Teheran (#43), RP Miguel Barajas (#75)
Season 21 OutlookThe Rockies concentrated their off-season efforts on improving its defense, bringing in defensive-minded CF's Satou and Martinez, and then taking slick-fielding IF Al Teheran in the Rule V.
The offense could be better if star LF Alvin Crawford returns to career-average form - his dreadful (for him, at least) .779 OPS last year was a whopping 103 points below his career average. They do get a nice distribution of power up and down the lineup - they had 9 players with double-figure HR's last year (RF Pedro Villano led the team with 30).
The Rocks could stand to work on their on-base skills...again, it will help there if the real Alvin Crawford shows up. 2B Theodore Haney was their best on-base guy last year, but he was well above his career average. They might surprise a few teams on the basepaths this year - Satou, Martinez and Teheran are all burners with good base-running skills and will undoubtedly boost Colorado Springs' league-low 38 SB's.
Bob Cook (9-12, 3.20) and Cristian Wellemeyer (8-11, 3.71) anchor what could be a 6-man rotation. Last year's best starter, Henry Morgan (15-10, 3.03), looks like he may be slated more closer duty, which would be a major shakeup. Of the other short relievers, Gerald Hall looks to be the most competent.
Management has made some interesting changes here, tilting the team decidedly toward a stingier defense and more aggressive baserunning. Love it...they'll compete in the tough NL West.
No comments:
Post a Comment