{"id":818688,"date":"2026-10-01T07:09:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T07:09:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/818688\/"},"modified":"2026-10-01T07:09:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T07:09:32","slug":"strike-1-rockies-must-work-quickly-to-improve-pitching-prior-to-2027","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/818688\/","title":{"rendered":"Strike 1: Rockies must work quickly to improve pitching prior to 2027"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Give Paul DePodesta some credit. Before the season began, he pretty much told anyone who\u2019d listen that it was going to be a season of experimentation. The Colorado Rockies needed to see what they had before they\u2019d know everything that they still need.<\/p>\n

It certainly played out that way. A few of the experiments \u2013 like trading for and inserting young TJ Rumfield at first base and bringing outfielder Jake McCarthy over from Arizona \u2013 worked better than expected. In-season moves like bringing up young Cole Carrigg proved to be an excellent decision, and so was having faith in Kyle Karros and of course 40-homer guy Hunter Goodman.<\/p>\n

On the pitching side, trading for former Boston reliever Brennan Bernardino proved to be a good call, and grabbing Jordan Romano off waivers from the Angels gave them the experienced closer they haven\u2019t had in years. A couple of the young arms \u2013 specifically right hander Mason Adams coming over from the White Sox \u2013 look promising, too.<\/p>\n

But that\u2019s about it on the pitching side. Everything else about the Rockies\u2019 pitching experiment \u2013 from hiring an inexperienced pitching coach and staff to the underdeveloped arms they continued to send out daily \u2013 were failed experiments.<\/p>\n

The Rockies\u2019 president of baseball operations went on TV on Sunday and was honest about the need to not waste a minute of the offseason, which has (for the Rockies, at least) now begun. With a lockout looming in December, the time to make impactful moves this off season is short. If they don\u2019t want a fifth straight 100-loss season, they need to start making moves right away. They\u2019ve got two months. Die-hard fans will remember that after the last lockout, in 2021, they waited until a post-lockout condensed and hurried off season before signing free agent Kris Bryant on the eve of the spring training. Oops.<\/p>\n

EDITOR\u2019S NOTE: Bryant, who made $26 million in 2026, was the Rockies\u2019 highest paid player; exceeding Kyle Freeland\u2019s salary by $14 million. Bryant, who has been paid $130 million by the Rockies for 170 games played over five seasons, is still owed $56 million through the 2029 campaign.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s crop of free agents aren\u2019t available until the World Series ends, so that has to wait a month. In the meantime, staffing decisions can and should be made. It should start in the pitching department. The Rockies\u2019 front office should be doing much more than watching the postseason unfold.<\/p>\n

The first move? It\u2019s more clear than ever that novice Alon Leichman was a bad choice for the major league pitching coach. The others listed as being part of the pitching development group, including assistant Gabe Ribas (who had some moderate success as a relief pitcher in Class A ball) and pitching coordinator Matt Daniels have little or no professional playing experience. Bullpen coach Matt Buschman is the only person currently in the organization with any MLB time, and he had all of three games as a big-league relief pitcher.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not enough of a r\u00e9sum\u00e9.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re all well versed in analytics, but these guys still remain in over their head. That\u2019s a thought shared by many in the Colorado locker room, including Rockies pitchers and coaches who watched the experiment fail to produce positive results during the season.<\/p>\n

Changes in staffing can and should be made in September. Analytics should remain a significant part of pitching development, but that needs to be augmented by actual \u201cbeen there, done that\u201d playing experience. (They do have Jason Hirsh\u2019s phone number\u2026<\/a>)<\/p>\n

One observer put it this way: \u201cThe Rockies\u2019 pitching people have a lot of knowledge, but not a lot of wisdom.\u201d<\/p>\n

That needs to change.<\/p>\n

Also during his TV appearance, DePodesta hinted that next year\u2019s Rockies may consider a return to a \u201cpiggybacking\u201d system with their starting pitchers. Back in 2013, Colorado implemented a plan that included a four-man starting rotation, with pitchers limited to 75 pitches each. Those four guys were followed by four other guys who would come in on a schedule to take up another three to four innings \u2013 while also on a pitch limit. Ryan Feltner and Tanner Gordon were mentioned as a couple of young pitchers who could flourish in that sort of set up.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to find the best way to get 27 outs every night,\u201d DePodesta said.<\/p>\n

Piggybacking next season \u2013 most especially at the start of the season, whenever that is \u2013 would be a fantastic idea.<\/p>\n

Given the challenges they\u2019ve faced on the pitching side \u2013 and the progress they\u2019ve made on the offensive side \u2013 the new Rockies front office is now armed with enough information to end phase one of the experiment and work to turn another corner in 2027.<\/p>\n

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