SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Chances are the Rockies’ record won’t glitter this season, but their defense should be golden.
With Gold Glove winners in center field and at second base, Gold Glove finalists at shortstop and third, and potential sprinkled all around the field, Colorado should have one of the best defenses in the majors.
“I think we have a good shot at being the best of the best,” said second baseman Brendan Rodgers, who won a Gold Glove in 2022.
Manager Bud Black agrees.
“If you love the complete game of baseball, and defense is a big part of that, you’ll like watching us,” he said. “Every night, there is a chance to see a legit great play from talented defenders.”
The Rockies open their 2024 season Thursday night against the defending National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. (8:10 p.m. MDT).
Coming off a 103-loss season and having undergone only minor roster reconstruction during the offseason, the rebuilding Rockies are predicted by most pundits to have a sixth consecutive losing season and finish last in the National League West for a third straight year. Although the pitching might falter again, and offensive production remains a huge question mark, Colorado’s glovework could be “elite.”
“We have guys who know how to pick it and throw it and ultimately play elite all-around defense,” said left-hander Kyle Freeland, who’ll start the season-opener.
The Rockies’ words are not idle chatter around the batting cage.
Center fielder Brenton Doyle, Colorado’s human highlight film, won a Gold Glove as a rookie last season. He finished with 19 defensive runs saved, the sixth-most among all position players and the most of any center fielder in the majors.
Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who signed a seven-year, $65.3 million contract extension on Tuesday, was a Gold Glove finalist as a rookie last season. Third baseman Ryan McMahon has been a finalist for three years running, and his 17 defensive runs saved last season were the second-most among third basemen.
Left fielder Nolan Jones, playing his first full season as an outfielder, led the majors and set a franchise record with 19 outfield assists, surpassing Dante Bichette’s mark of 17 in 1999. Jones finished fourth in National League Rookie of the Year voting.
Black also tips his cap to catcher Elias Diaz and predicts that the Rockies should be OK at first base and right field.
“We have a catcher with a cannon, and his caught-stealing rate is solid,” Black said, referring to Diaz’s 29% rate, which ranked ninth in the majors last season. “First base, I think, can be very solid. KB (Kris Bryant) is a good athlete, (Elehuris) Montero is improving and (Michael) Toglia is an above-average defender at first. Right field should be fine.”
The Rockies better hope their confidence in their “D” is well-founded because their pitchers don’t strike out many hitters and must depend on groundball outs, especially at home.
As the late, great announcer Vin Scully once quipped: “You don’t need an official scorer at Coors Field. You need a certified public accountant.”
As a staff, the Rockies struck out 1,129 batters while walking 586. That was not a good ratio. The Ks were the fewest in the majors and the walks were eighth-most. According to Baseball Savant, Colorado pitchers allowed an 85.3 contact percentage on pitches in the strike zone, the highest mark in the majors.
“Not making routine defensive plays in the infield turns into long, stressful innings for our pitchers, and that’s not what we want,” Rodgers said. “We want our guys’ innings to be as quick and efficient as possible. If we don’t make the routine play, next thing you know, there is a blooper in that big outfield, or a big homer, and suddenly, we’re down three runs.”
Freeland, an athletic pitcher who would love to have a Gold Glove in his trophy case someday, is eager to see what the Rockies will do this year.
“In my opinion, it’s one of the best defenses in baseball,” he said. “We have to have that.”
Defensive-Minded
The Rockies lost a franchise-record 103 games last season when their pitching and hitting tanked. Their defense, however, was solid. A closer look:
• After committing 100 errors in 2022, the Rockies made just 81 in 2023.
• The Rockies’ .986 team fielding percentage was tied for 12th in the majors and was the fifth-best in franchise history.
• Rockies outfielders recorded 38 assists, the most in the majors and the second-most in franchise history (48 in 1999).
• The 38 outfield assists were the most in the National League since the Reds recorded 40 in 2017.
• Colorado led the majors with 169 double plays, its most since turning 169 in 2017.
Thursday’s pitching matchup
Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (6-14, 5.03 ERA in 2023) at Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (17-9, 3.47)
8:10 p.m. Thursday (MDT), Chase Field
TV: Rockies.TV (streaming)
Radio: 850 AM/94.1 FM
Freeland had an excellent spring, with his fastball ticking up from 88 mph late last summer to 92 mph during Cactus League action. The lefty altered the grip on his changeup, which could become an excellent pitch for him. Freeland changed his workout routine, and it showed during spring training, prompting manager Bud Black to say he’s never seen Freeland throwing better. All of that being said, Freeland has a lot to prove. His 5.13 road ERA was the highest of his career, while his 4.94 home ERA was the third-highest. He also suffered from a dreadful lack of run support, a big part of why he lost 14 games. In 20 starts vs. the D-backs, Freeland is 4-8 with a 5.35 ERA. In 10 starts at Chase Field, he’s 3-4 with a 4.96 ERA.
It’s hard to believe, but Gallen made the All-Star Game for the first time last season, even though he’s finished in the top 10 in National League Cy Young Award voting three times in four years. He finished third last year when he fanned 9.4 batters per nine innings while allowing just 22 home runs. He’s dominated Colorado, going 6-1 with a 2.45 ERA across 13 starts. He’s struck out 92 while walking only 22 and serving up just five home runs.
Pitching probables
Friday: Rockies RHP Cal Quantrill (4-7, 5.24) at Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (12-8, 3.29), 7:40 p.m.
Saturday: Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (9-9, 5.50) at Diamondbacks LHP Tommy Henry (5-4, 4:15 p.m.), 6:10 p.m.
Sunday: Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (2-4, 5.82) at Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (3-9, 5.72)
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