The Rockies have released veteran left-hander Jorge De La Rosa, Thomas Harding of MLB.com relays (Andersen Pickard of MLB Daily Dish first reported the news). De La Rosa had been with the club since it signed him to a minor league pact April 5, his 38th birthday, though an oblique injury prevented him from taking the mound.
This unceremoniously ends De La Rosa’s second go-around as a member of the Colorado organization, with which he has spent the majority of his career. The Rockies first acquired De La Rosa from the Royals in a 2008 trade, and he went on to become one of the most successful starters in franchise history. From 2008-16, an 1,141 1/3-inning span, De La Rosa overcame hitter-friendly Coors Field to post a 4.35 ERA/4.24 FIP with 7.77 K/9, 3.79 BB/9 and a 48.1 percent groundball rate.
After his first Rockies stint ended, De La Rosa joined the Diamondbacks in 2017, lasting one-plus season in Arizona’s bullpen before the team released him last August. De La Rosa quickly caught on with the Cubs and pitched well in relief with them, though his performance didn’t persuade Chicago or any other team to give him a guaranteed deal last offseason. Between the D-backs and Cubs over the previous two years, he combined for a 3.77 ERA/4.47 FIP with typical strikeout, walk and groundball numbers (7.71 K/9, 4.02 BB/9, 48.2 GB%).
Good luck Jorge!
I realize the stat means nothing to the people here, but it still exists. Jorge has the most wins in a Rockies uniform in history. He is probably the least well known pitcher leading any franchise, although there may be an 1800s guy for the Pirates or Phillies or something.
It’s a weird stat that doesn’t always line up with the best pitchers for a franchise, in part because it has to do with longevity rather than dominance. Eric Show has the most Padre wins and Eddie Plank has the most for the A’s. Despite all the aces the dodgers have had, Don Sutton is still the career wins leader there.
You were right on the Pirates but not the Phillies.Wilbur Cooper then Babe Adams were very good when the Pirates were very good,and Steve Carlton then Robin Roberts when the Phillies were sometimes good and sometimes not so good.
Yeah I forgot the Phils were mostly terrible back when pitchers were getting 30-35 wins a year, so it makes sense that their leaders are mid-century.
Although after looking it up, there were far more obscure pitchers leading team lists than HOFers. And it wasn’t just the 90s expansion teams with guys like Ricky Nolasco (Marlins) and James Shields (Rays). For every Jim Palmer (Orioles) or Walter Johnson (Senators/Twins) or Warren Spahn (Braves), there was a Jim Slaton (Brewers) or Paul Splittorff (Royals) or Joe Niekro (Astros). Of course there were also other obscure early century guys like Eppa Rixey (Reds) or Charlie Wood (Cubs) or Hooks Dauss (Tigers).
This was a surprisingly fascinating way to spend 30 minutes of my life.
And the pitchers that you see listed now will probably be there fifty years from now for all but the expansion teams.
Far too many injuries for anyone to last a long time.
Too much money to give older pitchers second chances.
So much money that pitchers will not need to stay in the sport a long time.
Even though there were not many HOFers,almost all of these guys had to be pretty good and sturdy to last that long.
What % of the pitchers now can say that they are sturdy?Maybe 20%.?
I am surprised that in the age of analytics that more attention is not paid to the statistic of downtime.
Still remember Niekro appearing on Letterman after he got busted for scuffing. Good times.
I expect him to retire after this, to be honest. It’s kind of a cliché at this point.
The best colors field pitcher of all time statistically I believe
if he is healthy enough to take the mound he’ll be made an offer. pirates need warm bodies that can get the ball near the plate
I’ve always liked De La Rosa even though he seemed to do pretty well against our Pirates. He is one of those guys who doesn’t have the best stuff but “knows how to pitch” as the expression goes. I wouldn’t be upset at all if Bucs took a look at him. He can’t be any worse than a number of other guys they’ve been trotting out there.
Happy trails Jorge!
Move along nothing to see here