Top 5 Storylines Of The First Half Of The Rockies 2016 Season
By Ben Warwick
DENVER (CBS4) - With the first half of the season in the rear-view, the Rockies are currently 16 games behind the NL West-leading Giants. They have a 40-48 record and were 5-5 in interleague play.
Here are the top five storylines from the season at the All-Star Break.
Trevor Story
Maybe the biggest bright spot of 2016 is the young shortstop. Yes, he has aspects of his defense that need addressing. He also needs to cut down considerably on his strikeout percentage (32%!). He's a rookie, so improved defense will come with time. Was Tulo perfect in the field his rookie season? Was Nolan Arenado? His strikeout percentage also must come down to earth. But again, he's a rookie and a real power hitter. That's a dangerous mix when it comes to perfecting your offensive game. Consider the upsides, though. His 21 home runs and 57 RBI at the break speak for themselves. So does his OPS and BABIP, for those who are really inclined towards analytics.
Decent Pitching
Say what you will about the Rockies' pitching performance thus far into 2016, but it's actually better than many "experts" thought it would be. Chad Bettis and Tyler Chatwood have been nice surprises, Jon Gray was absolutely cruising in his last start before the All Star Break and Tyler Anderson showed fans he can be something really special. Jorge De La Rosa is even resurging after his brief stint in the bullpen earlier this season. The staff ERA is down 20 points, the strikeout rate is up and the walk rate is down. Still, the rotation as a whole hasn't been good enough to keep the Rockies' head above water. Expect a big boost when Jeff Hoffman, the keystone to last summer's blockbuster trade that sent Tulo to Toronto, makes his big league debut. That could easily happen in the second half.
Improved Defense
Defense has really always been a strength for the Rockies. This season is no exception, especially in the outfield. Offensively, Gerardo Parra was a welcome addition, but he really hasn't contributed anything outstanding in the outfield defensively. The Rockies didn't really lose anything in trading away Corey Dickerson to the Rays for Jake McGee last offseason; in fact, it's likely they gained more than they lost in that trade. Last season, the Rockies posted a -17 in defensive runs saved in the outfield. So far this season, that number is up to 13 runs saved. That's a big step forward from last season. Brandon Barnes has been a nice surprise, saving 9 runs on his own. That tops both Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon, both All-Star outfielders. What adds to Barnes' case is that his spot has been something of a rotating door after the injury to Parra earlier this season. Look for him to get more playing time in the second half.
The Farm System
The strength of any Major League team is found in their minor league system. The deeper that farm system is, the faster the big club will be ready to compete long-term. The Rockies have done a stellar job in player development. Brendan Rodgers has been in the system for just more than a year, but is already widely considered to be the number one prospect, and one of the best young talents in all of baseball. David Dahl, Ryan McMahon and Raimel Tapia are all names you could hear at Coors Field within the next year. Hoffman, Dahl and Tapia all played in this years' All-Star Futures Game in San Diego. Hoffman threw a clean inning, and Dahl had a very impressive outfield assist, throwing out a runner at home plate.
Ditching Jose Reyes
No one actually wanted to see Jose Reyes in Rockies purple. The front office only took on his contract to offset Tulo's big deal when they shipped him to the Blue Jays last summer. Reyes didn't want to be in Denver, either -- his play on the field in the second half of last season proved that. Then last offseason, he was embroiled in a domestic violence scandal, in which he was accused of hitting his wife at a hotel in Hawaii. As soon as that happened, the writing was on the wall, and it was clear Reyes would never play another game for the Rockies. That was solidified when Trevor Story broke out in spring training. The Rockies were just waiting for Major League Baseball to hand down its punishment before deciding how best to ditch Reyes. In the end, the team basically just cut him. This might have been the best move the Rockies made all season. Reyes was a cancer on the team, and a distraction that, if left unchecked, could have dragged down a season that could still see a modicum of success.
Ben Warwick is a writer and producer at CBS4 and a huge sports fan. He is an avid fan of most Colorado teams, but was raised to watch the Dallas Cowboys play on Sundays. Follow Ben on Twitter @BenCBS4.