Rockies in Turmoil

Man, this keeps on getting worse. After a hot start, the Rockies seem to lose every game. There are no specific problems to point to as the cause to the mess, but there are solutions to kinks that can get the train back on track. To start off, I’ll talk about the starting rotation.

Ubaldo, Jimenez, Jhoulys Chacin, and Jason Hammel are locks. Then Aaron Cook will most likely enter the roll as the fourth starter once he finishes his rehab, and that is just around the corner. That leaves that fifth spot. The candidates are Clayton Mortenson, Greg Reynolds, Juan Nicasio, and Esmil Rogers (still on DL). I think Mortenson gets it for the near future, but things are tricky. Juan Nicasio pitched well recently against the number one offense and is getting another start while Cook continues his rehab assignment, Esmil Rogers had the fifth starting job until his injury and is still in the mix once he is back, and Greg Reynolds is the long shot, who is currently working long relief for the Rockies. To sum it up, the Rotation is no the problem. In fact, it has been exception and one of the best in MLB. De La Rosa’s injury does not help, but I don’t think it restricts the team’s capabilities from reaching October.

The bullpen isn’t the problems either. Matt Linstrom, Matt Daley, Matt Belisle, Matt Reynolds, Huston Street, Raphael Betancourt, and Greg Reynolds currently occupy the Rockies’ bullpen. But it looks like Greg Reynolds will be optioned down after Cook is ready and Rex Brothers will be called up. And the only reason Brothers isn’t already up is business reasons. So, yes, the bullpen really isn’t the problem. Yes, it’s obvious what the problem is.

Was the offense supposed to be like this? This is where I will offer a solution. Play Eric Young Jr. as much as possible. His glove isn’t supposed to be his bright spot, but his new stance shortened up his stance and seems to quicken up hit bat speed; this creates a plus tradeoff when he is inserted to the lineup. I would also like to see what Chris Nelson could do, but Wigginton is starting to heat up; so he’ll have to stick to a utility roll. Right now, the problems look like are being addressed the pas few games (Young has started the last four games). Finally, Amezega and Lopez were DFA’d. I hate to say, but they were dead weight. Troy Tulowitzki will start getting better (read the most recent Rockies blog on ESPN’s Sweetspot). Helton and Smith look good. Point is, the whole team will be fine. And I hate when Rockies’ fans think it’s the end of the world.