Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders posts his Rockies Mailbag every other week on Tuesdays during the season and once per month during the offseason.
Pose a Rockies — or MLB — related question for the Rockies Mailbag.
I’m a British-based Rockies fan and enjoy reading your reports in The Denver Post and following the games via your Twitter feed.
My question is about Jon Gray. He is often touted as the Rockies’ ace but is very inconsistent and doesn’t seem to be able to cope with the pressure of pitching in key games (witness last year’s playoff game against the D-backs and this homestand). Is it time for the Rockies to consider trading Gray perhaps for an experienced pitcher to complement their core of young pitchers?
— David Jones, Guildford, Surrey, England
Wow, a Rox rooter from across the pond! Thatap cool, thanks for reading. Wasn’t Davey Jones the lead singer for The Monkees? Any relation?
OK, really bad joke, and I’m showing my age. Two strikes against me.
Obviously you submitted your question before Gray pitched seven strong innings Monday night in the Rockies’ 10-1 win over the Phillies. It was a big game and Gray delivered.
But your point is a valid one. Gray has folded under pressure too many times for someone purported to be an “ace.” But I don’t think a trade is in the works, because Gray has too much talent and promise to give up on him right now.
Having said that, if the Rockies were to pull off a major trade for someone like Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto, perhaps Gray would be part of a package deal. But the bottom line is this: Colorado is building the best starting rotation in franchise history and Gray is part of that, so I don’t think he’s going anywhere.
Seeing the photo of Bud Black’s locker that accompanied your Sunday feature, leads me to ask, who decides which uniform or nine form combo the Rockies wear each game? What dictates the decision to wear, for example, pinstripes one day and purple shirt/white pants the next?
— Dave, Fort Collins
Good question, Dave. The location is part of the decision, of course. For example, the Rockies only wear white at home and gray on the road, but you probably already knew that.
To your point, itap typically the starting pitcher who chooses the uniform of the day, although he gets input from his teammates.
Here is the Rockies’ record this season, by uniform:
Purple Jerseys………. 28-20
White Pinstripes…… 16-17
Gray Jerseys……….. 25-16
Black Sleeveless ….. 11-12
Holiday ………………. 5-3
Players Weekend …. 1-2
In your article about possible National League Cy Young Award winners, you discussed the East Coast media bias. After watching some of the umpire work during the Dodgers series this past weekend (think of the alleged balk that got Bud Black tossed), do you think there is any bias in favor of big city/big market teams against smaller market teams? Sure seems like the close calls are not evenly balanced. Maybe even an “unconscious bias” to use a current term?
— Rick Pilgrim, Bow Mar
Rick, no I don’t think there is anything like that going on. I know fans (and media) get upset with umpires, and especially with balls and strikes, but on the whole, they are very proud professionals who do the best, most objective job they can.
However, the personalities of umpires figures into some of their calls and into their tolerance for managers’ and players’ gripes.
I will say this: a veteran pitcher like Clayton Kershaw or Max Scherzer often get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to balls and strikes. A young pitcher like Colorado lefty Kyle Freeland might not get the same calls on the black of plate or balls on the edge of the strike zone. But then, itap been that way forever.
Love the Rox and Bud Black, but why would you pitch to the Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig with first base open in Wednesday’s game? Puig has been red hot. Please explain.
— Robert Sabol, Colorado Springs
Robert, I was not covering that series, but when I was in Arizona on Friday I talked to Black about his decision. (It backfired when Puig hit a three-run home run).
His basic response was that he thought relief pitcher Scott Oberg (who’s also been hot) and a good chance of getting Puig out. That was Black’s bottom line.
Personally, I thought it was a big mistake. First, as you mentioned, first base was open. Two, as you also mentioned, Puig has been sizzling hot. Three, Puig is a very erratic hitter with a kind of crazy strike zone. In other words, he’s unpredictable, and even though Oberg threw him a decent pitch, Puig ripped it for a home run. Bottom line: Puig was a dangerous hitter in that moment and Black should have walked him.
Dear Mr. Saunders, first let me say how much I enjoy your Rockies coverage. I am a big Nolan Arenado fan, as are you. (However I did grow up in Baltimore watching Brooks Robinson win 16 consecutive Gold Gloves). This is probably a bad time to ask this question, but maybe you have the answer that I can’t find. What is Arenado’s batting average and number of RBI’s with runners in scoring position from innings six though nine? Maybe you should tell me the number before September, since he is in a slump this month. Thanks for your time.
Allan Bock, Boulder
Allan, on limited time, I was unable to dig up Arenado’s average with runners in scoring position in specific innings. I can tell you this:
• His overall RISP average is .313
• His RISP average with two outs is .302
• His basic average in innings 1-3 is .325
• His basic average in innings 4-6 is .286
• His basic average in innings 7-9 in .253
• His average in “late and close” games is .260 (From Baseball Reference: “Late & Close are plate appearances in the seventh inning or later with the batting team tied, ahead by one, or the tying run at least on deck.)
• His average in tie games is .268
OK, Patrick. We are in an alternate universe and you somehow or other become the Rockies manager for the rest of the season. What would you do?
Sit or play Nolan at least for a couple of games?
Let Jon Gray have another start?
Rush Trevor Story’s return or let Garrett Hampson stay in for a while.
Pitch to Yasiel Puig? (Oh sorry, too late on that one!)
Which of the following would you somehow work into the line-up every chance you get: Raimel Tapia, Ryan McMahon, CarGo, Matt Holliday, David Dahl or Hampson? I love your writing and your insight and would love to hear your thoughts.
— Rusty, Denver
Wow Rusty, talk about putting me on the spot! (And thanks for the compliment).
I’m not sure when you submitted your question, so my response is going to be a little bit out of context/timing, but here goes:
No. 1: I would not sit Arenado. He’s too valuable an infielder and too dangerous a hitter to have on the bench during this critical stretch run. Yes, he’s been slumping, but he’s too valuable to take out of the lineup. Plus, that would send a terrible message to the team.
No. 2: The Jon Gray question is moot at this point, of course, because he pitched very well Monday night, and with Tyler Anderson experiencing shoulder soreness, they needed him. The bigger question, now, is what the Rockies will do with him should they go deep into the playoffs. Do they trust Gray more than Antonio Senzatela? Thatap a tough call.
No. 3: Hampson has performed well, but Story is back and he hit two doubles Monday night, so the world is in order again.
No. 3: I would play Dahl every time there is a right-hander on the mound and I would get Holliday into the lineup vs. lefties.
No. 4: I would only use Tapia and McMahon in spot situations. I think you trust veteran players at this time of the season with so much on the line.
Any idea why Jeff Hoffman was not part of the September call-ups? Seems like he should have been given a start or two to see if he would be a better option than Tyler Anderson. Even if he turned out not to be better, giving Anderson a start or two off to get his mechanics straightened out could have been beneficial.
— Mike, Denver
Mike, I talked to some people in the organization about this — off the record. So I’m not going to give you any direct quotes, but I will give you a sense of what I was told.
Hoffman had some great moments at Triple-A, but he also had some clunkers. There was a feeling that he was just too inconsistent and the club felt that it could work out the kinks in Tyler Anderson’s delivery.
FYI, at Triple-A Albuquerque, Hoffman was 6-8 with a 4.94 ERA and a 1.438 WHIP. Hoffman struck out 102 in 105 2/3 innings, but he also walked 47.
The general feeling is that Hoffman is not ready to be prime-time starter and they had better options in the bullpen.
On the scoreboard after each pitch, it shows the speed and type of pitch that was thrown. How do you know what type of pitch is thrown? I understand how they know the speed of the pitch, but don’t have a clue how they know what type of pitch is thrown. Thank you for any information on this that you can provide.
— Tom Kirk, Grand Junction
Tom, itap not an exact science, and sometimes the scoreboard gets it wrong. But, in a nutshell, it works like this: The scoreboard at Coors, Gameday on MLB.com and the AT&T telecast all get the same data from cameras in the ballpark that measure everything about the pitch and determine what type of pitch it is. Itap amazing how quickly the information is transmitted.
I will say that when I first started covering major-league baseball, I had trouble telling the difference between pitches (except for a fastball and a curveball). Now, because I usually know whatap in a pitcher’s arsenal, I can usually tell from up in the press box. But I’m not nearly as accomplished at it as are the guys in the TV and radio booths.
Hey Patrick, Rockies are looking like they are going to get their first National League West title ever. Could they also get their first Hall of Famer? Todd Helton should be a shoo-in. Thoughts?
— Sam Kempter, Cedar City, Utah
Sam, as I write this, the Rockies sit 1 ½ games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. Colorado has six games left, L.A. has five. Chances are slim that the Rockies will win the West, but there is a chance.
As for Helton, he’s far from a sure thing to get into the Hall of Fame, and I don’t think there is any way he gets in on the first ballot.
Personally, I think Helton deserves to get in, but itap going to be tough. I think the fact that he played his entire career for one franchise and is THE face of the franchise, should count for a lot. I’m not sure others feel the same. By the way, I don’t have a Hall of Fame vote.
FYI, here are some of Helton’s basic credentials:
Five-time All-Star played all 17 of his major league seasons with the Rockies…Won four Silver Slugger Awards and three Gold Glove Awards at first base…Led National League with .372 batting average and 147 RBI in 2000…Led NL in on-base percentage twice and finished career with .316 batting average, .414 on-base percentage and .539 slugging average…Scored 100-or-more runs six times and posted at least 100 RBI in five seasons…One of only seven players in history with at least two seasons with 400-or-more total bases (2000-01), a list that also includes Lou Gehrig (five seasons), Chuck Klein (three seasons), Sammy Sosa (two seasons), Jimmie Foxx (two seasons), Rogers Hornsby (two seasons) and Babe Ruth (two seasons).
Here is a counter argument from , who in considered something of an expert on Hall of Fame credentials and worthiness.
“Todd Helton, will have his adherents, but between his mid-career falloff and the voters’ resistance to the far more well-rounded Larry Walker and to Coors-inflated stats in general, he’s got an uphill battle.”
Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders posts his Rockies Mailbag every other week on Tuesdays during the season and once per month during the offseason.
Pose a Rockies — or MLB — related question for the Rockies Mailbag.
