The Colorado Rockies’ struggles continue in 2022 as they are trying to find their identity. They are again at the bottom of the standings despite their talent.
The trade deadline came and went leaving the Rockies without a trade though they were one of the only teams to sign player extinction. Rockies closer Daniel Bard signed for two more years which is well deserving as he has been a bright spot for them. They have had another tough year as they just can’t put it together. Right now, they are not a contending team but they are far from rebuild mode. Therefore, they need a clear direction and to address some of their struggles.
Offensive Struggles
It’s amazing that the Rockies struggle as badly as they do because they have a talented team on paper. Their core lineup is capable of big things, with CJ Cron, Charlie Blackmon, and Elias Diaz leading the way. These are power hitters with excellent defensive skills. In fact, Cron was the Rockies’ only All-Star as he has over twenty home runs and an average that does not below .270. Therefore, they may decide to build around the core they have now.
Also, the addition of Randal Grichuk, Kris Bryant, and Jose Iglesias has made a big difference in the lineup. Iglesias has been one of the best hitters in MLB on the road and has remained consistent at home. The rest of the lineup struggled to contribute on offense and left many runners on base. There are times when the Rockies score a bunch of runs, and then they go cold for weeks. If they want to win, they need some consistency and some young guys to contribute more.
Pitching Struggles
Before the season started, the starting rotation was going to be one of their strengths. This season the rotation has struggled to pitch quality innings and keep the team in games. Kyle Freeland and German Marquez are starting to come around. They pitched better over the last few weeks with quality starts. As for the back end of the rotation, that is still a bit of a mess. They need to make some changes and find some reliable starters before next season.
The Rockies bullpen has fared below expectations most of the season. The injury to Tyler Kinley really hurt them as he had an average below 2.00 and was one of the best setup men in the game. They hope to get him back next season. Daniel Bard holds a 1.99 ERA who value his dominant performance this season, signing him to a 2-year deal. His comeback story has been fun to follow, as he is a bright spot during a tough season.
Their bullpen is a huge weakness with so many blown games because they struggle to hold games. There have been some games that the Rockies should have won, but the pitching gives up extra runs. Another element to this is that the defense has struggled with unnecessary errors that put pressure on the already-taxed bullpen. Also, they are picking up more innings because starting pitchers are not going as far into games. Colorado needs to address this before next year.
It would be nice to see the Rockies build a winning team, and they have some pieces to work They need to make some moves and show the fans that they are serious about winning. Therefore, stay tuned for more on the Colorado Rockies.
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