The strongest part of the Rockies team is definitely the outfield
After a month of games I reviewed the individual team leaders early in May. This time I am going to look at how the Rockies rank in various categories as a team or by position. With a little over two months of action I think it is safe to say we know what the Rockies will be in 2012: crappy.
Let’s hit up some of the team batting stats first. With a team triple slash of .263/.326/.448 that is good for fourth/fifth/first in the National League. The team is second in the NL in home runs, sixth in hits, fourth in stolen bases, sixth in doubles and second in triples. Now for some shocking news: the team is third to last in team strikeouts. Only the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies have fanned fewer. They are middle of the road in walks.
This team can hit, we know this, it is obvious everyday when they lost 7-12 or whatever the score. I am shocked at how infrequently they strikeout compared to the rest of the National League and guess that reputation from a few years ago needs to cease.
When looking at advanced offensive metrics the team ranks third in wRC+, second on wOBA and first in ISO.
News flash: it’s the pitching that stinks.
As a team the Rockies currently have the worst team ERA, by nearly a full run, in the National League. The Rockies sport a 5.31 ERA while the Houston Astros come in second with a team ERA of 4.37. The Rockies also have the worst FIP and third worst xFIP. The team is middle of the pack in strikeouts per nine innings but is third in the NL in walks allowed per nine innings and second in home runs allowed per nine innings.
If we look at the starting rotation it gets even uglier.
The Rockies starting rotation has a 6.17 ERA which is easily the worst in the NL. The Houston Astros have an ERA of 4.49 from their starters. The Rox starting has the worst FIP, xFIP, HR/9 and second worst BB/9.
Again, we know this. Telling anyone that the Rockies starting rotation is like telling me the US is in debt. Duh!
In the field the Rockies aren’t good either. They are second to last in UZR/150, have committed the sixth most errors and most team errors in baseball and have by FAR the fewest defensive runs saved in the NL. The Milwaukee Brewers have -26 defensive runs saved and the Rockies have -52!
Batting good. Pitching bad. Fielding bad. GM keeps his job (had to jab that in there).
And since I love to rag on third base and Marco Scutaro here are the WAR totals for each position for the Rockies and their rank in the NL.
Catcher: 0.5 WAR (11th)
First: 0.7 (8th)
Second: 0.4 (10th)
Third: 0.0 (15th)
Short: 1.7 (5th)
Left: 2.6 (4th)
Center: 2.7 (4th)
Right: 1.5 (9th)
WAR factors in defense and you can see how it impacts this team. A team full of hitters (according the stats listed earlier) and the best the team can do is fourth where Carlos Gonzalez and Dexter Fowler usually play.
It feels like 1999 all over again in LoDo.
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10 comments
CodenameDuchess
June 12, 2012 at 12:03 PM (UTC -6)
Great post. It is amazing how bad the starting rotation is. I think the Defensive metrics will come around a bit. Hopefully some of the defensive lapses seen earlier in the season will be cleaned up. You have to think at a minimum the the sloppy play from Cargo and Tulo early was just an aberration.
roninthesprings
June 12, 2012 at 3:43 PM (UTC -6)
Not to worry, sports fans. Bob Apodaca has a 4-year plan (or is it a 6-year plan) for the starting rotation.
Michael
June 12, 2012 at 6:41 PM (UTC -6)
I hate Jim Tracy. Did anyone doubt that as soon as Colvin hit those 2 HR’s on Saturday Fowler would be exiled to the end of the bench. Pomeranz has had 6 excellent starts in a row in Colorado Springs and instead of calling him up they pick up another nothing pitcher in Francis. That is whats wrong with the Rockies. If we are going to be bad at least show me you are building towards something instead I am treated to a gasping, pathetic, desperate attempt to get near 500 at any costs.
TroyF
June 12, 2012 at 8:12 PM (UTC -6)
No, there was no doubt. Dex had a 1-7 stretch with a few strikeouts, it’s time to demote him again. BUT, we MUST keep playing Todd Helton. I mean, it’s CRITICAL that a guy with an OPS under .750 hits in the fifth slot everyday.
Look, I don’t think Colvin can sustain this pace, but I have no problems with him playing. I have a huge issue with him playing over a guy with a .925 OPS and I have a huge issue with the guy hitting leadoff. Here is a novel idea Jim, treat EVERYONE on this team the same way. If Scutaro doesn’t hit, sit him. If Helton doesn’t hit, sit him. If Guthrie can’t pitch, get him out of the rotation.
If Tracy is going to stay another year, my wish for Dexter is that this team trade him. Go where you are wanted and where people understand advanced statistics. You know, new fangled things like on base percentage, slugging percentage, on base plus slugging percentage, etc. Hell, maybe go to Oakland or Chicago, or anyplace else they’ll appreciate what you bring to the table.
I’m as soured on the organization now as I’ve ever been. . . and it isn’t like I’m a fan of this organization throughout its history. These guys are a joke.
Brendan Giles
June 13, 2012 at 7:58 AM (UTC -6)
Saying “this team can hit” needs to be taken with a grain of salt. This team can hit, sure – at home. The road splits are miserable: 91 runs (last), 196 hits (last), 23 HR (13th), .227 BA (14th), .286 OBP (15th), .372 SLG (13th), .658 OPS (14th). The bats are the only thing finding any sort of success, but the lofty league rankings are inflated by the spacious outfield of Coors Field. Comparing this team to 1999 is very apt: bad pitching and an offense that cannot do anything on the road.
The most frustrating thing is that we have seen teams put together this way before – during DOD’s tenure – and it has ALWAYS failed. Its one thing to try a team-building strategy (good bats, poor defense and awful pitching), see it fail, lick your wounds, learn from your mistakes, and (if you are lucky enough to not get canned) try another idea. It is nothing short of absolute incompetence to observe the repeated failures FIRST HAND and decide, “screw it, lets try that failed idea again only with different (arguably worse) players.”
Travis Lay
June 13, 2012 at 8:47 AM (UTC -6)
Not saying this is going to help them catch up on this stats on the road, but the Rockies have only played 26 road games this year which is the fewest in the National League (some teams have played 6 or more games on the road then the Rockies). With counting stats like that it could change – slightly.
OR, OR, OR!!! It could get worse as the Rockies catch up in road games played.
Brendan Giles
June 13, 2012 at 9:20 AM (UTC -6)
Touche. The percentages are still ugly, though. The upcoming road swing to Detroit, Philly, and Texas is going to be UGLY. Nothing like the Rockies coming to town to cure whatever ails the oppostion. Need to get your bats going? feast on the worst staff in the league! Need some confidence for your pitchers? Enjoy one of the worst road-hitting clubs in the league! The Rockies better steal one of these games against the mighty A’s or they could close June with less than 5 wins.
Troyf
June 13, 2012 at 8:01 AM (UTC -6)
Of course, i type tat and Colvin is great in center, Todd hits a HR and Dexter strikes out. I still do not take anything back. Dexter should be starting everyday. Todd should not.
Travis Lay
June 13, 2012 at 8:18 AM (UTC -6)
I got your back in just a minute…
Mike
June 15, 2012 at 6:51 AM (UTC -6)
The defense really is brutal. The Rox should realize that Helton is a sunk cost and sit him (I have suggested the unconditional release before, too, but I doubt they could bring themselves to do that). Fowler should play every freaking day. EVERY FREAKING DAY. Since it is obvious that Cuddyer is going to play, he might as well be on first. I can deal with Colvin playing every day….but isn’t there somebody else on the way? By the way, Guthrie is also a great candidate for the DFA…another sunk cost. I did love the 0-6 homestand. Really. I find myself hoping that the Rox lose EVERY day. Else we will have more years of pitchers being afraid to tell anybody their arm hurts. Oh, I am sure some GM could use a pinch hitter and has a #7 starter that doesn’t strike anybody out and gives up lots of fly balls and wouldn’t mind having Helton on the Rox’ dollar….a deal could be made (that seems to be what is valued by DOD these days).