The only game Sanchez is winning in Colorado so far is the game of highest ERA between him and Guthrie. Guthrie, who was traded to KC for Sanchez, had a line on friday of: 5.1 | 11 hits | 6 ER | 2 HR yielding an ERA 9.58 after the trade. Sanchez’s post-trade ERA, after today’s dismal outing?
11.88.
To say the team has been not only uninspiring, but down right shameful would be putting it mildly. Pitching has been nothing short of atrocious, at least from the starters perspective, and if they keep up the current pace it just might put the Rockies in the record-books for worst team ERA in the history of the game. Currently the Rockies are tied with the second worst team ERA in history, 6.34. The worst is within spitting distance, at 6.64, and one would bet the ’99 Tigers would be sending over a box of chocolates to thank the Rockies pitching staff for taking the record from them.
On a staff with so few bright-spots, Carlos Torres has shown he is quite possibly the best of the worst. Today’s showing was again impressive as he came in for two and two-thirds, giving up only one hit while striking out five. His ERA is hovering at Jimenez’s 2010 first half numbers, 1.50.
There is speculation that if Sanchez drops from starter to “piggy-back” pitcher, then Torres would get the ball to begin games, thanks to his excellent bullpen work.
Rutledge continued to impress, pretty much the only impressive purple player at the plate, as he went 2-4 with a two-run home run, plating the only Rockies runs of the day. He is hitting .379 in 58 at-bats and an 1.031 OPS.
The Rockies are still battling it out for last place with the Astros in all of baseball.
The Rox continue to have bright spots but they burn brightly,then quickly flame out or at least cool cosiderably,i.e.Freidrich,Colvin.Lets hope Rutledge is the real deal.I know he isn’t going to be a .370 lifetime hitter,but two more months should tell us if we might have finally stopped the revolving door at second base.If Tulo can get back by the end of August,it could be really interesting to see them together for 5 weeks.IMO Torres has earned a start,and the whole staff needs to see a hypnotist!
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a rotation this bad before…and that includes a lot of seasons of Phillies baseball when they were very, very bad. I know a while ago the Rox were on track for the worst ERA in history for starting pitching. Since then I haven’t seen anything to make me think this is not still true. Anyone have a statistical update?
Amazing how all year, when the hitters hit the pitchers don’t pitch well (see Saturday’s game) and when the pitchers pitch well, the hitters don’t hit (see Friday’s game). All told though, the offense has not been bad overall and the defense, while suspect on some occasions, has been acceptable. A complete makeover of the pitching staff is what is needed to turn this thing around. Anyone got suggestions for the next pitching coach?
Bob this may in fact be one of the worst team era’s in baseball history.
I posted that information in the write-up above. We are tied with 2nd worst in history…not Rockies history, BASEBALL history!!!
That is for team ERA, right? How about the ERA of just the starters in games? It has to be much worse as the bullpen has only imploded part time while the starting pitching has been horrid.
You’re right, Bob. Just astonishingly bad starting pitching. I really don’t think I’ve ever seen worse over the course of a season.
Jare, to be fair, look at all the starters era of late.
It only took Friedrich 51 pitches to get the hook in his last start. That’s 7 runs in what, 4 1/3? He is 1-3 with a 7.77 ERA this month. How many games has he won since June … two? You stat guys can do the research but I think you will see he is getting hammered 2nd time thru.
We have Jeff Francis and then … beats me.
Not sure why you started by saying, “to be fair”. I haven’t written anything in the post game that didn’t place blame on almost everyone (including Friedrich). I started off by pointing out Sanchez’s horrible start, but went on to point out the entire pitching teams ERA overall.
Sorry, I guess it was just me being sensitive. The broadcast crew defends Friedrich yet pointed out how lousy Sanchez is. Did they ignore his performance before coming to the Rockies or have some inside info that made them believe he would have an immediate turn around, becoming the Rockies ace? They have a nack for putting me in a bad place.
I have also received 2 emails since the post reminding me I’ve never been a fan of Friedrich and always been a fan of Francis. In general I would say that is true but I’ve never said I wasn’t a fan of Friedrich. I have stated on many occasions that I was not (and still not) on the Friedrich bandwagon.
Sorry for jumping the gun.
You get emails from people telling you how wrong you are? Wow, that’s pretty cool
Apparently … neither are active on here either. They are very active on another site and I’m sure you can figure out where.
I’m sure there are tons of lurkers that read your site jare.
I think trading Cargo for 6 second basemen might help solve our problems.
LMAO
I just saw your post after I hit send on mine (below). You beat me to the punch line. Sadly, at least one of these prophesies will come true.
There are rumors that the Rox will trade Betancourt. Let me guess, BIBDOD will trade him for 3 mediocre 2B prospects.
Usually second basemen are the best humanitarians on a team. Wonderful clubhouse guys who make up for their diminuitive nature and lack of range with a lot of heart. I think he’s accumulating them to find the next David Eckstein.
The Rockies have so many second basemen that the guys that could actually play there – don’t! Even without Scutaro (was and still am a fan!), the Rockies have LeMahieu, Nelson, Herrera, Rutledge and now Charley whats-his-name from SF. Thus forcing Pacheco to third base and EY2 to the outfield. Who knew the MLB club needed seven second basemen to be respectable? Very clever BIB DanO!
And one could argue 4 center fielders,with several more in the wings.
But STILL no one waiting in the wings at 1B!
On Friedrich: Raysfan is right. There was no sustained record of success in the high minors, and in retrospect we can all see why there was no basis to be high on him as a 2012 arrival. He has good stuff, and he’s flashed that on occasion. A couple times that occasion lasted 6 or 7 innings. But mostly not. Like so many other guys we’ve seen pitching in a Rox uniform this year, he belongs in AAA at best. Did anyone notice Chatwood’s last start all the way down in AA? 4 wild pitches in an inning, and no Rosario to blame.
I know the DP/Renck has tweeted about interest in Bentancourt. The flip side to his speculation is:
“The Yankees haven’t contacted the Rockies about Rafael Betancourt, and it’s doubtful the Rockies will trade him at all, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports”
Here is a funny article on the good ol Rockies, video as well! Some might have seen this live, I did not.
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/whole-rock-bottom-nine-rockies-defenders-lose-track-041012684–mlb.html