Colorado Rockies Are Overrated Going Into Opening Day 2016

The Colorado Rockies could end up in last place in the National League West. In most seasons that would be okay because it is usually the toughest division in the National League. This year, though, there are questions for every team in the division, so to end up in last place is the sign of being a truly bad team.

The Rockies have been applauded for adding Gerardo Parra as a defensive first left fielder. Young shortstop, Trevor Story, is also heralded. For opposite reasons they will both fall short of the hype.

Parra is an OBP, defensive machine. That’s great when you don’t play half of your games in Colorado. In Colorado he will have negligible power compared to other corner outfielders.

Story is another story. He will produce. In the pattern of Rockies’ prospects before him, Story is a slugger. He cannot play a decent shortstop and he will likely have 35 or more errors this season. His saving grace may be that the field at Coors Field is in better condition than minor league fields. The balls may fly past him before he can get close enough to cause an error.

The bullpen should be improved for the Rockies to help keep them respectable. Jake McGee and Chad Qualls both have closing experience. If the Rockies can get ahead late in a game, those two should be able to save the game.

The starting rotation is another matter. Jorge De La Rosa is the only proven MLB commodity in the rotation. The hopes of the Rockies are resting solely on the arm of prospect Tyler Chatwood. That is a lot of pressure for the a young pitcher in the thin air a mile high above sea level.

The Rockies were supposed to take a step forward this season. They can hold late leads, but now they lack the offense to get them. It will be another long season inside Coors Field for the Rockie faithful.