The numbers don’t lie.
Well, OK, sometimes they do. But in the case of the Rockies, some key numbers are revealing and provide an indication of what must change in 2015 if the Rockies are to climb back to respectability:
15: Starting pitchers the Rockies used last year, the most since the club’s inaugural 1993 season. Injuries, ineffectiveness and lack of quality depth decimated a rotation that posted a 4.84 ERA, the worst in the National League.
16: Players who went on the disabled list last year. The baseball gods have to be a little kinder in 2015, right?
21: Road victories for the Rockies in 2014, the fewest in franchise history. For some perspective, consider that the 1963 Mets finished 17-64 on the road, one year after the Amazin’s went 18-63 away from home in their very first season, during which they set a record by losing 120 games. Those two Mets clubs remain the only teams to win fewer than 20 road games in a 162-game schedule.
72: Average number of victories per season since the last time the Rockies made the playoffs, in 2009.
106: Errors committed by the Rockies in 2014, third-most in the National League. That’s far too many for a team with Gold Glovers such at Troy Tulowitzki, Nolan Arenado, DJ LeMahieu and Carlos Gonzalez. Pin some of the blame on injuries, but pin much of it on sloppy play. Rockies pitchers, for example, committed 24 errors, far and away the most in the majors. Atlanta Braves pitchers, by contrast, committed six errors.
255: Runs scored on the road, the fewest in the majors last year and the fewest in Rockies history.
393: Total games missed by Tulo and CarGo since 2012. The Rockies are 78 games under .500 during that span. For the Rockies to have an opportunity to start winning or to swing a worthwhile trade, Tulo and CarGo need to stay healthy.
Tulo has averaged 105.8 games played the past five seasons. Constant reminders of his inability to stay healthy have put a giant chip on his shoulder.
“Honestly, I can say I feel as good as new,” he said recently. “But at the same time, no one is going to believe me until they see me go out and see me play. Come to spring training, watch me play and then make your opinion.”
397: Walks drawn by Rockies hitters last year, fewest in the National League. Part of that is because of the Rockies’ aggressive offensive approach at Coors Field, but they must be more patient.
531: Walks issued by Rockies pitchers last year, the most in the National League. Almost half those base on balls (266) came at Coors Field, a ballpark where free passes usually come back to bite you.
735: Times the Rockies struck out on the road last year, third-most in the majors, topped only by the Marlins (793) and Cubs (736).
Patrick Saunders: psaunders@ denverpost. com
