If the Colorado Rockies want to contend next season, it starts with their bullpen improving. The Rockies have finished in the bottom five of the league in bullpen ERA every year since 2017. Unsurprisingly, they made the postseason in 2017, ranking 20th with a 4.40 bullpen ERA. Colorado will never finish in the top ten or top five of Major League Baseball in bullpen ERA. But the bullpen can be competitive and keep their team in games consistently. The first order of business in getting a competitive bullpen is to fix the ninth-inning woes that plagued the Rockies far too often in 2024.
Boosting the Rockies Bullpen is Crucial for Contending Potential
Per Thomas Harding of MLB.com, the Rockies 7.10 ninth-inning ERA was 1.22 runs higher than the next club. The Rockies had a host of unsightly records set last season. One of the worst was the bullpen setting a modern-era record for most blown saves (6) in games in which they had a lead of five or more runs entering the ninth inning or later.
In one of the more heartbreaking losses of the year, Starting right-handed pitcher Ryan Feltner entered the ninth inning aiming for his first career complete game shutout in a road game against the Miami Marlins on April 30. After a leadoff single and HBP was followed by an RBI double, manager Bud Black turned to the bullpen. RHP Justin Lawrence proceeded to walk Bryan De La Cruz, loading the bases with zero outs. An RBI single by Josh Bell followed to cut the lead to 5-3. After another HBP and a sacrifice fly, the Marlins had tied the game at 5-5. The game had turned completely on its head. LHP Jalen Beeks managed to extend the game to extra innings, but the damage had been done. The Marlins won 7-6 in ten innings.
In each blown lead in 2024, there was almost certainly a walk to start the rally. The Rockies bullpen could largely attribute their issues closing out games to three things. They had no set closer going into the season and had to go with the committee approach. Additionally, the bullpen was issuing too many walks and not generating enough Ks.
Too Many Walks, Too Few Strikeouts…
The Rockies bullpen finished dead last in the National League with an ERA of 5.41 and 12th with 37 saves. Their 361 Earned Runs and 261 walks were last in the NL by a wide margin. The Rockies were also tied for last and 13th in the NL with 80 home runs allowed and 527 Ks, respectively. Creating the perfect recipe for disaster.
The Rockies rotation was playing fairly well and keeping them in games. The Rockies were playing well enough to win more than their record showed. But they were consistently coming up short because of ninth-inning meltdowns. Rockies relievers were not allowing the quality defense behind them to make plays. The excess free passes were sparking rallies and causing big innings. Especially at Coors Field, giving away too many free passes will usually come around to bite you. Even more so when the bullpen struggles to force strikeouts. But some bright spots in 2024 can give Rockies fans hope for a bullpen turnaround.
Hope for Bullpen Improvement Moving Forward
One of the bright spots of the 2024 season was RHP Victor Vodnik. Vodnik was the returning piece in a 2023 deadline deal with the Atlanta Braves for reliever Pierce Johnson. After playing six games in 2023 with Colorado, the Rockies got an extended look at Vodnik in 2024. The results were very encouraging.
In 64 games, Vodnik posted a 4.28 ERA with a 65:37 K: BB ratio in 73 2/3 innings. Although he had six blown saves, Vodnik was tied with Beeks for second on the Rockies with nine saves and fourth with six holds. His 37 walks were the highest out of the bullpen and is something he will have to work on in the offseason. But he also was third among Rockies relievers with at least 40 innings pitched with a K/9 of 7.9. His fastball velocity of 97.9 mph is in the 97th percentile league-wide, and his 53.9% groundball rate ranked in the 91st percentile in the MLB, per Statcast.
Veteran reliever RHP Tyler Kinley was also a bright spot for the Rockies, as he rebounded nicely from Tommy John surgery in 2023. Kinley posted a 6.19 ERA in 64 innings but had a 10.1 K/9 and led the Rockies in saves and holds with 12 and 14, respectively. His ERA was bloated due to a rough April in which he posted a 16.20 ERA.
Per Thomas Harding of MLB.com, the Rockies will see what they have in their young relievers, including Vodnik, RHP Angel Chivilli, and RHP Seth Halvorsen, when looking at a closer candidate for 2025. They will not pursue a veteran closer but will look to add an experienced reliever, per Harding. The Rockies will have to increase their strikeouts and lower their walk rate significantly to cure their 9th-inning woes. But if their collection of young arms with higher velocity can generate more Ks and their veterans can perform, the potential for a major bullpen turnaround is there.
Main Photo Credits: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
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