Colorado Rockies news and links for Friday, April 19, 2024
One of the best places to look as to why the Rockies are off to their worst start in franchise history is at the beginning.
The Rockies have been outscored 29-5 in the first inning in their 4-15 start. Colorado has only held opponents scoreless in the first frame four times in 19 games (oddly, none of those have resulted in wins). Rockies starters have only recorded two three-up, three-down first innings. In 19 first innings, the Rockies have posted a 13.74 ERA, given up 29 runs (an average of 1.5 runs per first inning), surrendered 10 homers, issued 14 walks, struck out 16 batters and opposing teams have hit .385/.467/.769/1.236.
The numbers are brutal, especially when you compare it to the fourth inning when Colorado pitchers are at their best. In the fourth, the Rockies have given up four total runs on one homer in 19 games (an average of 0.21 runs per frame). They have a 1.89 ERA and opposing batters hit .177/.230/.250/.480. Averaging the second through ninth innings, the Rockies pitchers have posted a 5.29 ERA and give up an average of 0.57 runs per inning after the first. Opponents are hitting .275/.349/.405/.754 after the first inning.
The offense deserves plenty of blame for the Rockies failures. But digging out of a hole day in and day out, even if most often it’s just 2-0, but especially when it’s 4-1 or 5-0, is demoralizing. Although the Rockies four wins have all been comeback wins, they aren’t good enough to do that often — as evidenced by their .211 winning percentage.
It’s true that the Rockies have started the season with a challenging schedule as six out of their first seven series have been against 2023 playoff teams. They also haven’t played the Dodgers yet. Most teams are good. Most teams have really good pitchers.
At this rate, the Rockies will go 34-128. While that’s unlikely, and they have currently played seven more games on the road than at home, the Rockies need to up their first-inning game.
Many solutions could likely be found in analytics, game planning, and game management, but those require big-picture, front office, and management changes.
Right now, the Rockies just need to work on their command in the first inning. Out of 106 first pitches to batters in the first inning, 50 have been strikes, 50 have been balls and six were put into play. Rockies pitchers are struggling across the board by falling behind to hitters, but they are doing it nearly half the time in the first inning. Of those 50 plate appearances that started with a ball, 13 ended with a walk, 16 ended with a hit and 20 ended with an out (one PA was cut short when Justin Turner was thrown out stealing). That means that 58% of the time, batters are getting a hit or a free pass on base when they start with a 1-0 advantage.
Of the 50 plate appearances that started with a strike, 32 ended in an out and 18 ended in a hit. No walks were issued. Instead of 58% of batters ending up on base when Rockies pitchers go down 1-0, only 36% of batters end up on base after Rockies pitchers go up 0-1. When first pitches were hit by opposing batters, three ended up as hit and three wound up as outs. At this point, it’s worth risking more hits to cut down the walks. The Rockies starters need to come out pitching more strikes.
Of the Rockies starters, Ryan Feltner has the highest first-pitch swing rate at 38.9%, Cal Quantrill is next at 31.9%, Kyle Freeland and Dakota Hudson are both at 28% and Austin Gomber is at 25%. Out of all MLB pitchers, none of the Rockies starters crack the top 250 in first-pitch strike percentage.
For the sake of giving the Rockies a chance in more games, the Rockies starters need to come out firing strikes in the first inning. Could it really be any worse?
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Flight Deck Fiasco: Rockies coach plays pilot on United Airlines journey | Denver Sports
In a weird and developing story, 9News broke the news Thursday night that the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an unauthorized person from the Colorado Rockies coaching being in the flight deck. Jack Shapiro included links showing hitting coach Hensley Meulens in the cockpit on the team’s flight to Canada.
4 Rockies who need to take advantage of Kris Bryant injury news | Rox Pile
Ian Slate looks into three younger players and one veteran who need to make the most of any extended playing time they might get with the Kris Bryant being placed on the 10-day IL dating back to April 14. It’s interesting to think if any of them could actually make a play for Bryant’s starting spot, or even just dent his innings when he returns.
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On the Farm
Triple-A: Albuquerque Isotopes 10, El Paso Chihuahuas 2
Jordan Beck hit his fifth homer of the season on a 4-for-5 night when he drove in five runs and scored two to lead Albuquerque to a victory. Hunter Goodman recorded his fourth home run of the season with a two-run shot in the sixth inning and Coco Montes connected for his first homer of the season in the second and finished with two hits, two RBI and two runs scored. Ty Blach started the game with four scoreless, hitless innings with two walks, but Chance Adams picked up the win with a scoreless fifth inning when he also posted a strikeout.
Double-A: Somerset Patriots 5, Hartford Yard Goats 3
Yanquiel Fernandez hit a three-run homer, but it wasn’t enough for Hartford on Thursday night. Even though the Yard Goats actually out-hit the Patriots 8-7 and the Patriots made two errors, Hartford went 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position and struck out 12 times and walked none, compared to Somerset’s six strikeouts and five walks. The Patriots jumped on Connor Van Scoyoc early, putting up three runs in the first and two more in the third. Van Scoyoc gave up five runs on six hits, including two homers, with three strikeouts and three walks. Zach Kokoska singled and doubled and Benny Montgomery posted two singles for the Yard Goats.
High-A: Everett AquaSox 8, Spokane Indians 1
When Cole Carrigg doubled and came around to score after a walk and fielder’s choice in the first inning, things were looking good as the Indians jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Over the next eight innings, Carrigg added one more hit and despite four walks and a hit by pitch, the Indians were able to add anything else. The game remained tied after seven innings, but the AquaSox exploded for seven runs to take an 8-1 lead in the eighth.
Low-A: Fresno Grizzlies 8, Stockton Ports 4
The Grizzlies hit one double and two singles, while also taking advantage of two walks, two hit by pitches and a wild pitch to put up a four spot in the first inning on their way to a win Thursday night. Fresno scored four more runs in the third when Jake Snider and Jason Hinchman both doubled, Andy Perez singled and the Grizzlies drew three more walks and moved runners on three more wild pitches. The Ports out-hit Fresno 11-8, but struggled with control and went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
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