Coors Field Pitching

The bullpen coming out of spring training was so bad last season that it succeeded only in resonating negative waves through out the team and into the city everytime they blew a game. It's never a good thing to know that absolutely no lead is safe especially for a young team that was going to struggle for its share of wins to begin with.

The importance of a good pen is similar for most teams in the big-leagues given the way modern day managers handle their multimillion dollar starters. These thoroughbreds in the rotations are developed with kid gloves all through the minors with conservative pitch counts that continue insanely on well into their big league careers. Most organizations won't dare risk the media's and accountant's wrath should a starter in his prime go down with arm problems because they let him go beyond certain pitch counts that wouldn't even had been an issue a few decades ago.

Since starters are only allowed to pitch six or seven innings, specialization has increased, which puts even more emphasis on the pen. Teams have left-handed relievers whose job might be to face only one batter. Then right-handed and left-handed setup men bridge the gap to the closer, whose job usually is to get only the final three outs.

It's not uncommon for a manager with a lead to use three or four relief pitchers to finish a game. Roles are carefully defined much more so today than in past years. Tony LaRussa has been quoted as saying that, "It has changed because instead of one good relief pitcher, you might have three or four. You want to limit their innings so you can use them as often as possible. You want to make it as hard on the hitters as you can."

For some teams, though, the pen is even more important than others. The Rockies would qualify because the rotation lacks not only the consistent ability to pitch complete games but also the fact that they play 81 games in Denver. Only one team in the NL had less complete games than the Rockies (4) and that was Cincinnati (2). The AL had only four teams with fewer complete games than the Rox. This added pressure on the pen is magnified at altitude, so a solid group is a must in order to bridge the gap from the starter to the closer without blowing games.

With that in mind, the Rockies front office has vowed to grab as many veteran bullpen candidates as they can this winter. Mike DeJean, David Cortes and Randy Williams were re-signed, Jaime Cerda was claimed from the Royals, Jose Mesa was signed as a free agent, Nate Field and Bret Prinz were signed to minor league deals and Ray King was traded for from the Cardinals. All those, in addition to Brian Fuentes, Chin-hui Tsao, Scott Dohmann, Jose Acevedo (if tendered a contract by Dec. 20), Ryan Speier and prospect Jim Miller, who were already within the Rockies control, and you have a nice amount of pitchers to pick and choose from next spring.

The Rox usually carry a 12 man pitching staff which means the pen will consist of seven members. Ideally, you want one designated closer and that would be Brian Fuentes. At least one situational lefty, who would be Ray King. The main setup pitchers will be Mike DeJean and Jose Mesa. That's four of the seven spots. The other three positions will be filled in through performances in spring training. Ideally, one of those pitchers should be a long reliever/spot starter. The only pitcher listed above who fills that qualification would be Jose Acevedo. That leaves two spots between Chin-hui Tsao, Scott Dohmann, David Cortes, Randy Williams, Jaime Cerda, Ryan Speier and Jim Miller. The betting here would be Cortes and Dohmann, unless Tsao is healthy.

Dohmann is perfect for middle relief because he can pitch 2 innings in a game at least twice a week. Cortes proved his worth last season, however, Tsao could stretch out to be a long man after his arm gets into shape from surgery this last season. With that in mind, then Acevedo could be replaced with a lefty like Williams or Cerda if the need arises. Speier, Cortes or Tsao and Miller will be ready at Colorado Springs for any type of arm injury.

            Closer       -- Fuentes
            Setup        -- DeJean, Mesa
            Lefty        -- King
            Long man     -- Acevedo
            Middle relief-- Cortes, Dohmann

            AAA          -- Williams, Cerda, Tsao, Speier, Miller, Field and Prinz.

Keys to success:

This is relatively simple ... all must pitch well. However, since that never happens, then lets get a little more realistic. The absolute must is Brian Fuentes. The closer is the main guy down there and he MUST have a good year or the team will suffer. If Fuentes falters, then Jose Mesa would get the first crack at replacing him providing he hasn't already bombed himself.

Next would be the setup guy. DeJean did well here last year and is expected to do so again this year. Mesa will probably precede him in the 7th inning. Hurdle will mix and match until he finds the right guys and you can bet this part of the game will be in flux most of the year.

Chin-hui Tsao is the wild card. If he comes back healthy in the spring, then they will probably find a spot for him in Denver. I would like to see them stretch Tsao out in Tucson, then send him to Colorado Springs when the season opens for regular work. Let him build up arm strength for a good 50-100 innings. He has hurt that shoulder doing both starter work and in relief so there's no alternative there, in terms of injury, which is best for him. The guy has a great fastball that can top out near 100 mph so he needs to be coddled in order for that shoulder to re-grow and re-gain tendon strength. That takes time and innings. Lots of innings. Something he may not get enough of in Denver.

With all that in mind, the Rockies shouldn't start off as bad as last year in the pen which means they will also start off much better record wise. However, lets revisit this subject during Camp Tucson to see how the boys are coming along.