Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders posts his Rockies Mailbag every other week on Tuesdays during the season.
for the Rockies Mailbag.
Do the Rockies really have what it takes to make the playoffs this season? I just don’t see it this year.
— Dan, Denver
Dan, as I write this, the Rockies have gone 14-5 since the all-star break and have not been above .500 this late in the season since 2010.
Do they have staying power? I have my doubts.
The injury to rookie shortstop Trevor Story is a killer and they are bound to come back to earth soon. Do they have another run in them? That’s asking a lot.
On the plus side, the starting rotation continues to be rock solid and that’s not a mirage, so that should keep them in most games. But I have real concerns about the bullpen, which I think is still a weak link.
Bottom line: I would love to see the Rockies make the postseason this year, but I still think they are a year away.
Patrick, how do the Rockies not make any moves at the trade deadline? You are either buyers or sellers, just seems like the Rockies dropped the ball on this one. Thanks.
— John, Parker
John, as I’m sure you’re aware, the Rockies were largely viewed as sellers until they started playing so well after the all-star break and entered the playoff conversation. The two most talked-about players were outfielders Charlie Blackmon and Carlos Gonzalez, and the Rockies did field calls on both.
Their most realistic and viable trade chip was lefty reliever Boone Logan, but .
I don’t blame the Rockies for holding onto Blackmon or CarGo. If Bridich had traded either of them right now, it would have gutted the clubhouse and sent a terrible message to the rest of the players. Surely both players will be discussed again this winter.
As for Logan, teams were probably willing to overpay to get him, but the Rockies really need help at the back end of the bullpen. They simply couldn’t afford to trade him right now. If the Rockies slide, don’t be surprised to see Logan moved this month through the more complicated post-deadline trade process.
Which brings us to the Rockies’ failure to add an impact player at the deadline — specifically someone to bolster the bullpen in the wake of the injuries and ineffectiveness of newcomers Jake McGee, Jason Motte and Chad Qualls. Trading away prospects is simply not in the Rockies’ DNA, even under young general manager Jeff Bridich, who’s shown he’s not afraid to make moves.
But if Bridich and Walt Weiss really believe the current Rockies can make a run at the playoffs — and maybe even the National League West title? — then they should have been willing to add a reliever at the deadline.
The Cardinals, for example, traded for the White Sox Zach Duke as a solid, high-strikeout reliever with a 2.63 ERA. Duke is under contract for next season, so it was a good deal for St. Louis. The Cardinals had to part with Triple-A outfielder Charlie Tilson to swing the deal, but considering what some other teams had to give up to acquire a reliable reliever, it was a savvy deal.
If the Rockies run out of gas because their bullpen implodes, they will regret not making a deal at the deadline. I also think they could use a power boost off the bench, especially now that Story is out for the season.
What is the latest with Tom Murphy right now? Is he still looked upon as the Rockies catcher of the future?
— Ben, Centennial
I recently wrote .
He’s had a history of injury problems and that’s delayed his development. He’ll get called up to the big-league club in September, if not sooner, so he can have an impact this year.
Is he the catcher of the future? He still could be, but he still has work to do behind the plate in regard to game calling and handling pitches in the dirt. The Rockies love his attitude and his ability to drive in runs, but there are concerns about his lack of flexibility and nimbleness behind the plate.
In my opinion, if you could combine the skills of Tony Wolters and Murphy, you would have an all-star catcher.
Jorge De La Rosa is a free agent at the end of this season and I don’t see the Rockies bringing him back in 2017. Why did they not move him for a few prospects?
— Tony, Pueblo
Tony, I had the same question. I’ve asked around, and from what I’ve been told, there simply wasn’t that much interest in De La Rosa, despite his excellent performance since getting a much-needed tune-up in the bullpen.
In the end, the Rockies figured De La Rosa could help them now, and there was never enough offered in return.
Gerardo Parra has been a bust, why did the Rockies sign him knowing they had David Dahl down on the farm?
— Nick, Denver
I don’t think it’s fair to label Parra a bust. After all, he’s been on the disabled list since June 15 with a badly sprained ankle, so it’s difficult to judge him yet.
Has Parra been worth the three-year, $27.5 million contract the Rockies gave him? Not so far. He was hitting just .263 with a .274 on-base percentage and just five homers when he went down.
I still believe he’s got enough athletic talent to help the Rockies in August and September, but I won’t be surprised if he’s the fourth outfielder when he comes back.
The Nationals made a splash trading for closer Mark Melancon. I noticed he is a free agent at the end of the season. Do you think the Rockies will make a run at signing him this offseason knowing he has Colorado ties growing up in Golden?
— David, Golden
David, Melancon is an elite reliever. At the time of this trade from the Pirates to the Nationals, he had not lost a game he entered in a save situation since April 2015. He led the majors with 51 saves last season. This season with the Pirates, he had 30 saves in 33 chances, a 1.51 ERA, a 2.66 FIP, and a 0.96 WHIP. That is really, really good.
He’s going to get a big payday this winter, and given the Rockies’ track record in going after high-price free agents, I doubt they will chase Melancon. I don’t think his ties to Colorado will be a factor.
Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders posts his Rockies Mailbag every other week on Tuesdays during the season.
for the Rockies Mailbag.
