Colorado Rockies: Just how high is Adam Ottavino’s ceiling? | Rox Pile
Colorado Rockies reliever Adam Ottavino’s success in 2018 has been well-documented. Through 26 innings entering Wednesday’s action, Ottavino has a 1.04 ERA, with a 1.53 FIP that largely backs up his performance. 45 strikeouts against 10 walks is extremely impressive, and only Josh Hader of the Milwaukee Brewers can boast more appreciable numbers as a reliever to begin the season. Ottavino, 32, is rediscovering his form and then some after completely losing his command in 2017. Gone are the days of 39 walks, 8 home runs, and 8 wild pitches allowed in 53 1/3 innings pitched. While Wade Davis, Bryan Shaw, and Jake McGee grabbed the headlines after being signed to lucrative deals over the offseason (and rightfully so), it has been Ottavino that has been the most valuable member of an impressive Rockies bullpen.
So how good can Ottavino be? Has he reached his maximum potential or can he reach yet another level? He’s already breaking his personal records in several statistical categories, and one can argue what he has already accomplished in 2018 is unprecedented. If Ottavino’s slider can keep baffling hitters at its current rate, we can look forward to one of the best seasons for a reliever in baseball history.
Colorado Rockies: Prioritizing defense over offense behind the plate | Rox Pile
Much like 2017, Rockies catchers have been among the least valuable backstops in baseball. Chris Iannetta was expected to add some thump to the lineup, but has not produced at the level he showed last year as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Tony Wolters, meanwhile, has an 18 wRC+, but we mustn’t sleep on the fact that he is among the league leaders in defensive WAR for catchers.
By the Numbers: The Rockies’ offense has been historically bad | Mile High Sports
The Rockies’ offense continued its poor stretch of play on Wednesday evening, being shutout at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Rox are on pace to have the worst collective offensive season in team history. Perhaps we can gain solace in the fact that 2008’s team (the worst offensive Rockies team outside of 2018) started hitting better at the season wore on. However, the Rockies’ offense has dug itself such a hole in 2018 that it will take a lot of work to get back to league average.
Rockies are winning by hook or by crook and one rare Baseball 101 maxim. And now they’re in first place. | The Athletic ($)
In a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, a key play was Tony Wolters’ throwing out Matt Kemp to end the ballgame. Kemp hit a grounder to shortstop Trevor Story, whose throw skipped by Ian Desmond at first. Luckily, Wolters was alertly backing up first base and Kemp, who had made a turn towards second base, was caught dead to rights at the first base bag trying to scamper back.
Rodgers powering Hartford to victories | MiLB.com
Rockies top prospect Brendan Rodgers continues his hot hitting, and currently is posting a slash line of .295/.341/.564 for the Hartford Yard Goats, the Double-A affiliate of the Rockies. In Tuesday’s contest, Rodgers ripped a go-ahead two-run home run for the second straight game. Rodgers’ blast on Tuesday was his tenth of the season.
Jorge De La Rosa: Prepared to Answer the Call | La Vida Baseball
Former Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa has found a home with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2017-2018. It’s no longer a starting role for De La Rosa, one of the most durable pitchers in Rockies history. After an excellent 2013 campaign with the Rox, De La Rosa has struggled with the home run ball, and is currently dealing with his lowest strikeout rate and highest walk rate in the past five seasons.
Podcasts
BSN Rockies Podcast: Trying to take the series in LA | BSN Denver
In the latest episode of the BSN Rockies podcast, Drew Creasman details the rough outing that Shaw experienced on Tuesday. After seemingly looking on track to get back into the swing of things, Shaw gave up back-to-back jacks in Tuesday evening’s affair with the Dodgers. Shaw has allowed five home runs in 24 1/3 innings in 2018, the same number he gave up in 76 2/3 innings in 2017.
Ep 22 Ma 23 | The Prattle
Your truly was a guest on The Prattle podcast on Wednesday evening. We discussed the happenings in the NL West and the AL Central, and I offered my takes on performance-enhancing drug users in the Baseball Hall of Fame. There’s a lot of NBA and NHL talk (which I was not heavily involved in because I’m just the baseball guy), but the baseball discussion begins at the 32:50 mark of the podcast. Join me, TCB, WesMan, and Arend for a jolly good time.