Colorado Rockies news and links for Monday, June 16th, 2025
Last week, The Athletic released the results of their 2025 player survey, an extensive survey of Major League Baseball players across various topics.
One topic was which current manager they would least like to play under. The top response was former Colorado Rockies skipper Bud Black, whom players’ comments suggested they associated with playing for a losing team.
“Honestly, whoever was the Rockies’ manager was who I was going to say,” one respondent answered.
The Rockies parted ways with Black on May 11th as the Rockies were mired in a historically terrible start to their season, naming third base coach Warren Schaeffer the interim manager. Still, the termination of Black unfortunately does little when it comes to the Rockies’ reputation.
The Rockies have one of the worst reputations among major league players, a reputation among players that was already well known.
In last year’s player survey, the Rockies were one of just five teams that no respondents would want to play for if state taxes, contracts, and current rosters were factored into the decision. They were also ranked in fourth behind the Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox, and Los Angeles Angels for teams with bad reputations among players.
The Rockies simply were not an appealing destination for big-league talent.
Presumably, a sixth-consecutive losing season and a second straight 100-loss season has not helped that view.
In this year’s survey, there were nine teams which no player out of 126 respondents mentioned as having a good reputation, but six of those teams had overwhelmingly bad reputations.
The Athletic 2025 Player Survey
The Rockies are tied with the Marlins for the third-worst reputation in the league, ahead of only the Chicago White Sox and the Sacramento Athletics.
It’s worth keeping in mind that this survey was completed over spring training and into early May. The Rockies were off to an abysmal start, but not particularly deep into what is becoming a historically bad season.
Meanwhile, the White Sox were coming the Modern Era’s worst single season in 2024, and The Athletics were about to start their first season at a Triple-A ballpark in Sacramento.
Heading into the 2025 season the Rockies had a worse reputation than the Los Angeles Angels and were put on the same level as the Miami Marlins, two teams players categorized as directionless and not knowing what they’re doing. They were considered worse than the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team with an owner described as having no interest in winning.
It’s hard to imagine the Rockies being viewed any more kindly in next year’s survey as they are on pace for the new worst season in the modern era.
The complaints about the Rockies aren’t dissimilar to what’s been said before. Players believe they are a confusing and insular organization, an outdated franchise that doesn’t allocate necessary resources towards scouting and player development.
“I never understand what they’re doing as an organization,” one player commented. “They’ve been bad for a long time.”
One respondent simply concluded, “they’re not trying to win.”
The Rockies have been the well-deserved recipient of mockery and scorn from across the national baseball landscape this season, and there are no signs of improvement.
However, with an owner that has disappeared into the ether and a general manager that toes the company line, it’s hard to believe the leadership of this organization understands the changes that need to be made to salvage a modicum of dignity for the franchise.
The organization has dire faults that most other MLB players, especially former Rockies themselves, can see plainly.
The Athletic reached out to several notable former Rockies last week before publishing their survey results.
“I think they’re a little behind, for sure,” said one-time franchise second baseman DJ LeMahieu. “That doesn’t necessarily translate to wins and losses. It’s not like I’m going to point to that and say that’s the reason. But I think (joining the Yankees), it was like, ‘Wow, they’re really, really on top of things here.’ That was, like, one of the biggest surprises.”
Former third baseman Nolan Arenado also provided his thoughts.
“The only way you get out of this, my opinion, is you have to really start over,” said Arenado. “Trade guys that have value and deal with the restart. But I don’t know if that’s what (owner Dick) Monfort wants to do. That’s not really what they like to do.”
Arenado noted that the Rockies play in an extremely tough division, and even indicated he may still have a soft spot for his former team. However, he also summed up the Rockies’ needs quite bluntly.
“At the end of the day, if you’re not adapting, you get left behind.”
Rebuilding the Rockies’ ruined reputation will be a herculean task, one that most members of the front office will likely not be up for.
If this season is a testament to anything, it is how unprepared the Rockies are for the job in front of them. In their current form, they are unable to adapt as Arenado suggests. Dick Monfort needs to accept that and act on the suggestion of the Denver Post’s Troy Renck for the Rockies to bring in an outside evaluator as soon as possible.
“The Rockies have done things the same way for so long, they cannot be trusted to recognize their flaws,” Renck wrote. “Let [an] outside voice establish what is wrong, and implement the recommendations. Because every day the Rockies continue business as usual only elongates what is already a historically challenging rebuild.”
With the campaign already hopelessly lost, this outside evaluator needs to be brought in immediately. That way the Rockies can prepare to implement the sweeping changes that will be needed at the season’s conclusion.
Who—if anyone—in the organization’s ranks will help build towards the future? Can the Rockies build a contending team with the talent they have in their system? What parts of the organization need to be built up? What needs to be completely torn down?
These are all questions this evaluator will need to find answers for.
It will be a long and likely painful process. However, if the Rockies ever wish to see the sunlight that is winning baseball again, they need to start climbing the ladder wrung by wrung.
Starting from rock bottom.
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On the Farm
Triple-A: Oklahoma City Comets 7, Albuquerque Isotopes 5
Connor Van Scoyoc was credited for the loss in a bullpen game for the ‘Topes after giving up four earned runs on four hits and two walks over 2 2⁄3 innings of work, with most of the damage coming in the third. The Isotopes offense was never able to catch up despite a strong game from Warming Bernabel, who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Drew Romo and Sterlin Thompson both went 2-for-4, with the latter hitting a double.
Double-A: Akron Rubber Ducks 5, Hartford Yard Goats 4
The Yard Goats gave up three runs in the top of the eighth inning to drop the series finale against the Akron Rubber Ducks. Those three runs were scored against Collin Baumgartner on three hits—including a home run—and two walks. Kyle Karros went 2-for-5 with two RBIs while catcher Bryant Betancourt went 2-for-5 while hitting his seventh home run of the season.
High-A: Vancouver Canadians 3, Spokane Indians 2
The Indians offense was unable to come up with an answer for Vancouver despite a strong performance from the pitching staff. Lebarron Johnson Jr. held the Canadians to just two earned runs during his 5 2⁄3 innings of work despite walking a whopping seven batters to five strikeouts. Cade Denton took the game the rest of the way, giving up just one earned run on a solo home run while striking out four batters. The only Indians batter with multiple hits was Jared Thomas, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI while hitting his ninth home run of the season.
Low-A: Modesto Nuts 10, Fresno Grizzlies 3
The Grizzlies pitching staff gave up ten earned runs on six hits and six walks with only Fidel Ulloa and Felix Ramires working scoreless appearances. Fresno left five men stranded and went 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position, scoring only three runs despite nine hits and a walk. Robert Calaz, Yeiker Reyes, Jimmy Obertop, and Francisco Garcia all had two hits.
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In another part of The Athletic’s player survey, an overwhelming majority of players responded that the legalization of sports betting has changed how fans treat them and their teammates. Multiple players have reported receiving monetary demands, hateful comments, and even death threats.
“It’s insane,” said one National League position player. “Nowadays it’s ‘f— you, f— your family.’ S—, it’s a bad day, I’m sorry. It’s not like I called you and said, ‘Bet on me today.’ You’re making the fans expect us to go 4-for-4 every day.”
Freeland (back) lands on injured list | MLB.com
Sunday morning was full of roster moves as left-handed pitcher Austin Gomber was activated from the 60-day injured list. Fellow lefty Kyle Freeland was placed on the 15-day injured list due to back tightness, but expects to be back after the minimum amount of downtime.
“It really started tightening up on me after my bullpen the other day,” Freeland said. “I don’t think it’s going to be that big of a deal. Just getting it calmed down. I think the 15 days on the IL is going to be what I need to get back.”
Rookie reliever Zach Agnos was optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque—with left-handed starter Carson Palmquist recalled—after a difficult week last week. Before reporting to the Isotopes, Agnos will head to the Rockies’ complex in Arizona to visit the performance lab “to get him working on getting his slider in the zone, moving his body right” according to manager Warren Schaeffer.
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