It's been a while since I've seen a team where virtually every detail isn't working but the bullpen is. Usually it's the other way around. Usually it's a Phillies or Braves team that's doing well enough but can't hold down a lead. But the Rockies have...so many holes and inefficient pieces, yet seem to not have much trouble after the 5th inning.
And it's honestly pretty weird that it's this team, because a lot of the Rockies' usual suspects, like Carlos Estevez, Tyler Kinley, Robert Stephenson and Lucas Gilbreath, are either inactive or off the team. Daniel Bard is back full-time and is still in peak form. And the rest of the 'pen is either young guys or new guys, and they're all doing pretty well. Pierce Johnson has been strong not only in the ninth but all around, with 4 saves and 17 Ks. Justin Lawrence is the biggest bullpen asset, sporting a 1.65 ERA and 15 Ks in 16 innings. Brent Suter has only given up 2 runs in 18 innings. Jake Bird looks like the new perennial bullpen asset for these teams. And, honestly, Brad Hand's not doing too bad either. That's basically everyone that's active in their bullpen, and that's a tight bunch that has been very impressive so far.
The trouble is that a lot of them are currently being used as mop-up men, as most of the decisions are going to starters, and a lot of them are losses. When your job is to follow Noah Davis or Austin Gomber and do your best to salvage the game, it's already tough, but I suppose the silver lining is that thanks to these guys it's not getting much worse. Right now, in the team's Top 12 players by WAR, six of them are relievers. Only two are starters, Freeland and Feltner. Yes, this team is getting Senza back shortly and is trying out Connor Seabold, but starting pitching is gonna be a liability if Marquez is gone for the rest of the year.
It does help that you have people like Elias Diaz, who's hitting .337 with 14 RBIs, and C.J. Cron, who at the very least is power hitting, to do something somewhat amusing and lift the team up while Rodgers is hurt, Bryant is human and McMahon is slumping. There is some life in this team, and having an operating bullpen definitely helps, but when there feels like a giant chunk taken out of the lineup, it's hard to get too excited. And even with the Giants having a lower-key year, it's clear that the other 4 in the NL West are better teams than the Rockies right now, and may continue to be.
I don't know if having the big lineup pieces hot will do anything for this team, or if it's even possible to have them all surge at once. But it'd be nice for someone other than a reliever to hold things together for a bit.
Coming Tonight: The Phillies just got done dealing with his old team, and now they have to tackle him after his new team's won 5 straight. This should be fun.
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