FanPost

Time to Manage Outside the Box, Bud

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Today Tyler Chatwood pitched another gem... 8 innings with 1 run, 4 hits, 1 walk. The bullpen got a rest. And Rockies fans get to sleep soundly knowing we won today.

According to announcers, Tyler used 40 curveballs in the win. 40 out of 114 pitches- more than 1 out of 3.

For a while the Rockies have been recruiting pitchers who live on their fastball. Good fastball command and control comes first. Add a wicked slider/cutter, changeup or both and you can pitch at Coors. And by the way- curveballs are welcome too- just do it once in awhile and make sure you don't hang it. But not one pitch out of 3.

For the last 2 years, Chatwood has been 2 different pitchers- one of the best pitchers in the NL away from Coors, and not as good at Coors. Last year for most of the year he had the lowest "Away ERA" in the NL. This year he has an away ERA of 2.68- lowest among Rockies starters- and a home ERA of 7.03- highest among Rockies starters. Perhaps an ace that relies on 30% curveballs isn't cut out for Coors.

But that should not mean he is not cut out for the Rockies.

The job of any manager is putting all players- and especially pitchers- into situations where they are most likely to succeed. Lots of pitchers pitch only to left handers, others a very limited number of pitches... whatever it takes to make them succeed. Chatwood- and the Rockies- succeed when he pitches away from Coors.

And this is not about this year. As much as I hope the Rockies take it all this year, I suspect that 2017 for the Rockies is a "warm up year" before they win it all... just as KC lost the World Series in 2014 to win it in 2015, Houston lost the AL championship in 2015 to perhaps be the best team in baseball this year- most teams have a year or two where they get close to the top before they win it all.

That is where the Rockies are now. They are close to getting to the top. And do we really want to lose a pitcher with the lowest "away ERA" in the NL when we are this close?

Which gets us to the final part of this article- Chatwood's contract. At the end of this year Chatwood is a free agent. You don't think every other team in the division will be all over him? With the lowest ERA away from Coors Field? I can hear it now: "Just sign with us- we'll keep you out of the rotation when we go to Denver- you won't ever have to pitch in Denver again."

Bleeding purple, I pray there is some part of Chatwood that likes being a Rockie- that likes his teammates, the management- anything. Because I can not imagine why with his numbers he would ever stay. Except perhaps two things- (1) the chance to get a World Series ring and (2) getting to pitch where he pitches well- even if he pitches for the Rockies.

If Chatwood were to pitch the first game of any road trip and then 5 days later (4 days rest)- this would do many great things for the Rockies rotation: (1) Give our young arms a rest, with several periods of 6 days rest between starts; (2) give our bullpen a rest on days he pitches away; (away from Coors field Chatwood has the routine potential to go deep into game- 7, 8 or 9 innings), and (3) give our defense a rest. Our players love playing defense when Chatwood is away- he’s fast and they get out of the field quickly. Oh, and also- it would allow Chatwood to pitch more when he has the lowest ERA among starters and he would not pitch at all when he has the highest ERA among starters.

Bud Black- if you’re reading this- I know what is going through your head. "But how am I going to answer people when they say- ‘It’s not fair. All our pitchers would like to only pitch away from Coors Field.’" Just say this Bud: "Give me the lowest ERA in the NL for half a season away from home and we’ll talk."

Eat. Drink. Be Merry. But the above FanPost does not necessarily reflect the attitudes, opinions, or views of Purple Row's staff (unless, of course, it's written by the staff [and even then, it still might not]).

In This FanPost

Teams