At the all-star break, the Rockies are 34-57 and on pace to finish 61-101. Denver Post beat writers Patrick Saunders and Kyle Newman debate the importance of Colorado’s historically bad trajectory.
Saunders: As you might guess, the idea of a 100-loss season is not a popular topic in the Rockies clubhouse. As someone said to me over the weekend in San Francisco, “Why do you keep writing that we’re on track for 100 losses? Do you really have to do that?” Well, given that the Rockies have never hit that dubious milestone, I think it’s newsworthy to track. And I don’t think it’s “piling on.” I see it as a measure of the state of the franchise. But I ask you Mr. Newman, will the Rockies lose 100 games for the first time? Does it matter if they do?
Newman: Yes, this team will not only hit 100 losses — with easily the most depleted rotation in the National League, they might make a run at 105. Achieving franchise infamy will matter, and it won’t. Allow me to explain: It won’t matter from a fan perspective, because with MLB’s new schedule bringing more teams to Coors Field, the people continue to pack the stands at 20th and Blake despite a five-year playoff drought with no end in sight. But it will matter from a drafting perspective — if the Rockies finish with one of the three worst records in baseball (as they are currently trending), they’ll have a 16.5% chance via the lottery at the No. 1 overall pick in 2024.
Saunders: For the record, since 1961, when the American League adopted the expanded schedule and when the National League did the same in 1962, only six teams have never lost 100 games: the Phillies, Cardinals, Dodgers, Angels, Yankees and Rockies. So there’s some honor, I suppose, in being part of that group. Then again, the Astros completely tanked, losing 100-plus games for three consecutive seasons from 2011-13. Since then, they have been to the playoffs seven times, made it to the World Series four times and won the World Series twice.
Newman: In this vein, being pretty bad over the last few years — but not among the very worst in baseball — is hurting the Rockies. Colorado hasn’t had a top-five pick since 2016, when the club busted on taking right-hander Riley Pint at No. 4 overall. For a draft-and-build organization that deals with above-average pitching attrition at all levels, getting picks in the top five is critically important, and the big-league club hasn’t been terrible enough to do that lately. But it’s important to remember that internally the team believes its next crop of highly touted position prospects are going to turn the fortunes of the franchise, dearth of pitching prospects be damned. So don’t expect the Rockies to intentionally tank in 2024, though they very well could do so unintentionally (again).
Saunders: Back in January, I asked owner Dick Monfort why he didn’t like the term “rebuilding.” He said: “I hate that word. I guess the connotation on rebuilding is you just get rid of everybody. You try to draft low, which we’re not (going to do). We’re not trying to get the first pick. We are not going to tank. We never have, never will.” But this season, because of a tidal wave of injuries, coupled with poor play, the Rockies could lose 100 games without “tanking.” And should the Rockies make some trades before the Aug. 1 deadline, and are therefore forced to play the kids, and lose 100 games, it’s not the end of the world. Indeed, it might be a needed kick in the keister.
Newman: The trade deadline is what could — and should — send this team off the 100-loss cliff. If GM Bill Schmidt does it right, the final two months of the season are going to be brutal, because the Rockies should be trading as many veterans as they can in exchange for starting pitching prospects. Dealing Mike Moustakas for young southpaw Connor Van Scoyoc was a good start. If the Rockies aren’t making serious attempts to trade Randal Grichuk (free-agent to-be), Jurickson Profar (free-agent to-be), Daniel Bard (under contract through 2024), C.J. Cron (free-agent to-be) and Elias Diaz (under contract through 2024) en route to 100 Ls, then they’re doing it wrong. Iconic Rockie Charlie Blackmon, in the final year of his deal, would be on this list too, but the injured outfielder doesn’t currently have much market value.
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July 11, 2023 at 01:13AM
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Saunders vs. Newman: Will Rockies lose 100 games this season? Does it matter? - The Denver Post
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