Judging by Paul DePodesta’s state-of-the-ballclub address, the Rockies are on the right track.
“We’re certainly encouraged by a lot of what’s going on, but at the same time, far from satisfied,” the president of baseball operations said Sunday morning during a Q&A with the media. “I think there are a lot of things we know we can do better, and that we’re going to work to continue to get better. But, but all in all, I think sort of a positive first month.”
DePodesta, hired last November in the wake of Colorado’s 119-loss season, faced a major reconstruction project, not just with the roster but with the front office and coaching staff.
After getting swept by the Braves at Coors Field over the weekend, the Rockies were 14-21 entering Monday’s game against the Mets. Not great, certainly, but significantly better than last season when they were 6-29 after 35 games.
The following are highlights from DePodesta’s session with the Rockies media:
Assessment of the three veteran free-agent pitchers
Colorado signed right-handers Tomoyuki Sugano and Michael Lorenzen, and lefty Jose Quintana for a combined $18.85 million to stabilize a rotation that posted a 6.65 ERA last season, the worst since ERA became an official statistic in 1913. Entering Monday’s game, Colorado starters had a 4.81 ERA, though over the last 15 games, it was 3.97.
“I think by and large, probably the most consistent thing over the first month has been our pitching,” DePodesta said. “I mean, our pitching is giving us a chance to win virtually every night. Every team will have a bad start here and there, but for the most part, they’re giving us a chance to win. And I think those three guys have been central to that.”
Using an ‘opener’ in the first inning ahead of Dollander
Right-hander Chase Dollander is off to an excellent start, despite his hiccup on Saturday night in Colorado’s 9-1 loss to Atlanta. After eight games, including one official start, Dollander is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA. He’s struck out 42, walked just 12, and has a 1.15 WHIP.
“It’s actually about trying to get him as much length as possible in a game,” DePodesta said. “So it’s not so much about having him avoid certain hitters, because he’s been pretty good against the top of the lineup. We think he certainly has stuff that will play the third time through a lineup.
“But I think at least initially, this was about trying to, sort of, lengthen him out as much as we possibly could.”
Left-hander Brennan Bernardino started ahead of Dollander in Saturday’s game and gave up hits to the first three Atlanta batters, including Drake Baldwin’s two-run homer. It’s an extremely small sample size, but openers have a combined 10.80 ERA (5.0 innings pitched, six earned runs), and Colorado’s record when they used an opener is 1-5.
Faith in slumping outfielders Beck and Doyle
Jordan Beck entered Monday’s game hitting .167 with a .469 OPS and one home run. Brenton Doyle was hitting .213 with a .567 OPS and one homer.
“First of all, we don’t want to be reactionary,” DePodesta said. “We also don’t want our players thinking that, ‘Boy, if they 0 for 4 tonight, they’re not in the lineup tomorrow.’ Or worse, they’re going to Triple-A tomorrow, right? Or if they give up a run, or something like that. We believe in these guys. We also believe in a lot of the guys we have in Triple-A right now, but we want to give them ample opportunity to play.”
The chance of calling up prospects Condon and Carrigg
Cole Carrigg, who plays both infield and outfield, was named the Pacific Coast League player of the week on Monday after going 9 for 13 with two doubles, one triple, one homer, and seven RBIs over three games. He’s riding a PCL-best 13-game hitting streak, during which he slashed .521/.574/.729 with three doubles, two triples, one home run, 14 RBIs, and nine stolen bases.
After a monster start, Charlie Condon has cooled off. He hit four home runs in his first 10 games, but none since. Through April 17, he posted a line of .339/.456/.589, but now he’s slashing .250/.403/.406.
“Something we talked about all winter was sort of creating enough competition and depth with our big-league roster that we never want to call a player up just because we didn’t have anybody else,” DePodesta said. “We want to call players up when they are banging down the door, where we have to make room for them because they’re just playing so well, and they have the underlying foundation in place to be successful up here. Not just to survive, but to be successful.”
Do the Rockies have enough power in the lineup?
Led by red-hot Mickey Moniak’s 11 home runs to go with his .327 average, and catcher Hunter Goodman’s nine homers, the Rockies had hit 35 homers entering Monday’s play, tied with the Tigers and Phillies for 17th-most in the majors.
Asked if the Rockies have enough power in-house now, or need to develop sluggers over the next few seasons, DePodesta answered, “I think probably a combination of two. I think we’ll hit for more power as the year goes on. You look at some of our guys right now, who traditionally hit 15- 20-plus homers, and they have one right now.
“So I’m confident those guys will end up hitting for more power as the year goes on. At the same time, Mickey and ‘Goody’ both have (hit homers). And Mickey missed the first week (with a finger), so I think, as a team, we feel like we have enough.”
