The Rockies will remove struggling veteran Wade Davis from the closer’s role, according to Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post (Twitter link). Fellow righty Scott Oberg will fill the void in the ninth inning, manager Bud Black tells reporters including Nick Groke of The Athletic (via Twitter).
This decision represents an acknowledgement of what had long been observable: Davis is struggling badly. The 33-year-old was solid enough last year and at the outset of the current campaign, but has been bombed mercilessly since returning from an oblique injury in early June.
Since his return to action, Davis has allowed twenty earned runs in 17 innings. He’s carrying a 15:10 K/BB ratio and has coughed up five home runs, exhibiting some velocity decline along the way. Over the full course of the season, Davis has shown a decline in his swinging-strike rate (to 11.2% from 15.4% in 2017).
That’s all bad news for a Rockies team that has underperformed despite running its Opening Day payroll up to $145MM. Davis occupies a big chunk of that tally, with a $18MM salary this year. His contract includes a $17MM commitment for 2020 as well as a $1MM buyout on a mutual option for the ensuing campaign.
His home/road splits are astonishing, should be closer in away games lol
Man he was unstoppable with the Royals and Cubs. Always liked him, except against the Sox
That’s what happens when you play half of your games in Coors.
And are pitching hurt
He would have been great anywhere but Colorado, If they release him he will sign and then help beat the Rockies.
“bombed mercilessly” is the best description ever.
“Brutally slaughtered” works well too.
Who’s taking over?
Oberg.
Oberg seems like the likely option!
Did you read the article!!??
Obviously not…..
Jorge these articles always add details after commenting is open.
Simmer down jorge the story updated
Now 21 games behind the Dodgers this may have been a move that is too little too late.
Division is over but wild card is in reach
Who’s the new closer???
Oberg
Did you read the article!!??
Obviously not…..
Like someone commented earlier, the details may not have been out when the comment was made.
Dude not only did you already make that comment once… this comment (like the other one you so nastily responded to) were posted before the article was updated to include the new CL announcement. You need to chill out dude…
I wonder if a trade to the Red Sox would have been an option. Porcello to the Rockies. Porcello is a free agent.
I think the Rox would have accepted that deal the second if was offered. Which tells me that there is no way it was offered.
uhh porcello is already hot garbage and would be a flaming heap in coors field
Davis is suffering from a bad case of Scaredofcoorsitis. Many pitchers have suffered from it. If you are scared to pitch in Coors, you are already beaten. The pitchers that are successful in Coors, and there have been several, are the ones that don’t pitch afraid. They pitch exactly the same at Coors as any other ballpark. Yeah, you might give up a couple more hits here and there, but it’s not nearly as bad as is thought IF you pitch the same way. The problem is that guys change their deliveries or try and get batters to chase stuff that they just won’t chase. So you get a walk or two and then you get nervous and have to throw strikes and before you know it you have given up 5 runs.
Why do people comment without reading the article. When you ask who is the replacement, responding to the headline, it’s clear you didn’t read the article! Why?
To be fair the original post did not name him as the closer.
I only have one version of the “original” article on the app. I know not what of you speak…..
Dude seriously…??? Do you not comprehend how the article was posted first with only the news that Wade Davis was being removed as the CL — it wasn’t until after that Oberg was named and listed in the article. It’s not rocket science
Royals give Ian Kennedy to the Rockies & we will take Wade back.
Man this Rox team is an underachieving enigma. They had legitimately high hopes to begin the season, but they have failed on every front. Their starters were bound to regress a bit from last years lofty numbers, but the rest of the team has really been a major disappointment. Is it time to fire Bridich and Black?
Bridich, yes definitely. He is responsible for the horrible deals given to Parra, Desmond, Davis, Shaw, McGee AND for not offering a deal to LeMahieu despite him being the best 2B in Rockies history with a lot left in the tank.
Black, not yet. He did get the team to two straight playoffs for the first time in team history. He deserves a little bit of leash, at least through this season. And probably into next season at least until June or so.
Tough to see Davis nosedive like this. There was a stretch in 2014 and 15 when he was so dominant it was almost automatic.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2015/11/02/sports/baseball/when-royals-wade-davis-comes-in-the-game-is-as-good-as-over.amp.html
The ridiculously dominant Holland-Davis-Herrera lineup late in games seemingly drove up the value of good relievers overnight… we see a lot more closer-caliber pitchers happily taking non-closer jobs nowadays.
Pitching is extremely volatile. One year great the next awful.