When I was putting this four part piece together, I wanted to stay within the divisions. I matched up the Red Sox and Blue Jays, Twins and Indians, Mets and Marlins and wanted to put the Rockies and Padres as my final comparison. Though the Rockies are in their position mostly because of their injuries, it has been the Padres who have played themselves off this list. They currently sit at 71-76, while the Rockies and Chicago Cubs have 58 wins a piece. The Houston Astros are in a league all by themselves as the worst team in baseball. The teams I have done this piece on make up 8 of the next 9 worst records in MLB. The only team that fits in the middle of the teams I mentioned is the Kansas City Royals, who currently have a five game lead over the Indians and Twins.
The Cubs have been expected to struggle this season, the first under new team president Theo Epstein, General Manager Jed Hoyer and manager Dale Sveum. Trades of players such as Ryan Dempster and Geovanny Soto were expected and Matt Garza's injury may have kept him in Chicago. While the team has had a bad year, there have been some bright spots. Anthony Rizzo looks like the 1B of the future and some of the young starting pitching has shown some promise. Unfortunately, it looks like it may take another year or two before the Cubs will regain prominence.
As far as the Rockies are concerned, this was a team that was expected to be a contender this year. The injuries to SS Troy Tulowitzki, Michael Cuddyer and Todd Helton and starting catcher Ramon Hernandez made the team a weak offense. Offensively, it became a younger show, so 2B Marco Scutaro was no longer needed as he was traded to the Giants. Add that to the wacky decision to change the way their starting pitchers pitch, and this season quickly moved towards disaster.
I still do not understand how MLB pitchers can pitch every forth day, and only be on a 75 pitch count. Tell me that has not correlated with the fact that the team has been poor. They do not have a starter with over 100 IP, but some will tell you this system is working. Ask Bob Apodaca what he thought about the system when he quit as pitching coach. I see nothing revolutionary about it. I actually feel bad for young phenoms like Alex White and Drew Pomeranz, who may have their careers destroyed by not being allowed to pitch five innings, therefore will not be able to win games.
The pitching system could spell disaster for the Rockies. The return of the injured key players should leave them in ok shape for 2013. I'm concerned about this pitching program. Manager Jim Tracy will be the first casualty of this system, if and when it fails, if he is brought back for the 2013 season. The Rockies are foolish if they stick with this approach.
On paper, the Rockies have more MLB ready talent than the Cubs. I would expect the Rockies to be closer to contension next season than the Cubs. The Cubs have been mostly at full strength this year, while the Rockies have been hurt by injuries. It would have been difficult to predict these team would have the same amount of wins at this point in the season.
The Cubs have been expected to struggle this season, the first under new team president Theo Epstein, General Manager Jed Hoyer and manager Dale Sveum. Trades of players such as Ryan Dempster and Geovanny Soto were expected and Matt Garza's injury may have kept him in Chicago. While the team has had a bad year, there have been some bright spots. Anthony Rizzo looks like the 1B of the future and some of the young starting pitching has shown some promise. Unfortunately, it looks like it may take another year or two before the Cubs will regain prominence.
As far as the Rockies are concerned, this was a team that was expected to be a contender this year. The injuries to SS Troy Tulowitzki, Michael Cuddyer and Todd Helton and starting catcher Ramon Hernandez made the team a weak offense. Offensively, it became a younger show, so 2B Marco Scutaro was no longer needed as he was traded to the Giants. Add that to the wacky decision to change the way their starting pitchers pitch, and this season quickly moved towards disaster.
I still do not understand how MLB pitchers can pitch every forth day, and only be on a 75 pitch count. Tell me that has not correlated with the fact that the team has been poor. They do not have a starter with over 100 IP, but some will tell you this system is working. Ask Bob Apodaca what he thought about the system when he quit as pitching coach. I see nothing revolutionary about it. I actually feel bad for young phenoms like Alex White and Drew Pomeranz, who may have their careers destroyed by not being allowed to pitch five innings, therefore will not be able to win games.
The pitching system could spell disaster for the Rockies. The return of the injured key players should leave them in ok shape for 2013. I'm concerned about this pitching program. Manager Jim Tracy will be the first casualty of this system, if and when it fails, if he is brought back for the 2013 season. The Rockies are foolish if they stick with this approach.
On paper, the Rockies have more MLB ready talent than the Cubs. I would expect the Rockies to be closer to contension next season than the Cubs. The Cubs have been mostly at full strength this year, while the Rockies have been hurt by injuries. It would have been difficult to predict these team would have the same amount of wins at this point in the season.
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