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What’s Happening to the Colorado Rockies?
Baseball fans around the world were left perplexed by the astonishing 25-1 final score of the Saturday night game played by the Colorado Rockies. This loss, which coincided with the club’s 30th anniversary, turned out to be their worst defeat in history, overshadowing their 26-7 loss to the Chicago Cubs in 1995. As the game unfolded, it quickly became evident that the outcome could have been even more disastrous for the 45,274 spectators in attendance. In the fourth inning, a fly ball got lost in the lights, dropping in for a hit and contributing to the Rockies falling behind 18-0. Understandably, the fans were not pleased.
This is not the first time the Rockies have experienced such humiliation on their home turf. They suffered a humiliating 17-0 loss to the Florida Marlins in another game at Coors Field back in ’95, which was the worst shutout in the history of the franchise. Additionally, in a different game, the Los Angeles Angels established an incredible 23-0 lead in the fourth inning, later extending it to 25-0 in the eighth inning. Only a solo home run by Brenton Doyle managed to spare the 2023 Rockies from further disgrace.
Following the devastating defeat, the Rockies’ general manager, Bill Schmidt, wasted no time taking action. Mere minutes after the game, veteran infielder Mike Moustakas was traded to the opposing team in exchange for pitcher Connor Van Scoyoc. Moustakas had joined the team as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training and quickly proved his worth with a .270 batting average, four home runs, and 17 RBI over 47 games. Van Scoyoc, on the other hand, is a 23-year-old pitcher who was drafted by the Angels in the 2018 MLB Draft. He has been performing well in High-A, boasting a 2.76 ERA in 11 starts.
The Rockies currently have six players on their 40-man roster who will become free agents at the end of the season, with two others having a team option for 2024. Meanwhile, RHP Daniel Bard and C Elias Díaz are under contract through the end of next season. With their current losing record and the prospect of reaching 100 losses for the first time in franchise history, it’s clear that winning more games in the 2023 and 2024 seasons should no longer be the team’s priority.
To achieve future success, the Rockies need to call up more prospects from their minor league teams. Several players at Triple-A Albuquerque and Double-A Hartford are eager for an opportunity to prove themselves, and consistent playing time should be given to those who may contribute to the Rockies’ future success. However, with 12 players currently on the injured list and several veteran players accustomed to regular starts, it may be a challenge to allocate sufficient playing time to the younger players.
One potential addition to the roster is Michael Toglia, who is expected to be called up soon. Although he may have some offensive deficiencies, Toglia’s exceptional defense could compensate for this. Similarly, Elehuris Montero could be given time at the designated hitter position when Toglia is playing first base, providing both players with valuable experience.
In addition to promoting prospects, the Rockies need to be willing to try new strategies to improve their performance. They could consider being more active on the trade front and engage in mutually beneficial player swaps instead of merely trading big leaguers for prospects. This approach has proven successful in the past, such as the Jazz Chisholm Jr. for Zac Gallen trade or the four-player trade that brought Germán Márquez to Denver from the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016.
One area where the Rockies particularly struggle is in stolen bases. With only 29 stolen bases this season, they rank last in the league. In comparison, players like Esteury Ruiz (39) of the Oakland Athletics and Ronald Acuña Jr. (33) of the Atlanta Braves have more stolen bases individually than the combined total of 27 Rockies players. Allowing the younger players to take more risks on the basepaths could potentially inject some much-needed energy and excitement into the team.
While the 25-1 loss on June 25th is undoubtedly disheartening, it’s crucial to keep things in perspective. This is just one game among many, and it does not hold the same significance as the Rockies’ losses in the 2017 National League Wild Card Game or any of the games during the 2007 World Series. The Rockies’ current struggles are a reflection of their current situation rather than a representation of their overall history.
