I don't think I ever pinpointed which last place team was the most fun to cover. I mean, I probably will formally in a superlatives post in a few weeks. But...honestly, it was harder than usual to really pinpoint which of the six counted as fun. There were GOOD last place teams, like the Jays and Pirates, and insanely depressing last place teams, like the White Sox and Angels, but nothing really evoked the scrappy, enjoyable feel of several last place teams of the past few years, at least not til very late in the year.
The Rockies may be the single most passable last place team in the league. In that there's stuff that works, clearly, and there's players they can bank on, but there's so much dullness elsewhere that it's hard to really savor it.
Okay, so there are good starters this year, right? Austin Gomber and Cal Quantrill. But of course, because they have to pitch in Denver all year they're gonna end up with high ERAs and no wins, and it's all gonna even out after really strong starts. There's a chance for the three contracted veterans to make it back this year, right? Yeah, but only one's gonna actually factor into the season. Kyle Freeland started 19 games this year, had a 4.89 ERA and struck out 79. There's really not that much you can say about that. German Marquez came back for one game then immediately went back on the IL. Antonio Senzatela just had his first start of the season, but I think it's safe to say it's too late for him to have any actual impact on the team.
Pretty much every Rockies team since Story left has rolled into a routine. Okay, Bryant's gonna be disappointing, the rotation's gonna fall apart, the bullpen's gonna start decent and hit a landmine, Blackmon's not gonna do anything close to his prime, maybe a couple young people will do something cool but not the ones we're truly banking on. And even with Tovar, Doyle, Toglia and McMahon having great seasons, there's a ton more routine than anything. Just run of the mill stuff for these Rockies. Team average of .242, team ERA over 5. That's just...how it is.
Next year might be the same, even if there's more pieces ironed on now. The rotation seriously needs to improve, and it takes all three of the contracted guys actually staying healthy. Marquez is off the payroll after 2025, and while it'd be hysterical if he pitched well the moment he has the potential to no longer play for the Rockies, you have to worry that the same outcome's gonna happen again. Same with Bryant, you just really can't trust him anymore after he's pulled this shit three years in a row. Even if there's more improvement, even if Drew Romo comes into his own, you've still got so many of the same problems that could persist.
And all of this while the rest of the NL West continues to improve. So unless a lot of things suddenly spring to life in Denver, it may be another long season for the Rockies' fans.
Coming Tomorrow- He was hurt for a few months, but he's healthy again in time for a playoff run.
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