Rockies Win Total Prediction
The struggle is very real indeed for the Colorado Rockies, and it threatens to swallow the organization’s 2016 hopes before a single pitch gets delivered at Coors Field.
One year removed from dropping 94 games, Denver’s atmosphere-aided attack fully expects to encounter another uphill climb in the National League West. With one of the sport’s brightest young talents taking over as the face of the franchise, though, can fans avoid sitting through a sixth straight losing campaign?
Not even third baseman Nolan Arenado can sway the oddsmakers. Online sports book Bovada.lv puts Colorado’s over/under total at 70.5 victories, or 2 ½ more than it accumulated a season ago.
A staggeringly impressive division won’t make matters any easier. Where Arizona and San Francisco spent the winter engaging in an arms race, the Rockies primarily stood pat. That’s OK if you’re a Los Angeles or San Diego, perhaps, but not when you’re in the midst of three last-place finishes in four years.
General manager Jeff Bridich’s major move, of course, occurred last July 28. At that time, cornerstone shortstop Troy Tulowitzki finally left town. In exchange, Bridich received Jose Reyes, three right-handed prospects on the rubber and $50 million in additional funds.
Much of that money will eventually be stowed away for Arenado, 24, who paced the majors in 2015 with 130 RBIs. He also belted 42 home runs, tied for the NL lead, and earned Gold Glove No. 3. Don’t think he can’t build on those figures this summer, especially if right fielder Carlos Gonzalez stays healthy.
Coming off career highs in games played (153) and dingers (40), CarGo should make potential suitors salivate all over again. He even elevated his production as temperatures soared, batting .292 with a .961 OPS after June 1. With free agency looming in the not-too-distant future, does Bridich give him the Tulowitzki treatment in mere months?
In the event of Gonzalez’s departure, a mediocre offensive core becomes more suspect. Colorado desperately needs a 20-homer, 40-steal campaign from leadoff man and center fielder Charlie Blackmon, particularly given Reyes’ shaky status. (Commissioner Rob Manfred has yet to rule impose a suspension in relation to the shortstop’s late-fall arrest charges of domestic abuse.) Baltimore import Gerardo Parra is also considered a key lineup cog in light of last season’s stat line (.291 average, 14 bombs, 83 runs).
As per usual, however, the hurlers remain the Rockies’ primary bugaboo. Jorge De La Rosa functions as a perfectly serviceable lefty starter. But he continues to serve as the de-facto ace here, accentuating the team’s inability to develop youth on the mound. Blue-chippers such as Jon Gray, Eddie Butler, Jeff Hoffman and Kyle Freeland simply aren’t ready for the big stage, while the placeholders – Jordan Lyles and Tyler Chatwood – inspire a lot of ambivalence.
Unfortunately, that same attitude basically extends to the turnstiles in LoDo. People don’t exactly flock in droves to observe a product that has compiled three playoff appearances in 23 seasons. Barring a miracle, Walt Weiss’ club seems basement-bound for the foreseeable future.
2016 MLB WIN TOTAL PREDICTION: COLORADO ROCKIES UNDER 70.5 GAMES
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