Some Rockies-centric Links (2.7.23)
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Some Rockies-centric Links (2.7.23)
Here’s what I’m reading this week.
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Last Friday I wrote about how bad the Rockies’ offense was in 2022, so when this came through Twitter, I felt the need to share as a reminder of some (much) better days.
It’s clear that we’re closer to the start of the MLB season as the articles have become much more plentiful. (Then again, I suppose it helps when the team’s owner has an extended interview with the local media.)
Patrick Saunders’ talked with Dick Monfort about why he thinks tanking is bad, and the Rockies won’t do it (Denver Post — subscription required).
For a contrasting view, Tom Krasovic shares the perspective from San Diego on Monfort’s comments from San Diego (San Diego Tribune).
Turns out, fans like it when the owner spends a lot of money. Dennis Lin provides a case in point with Padres fans (and he’s got the data to prove it) (The Athletic — subscription required).
Brendan Rodgers gets a shoutout in this Elijah Evans piece on up-and-coming hitters — if he can just hit the ball in the air (JustBaseball.com).
Is Elias Díaz a 2023 bounce-back candidate? Eno Sarris thinks so (The Atheltic — subscription required).
Ryan McMahon made Anthony Castrovince’s “2023 All-Underrated Team” (MLB.com).
Shanti Sepe-Chepuru projects each team’s 2023 home run leader — the surprise is her runner up for the Rockies (MLB.com).
Spring Training means seeing some prospects in camp. Danielle Allentuck has five players to watch (Denver Gazette — subscription required).
If I’m going to read anyone writing on Scott Oberg, it’s Jamie Pote. Here’s the conclusion of his three-part series with the recently retired Rockie (Tewksbury Town Crier).
Best all-time Colorado Rockies pitchers? This this list (Geeks Vibe Nation).
There’s big news for Cole Tucker (TMZSports).
Bret Boswell is back.
Just watch.
That’s all for now.
Thanks for reading, and look for a new Rockies Pitch on Friday —
Renee
@ReneeDechert (Twitter) ★ @ReneeDechert (Mastodon) ★ @Renee.Dechert (Instagram) ★ @ReneeDechert (Post)
Some Rockies-centric Links (2.7.23)
Hi Renee, love the newsletter, but I do feel I need to point out that that 1995 Blake Street Bombers offense lauded in the tweet at the top had a team OPS+ of 94 despite leading the league in runs scored. Right at league average, and not really much better than the 90 posted by the 2022 team. 1990s Coors Field was a truly crazy offensive park, well beyond the humidor version of today.
At 27 years old, a rookie, and a Rockie, if Justin Lawrence has a "huge year on tap"...then I'll be stupefied, mystified and wrong. I've been following this game for 60 years now and have no idea what a VB or HB are, or what the significance is of "an outlier release height". I do know what Ks are; and even BBs, ERA, Ws, Ls, Rs and ERs. I can do everything except Scout with these Statistics. I won't talk about Scouts in this post.
The Rockies won't win 75 games this season. 70 might be a climb. They should easily make 63.
All these fancy statistics are just evidence that there is a science of baseball. I don't get it, and I don't need to know it. If a pitcher is striking out two batters for every one he is walking, that's a decent number. If a pitcher's ERA is sub 3.00, even 4.00, he is a decent pitcher. As the ERA gets into the 4.01 territory and higher, he becomes an average pitcher (except in Coors Field). Tell me the ERA is above 5.00, and well, I'm beginning to look elsewhere for a pitcher. I have never seen a sub 4.00 ERA pitcher that walked more than he struck out. I have never seen an over .500 pitcher who's ERA was in the 6s, even in Coors Field.
So SABRmetrics be damned and so should Brian Kenny. Launch Angle, Trajectory and other statistics that we have only seen collected by computers, are appropriate and necessary for additional information, but lend little to the conversation of the hot stove league. Give me a guy's OB or SLG, if it's a good sample size, and I'll hazard a guess of whether he will be drafted or not. Rockies Management has already buried their head in the sand. Now they can see what they created as the substitute for a championship team.