Denver Post sports writer Patrick Saunders with the latest installment of his Rockies Mailbag.
Pose a Rockies- or MLB-related question for the Rockies Mailbag.
If Nolan Arenado doesn’t win a playoff game with the Cardinals, what cap does he wear when he gets inducted into the Hall of Fame?
— Norm Cruz, Albuquerque
Norm, you’re assuming Arenado ends up in Cooperstown. I’d vote for him in a heartbeat, but the voters are a finicky bunch. We’ll see.
Anyway, your question is difficult for me to answer because I’m not nearly as tight with Arenado as I used to be. However, I think he’d pick the Rockies because he grew up in the organization and spent his first eight big-league seasons in Colorado. Despite how his time here ended, he really did love playing in Denver — until the last two years.
Plus, his numbers were better in Colorado (.293 average, 235 home runs, 39.7 WAR) vs. St. Louis (.266 average, 116 home runs, 17.8 WAR).
I tossed your question to Derrick Goold, the Cardinals beat writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Here’s what he told me:
“The Rockies make the most sense to me. He was the best all-around player in the National League for a good stretch, and that was mainly with the Rockies (though he was great with the Cardinals in 2022). Nolan played more games in Colorado and had more euphoric moments there.”
Why don’t the Rockies play Brenton Doyle more often? He’s one of their best hitters and he’s been great since the All-Star break, yet they appear to be reducing him to part-time status.
— John Kelly, Fort Worth
John, I’m not sure when you sent in your question, but I’m guessing it was around July 25-26, when Doyle was often on the bench. Since then, the gifted center fielder has been playing regularly and has started 10 of Colorado’s last 11 games (through Monday).
Interim manager Warren Schaeffer gave Doyle time off to work on his swing mechanics and was sitting him for a while vs. right-handed starters. But Doyle appears to have finally turned his season around. Over this last 10 games (entering Tuesday), he was slashing .382/.417/.676 with three homers, one double and eight RBIs.
However, Doyle’s splits are still pretty extreme. He’s hitting .198 vs. right-handers and .333 vs. lefties.
Who will be Rockies managerial candidates? Any chance someone like former Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina or someone from outside the organization might be considered?
— Jeffrey, Illinois
Jeffery, as I mentioned in my Sunday Rockies Journal, there are those in the organization who believe that interim manager Warren Schaeffer deserves a shot at managing next year. His future will likely depend on changes to the Rockies’ front office.
Regarding Molina, I doubt he would be considered by Colorado, mainly because he hasn’t managed before. A new general manager or president of baseball operations would almost surely go outside the organization for a new manager. I could throw names around, such as former Cubs and Angels manager Joe Maddon, but that could be pure speculation. I honestly don’t know who the candidates might be.
The position players that the front office has raved about seem “Show” ready and impressive in most cases, but the pitching has often been borderline embarrassing. What is the plan moving forward? Continue to draft, trade, and hope, which hasn’t worked out … yet?
— Peter, Philadelphia
Peter, trying to find quality pitching is, and always has been, the Rockies’ multi-million-dollar question mark. That said, the pitching is in an awful place right now, though rookie Chase Dollander’s performance Monday night at St. Louis was heartening. Entering Tuesday night’s game, the Rockies’ starting pitchers had a combined ERA of 6.58, far and away the highest in the majors. The bullpen’s 5.50 ERA was the second-highest, behind the Nationals (5.86). It’s partly about young pitchers trying to find their way and partly a lack of talent.
As I’m sure you’re aware, top-tier free-agent pitchers are not going to come to Colorado to pitch at Coors Field. So the only thing the Rockies can do is draft and develop better and make a few shrewd signings of second-tier pitchers. When it comes to pitching at altitude, there is no easy fix.
The Rockies found a winning formula in 2017-18 when they built a strong rotation on home-grown players like Kyle Freeland and German Marquez, though Marquez was acquired in a trade from Tampa Bay when he was still in the low minors. Then the Rockies traded for, or signed, several quality relievers. Plus, manager Bud Black worked well with the young pitchers.
Has Dick Monfort watched Season 5, Episode 22 of “Seinfeld” — “The Opposite?”
George: “Every decision I’ve ever made in my entire life has been wrong.”
Jerry: “If every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right.”
With seven straight losing seasons and barreling toward the worst run differential of all time, I think it’s time for Dick to do the EXACT opposite of whatever his instinct tells him to do. Do you think he’d be open to this strategy of running the Rockies?
— Daniel Young, Denver
Daniel, that’s one of my favorite “Seinfeld” episodes, so I’ll include this in the Rockies Mailbag as a community service. But there are no guarantees that Mr. Monfort will read your suggestion.
Do you expect Tyler Freeman to play every day down the stretch, or will Braxton Fulford and Yanquiel Fernandez continue to take some of his time in OF/DH? Any chance he mixes in at second base?
— Bjorn Masterson, Stockholm
Bjorn, interim manager Warren Schaeffer loves Freeman and his style of play, particularly at the top of the order. I predict that Freeman will continue to play almost every day. Schaeffer wants to win as many games as he can, though he also understands that the young players need to get their at-bats. With Adael Amador back up and Ryan Ritter back soon (he just started his Triple-A rehab assignment), I don’t think there’s any room or need for Freeman at second base.
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