The Colorado Rockies had some expectations going into the 2012 season. With the combination of their core players such as Troy Tulowitski and Carlos Gonzalez and the addition of veterans such as Marco Scutaro and Jeremy Guthrie, there is no reason to think this team could not compete with the likes of the Giants, Dodgers and Diamondbacks. They currently sit at 17-27, 12 and a half games behind first place Dodgers. There have been questions over whether the Rockies are considering replacing manager Jim Tracy or General Manager Dan O'Dowd. The Rockies are only a game and a half out of last place, where the San Diego Padres are clearly one of the worst teams in baseball.
Teams that underachieve usually look different in the second half of the season. It could start with a change of manager and perhaps GM. Veteran players such as Guthrie, Scutaro, Ramon Hernandez and Rafael Betancourt could become trade bait as the team tries to improve its farm system. If the team chooses to get younger, it makes veteran LHP Jamie Moyer expendable.
Moyer has been a great story, returning to the majors at age 49 after missing 2011 due to Tommy John surgery. Moyer is currently 2-4, 4.99 in 9 starts. In 48 2/3 IP, he has given up 34 runs and has a WHIP of 1.747. It was within reason coming into the season that Moyer would be up and down. But, with the Rockies struggling and O'Dowd's job maybe being in jeopardy, it is likely Moyer will become one of the scapegoats for the team's struggles.
This makes Moyer's next couple of starts that important. He has averaged over 5 IP per start and doesn't have a pitch count when he goes out there. He changes speeds as well as anybody. But, the results have to improve if he is going to justify staying on this team, especially since it is going in the wrong direction. If the team decides to scrap 2012, they will see no reason needing Moyer to make a start every fifth day when guys like Drew Pomeranz, Alex White, Guillermo Moscoso, Josh Outman and Jorge De La Rosa will all need to make starts. Moyer, unlike Guthrie, is not tradable as he does not provide an upgradable option for most teams.
So, if the Rockies continue to flounder, Moyer's career could end without him having a say in it. Perhaps another team will have interest, such as the Phillies. I have always been a Jamie Moyer fan, even when he pitched for the Phillies. But, to save his career, one of two things have to happen. Either he has to but a couple of 6+ inning outings with 2 or less runs together or the Rockies have to start winning games. The Rockies have been one of the most underrated disappointments in MLB.
Teams that underachieve usually look different in the second half of the season. It could start with a change of manager and perhaps GM. Veteran players such as Guthrie, Scutaro, Ramon Hernandez and Rafael Betancourt could become trade bait as the team tries to improve its farm system. If the team chooses to get younger, it makes veteran LHP Jamie Moyer expendable.
Moyer has been a great story, returning to the majors at age 49 after missing 2011 due to Tommy John surgery. Moyer is currently 2-4, 4.99 in 9 starts. In 48 2/3 IP, he has given up 34 runs and has a WHIP of 1.747. It was within reason coming into the season that Moyer would be up and down. But, with the Rockies struggling and O'Dowd's job maybe being in jeopardy, it is likely Moyer will become one of the scapegoats for the team's struggles.
This makes Moyer's next couple of starts that important. He has averaged over 5 IP per start and doesn't have a pitch count when he goes out there. He changes speeds as well as anybody. But, the results have to improve if he is going to justify staying on this team, especially since it is going in the wrong direction. If the team decides to scrap 2012, they will see no reason needing Moyer to make a start every fifth day when guys like Drew Pomeranz, Alex White, Guillermo Moscoso, Josh Outman and Jorge De La Rosa will all need to make starts. Moyer, unlike Guthrie, is not tradable as he does not provide an upgradable option for most teams.
So, if the Rockies continue to flounder, Moyer's career could end without him having a say in it. Perhaps another team will have interest, such as the Phillies. I have always been a Jamie Moyer fan, even when he pitched for the Phillies. But, to save his career, one of two things have to happen. Either he has to but a couple of 6+ inning outings with 2 or less runs together or the Rockies have to start winning games. The Rockies have been one of the most underrated disappointments in MLB.
RSS Feed
