C.J. Cron left today’s game with back spasms, as the Rockies first baseman was in visible discomfort while slowly leaving the batter’s box after a pop-up in the third inning. Cron took only a few steps before stopping completely, and Mike Moustakas took over for Cron at first base when the Rox took the field in the top of the fourth. Following the game, manager Bud Black told The Denver Gazette’s Danielle Allentuck and other reporters that Cron will probably require a trip to the 10-day injured list.
Back spasms also cost Cron 10 days of Cactus League action during Spring Training, and it’s fair to wonder if this issue (whether a lingering injury or a by-product of missed spring time) has contributed to Cron’s slow start to the season. It could be that another 10-day absence or so is all Cron needs to recover, though since this is his second such injury in two months, the Rockies might opt to give him a bit of extra time beyond the minimum 10 days in order to fully get himself right.
The veteran first baseman has hit a modest .228/.277/.426 with six homers over 148 plate appearances for Colorado, and his 73 wRC+ is easily his lowest in any of his 10 Major League seasons. Cron is still making a lot of hard contact and his .342 xwOBA is well above his .306 wOBA, so there is some element of misfortune involved in his numbers. However, Cron is pulling the ball a lot more than in past years, and opposing pitchers are throwing him fewer four-seamers (a pitch Cron has generally hit well over the years) less than usual. Most of the right-handed hitting Cron’s struggles have come against right-handed pitching this year, even though Cron has had relatively even splits for most of his career.
Moustakas is the likeliest candidate to fill in for Cron at first base, at least in the short term. Moustakas has also had a tough year, hitting .232/.313/.375 over 67 PA with just one home run.
Let the moose get loose!
I wonder if Montero is coming back or if Jones gets the call. I’d rather get Jones and let Montero continue to learn 1B in the minors. To be honest, I would rather Montero get traded because there is someone I prefer over him at every position he plays. McMahon – 3b, Toglia – 1b, Blackmon/Bryant/Jones – RF/DH.
Might be able to get a decent starting pitcher for Montero with his hot streak in AAA.
Are you giving up on Toglia as a corner OF? That would free up 1B for Montero (or maybe Jones) going forward.
I’d rather see Toglia as a 1B. Of the trio, he is the best defensively at first. And it is his natural position.
Not to mention there are many outfielders ahead of him with Bouchard still in the mix and Veen and Montgomery not that far off.
The Rockies have around 3 billion reasons to threaten leaving and relocating the team if the city/state of Boulder doesn’t pay for and build a new stadium for them by 2031.
The ACE digs lower elevations!
Send ’em to Nashville.
Rockies become the Hickies.
The city/state of Boulder? Someone’s AI routine has got a few bugs.
It’s strange how often I agree with the interests of the wealthy but it’s probably fine, I’m an independent thinker!
Moose and Cron! How and why? I take a season off from super all MLB fandom and come back to find both of these names are re-treads on same team. Oh no, Rockies! Your fans want winner baseball, please. Your prescribed strategy: pitching should be side armers, knuckleballers and bullpen prove-it guys. Hitting should be ding dong kongs who slap it silly. Hire ARod, Bonds, and Sosa to consult on team nutrition and training standards. There you, win a lot, and playoffs and happiness.
The problem for the Rockies is that the high elevation means thinner air, which in turn means less air resistance (one of the main contributors for break).
Unconventional arm slots are not a bad idea, but what they really need are pitchers that have late break on their pitches (rather than as much break as they can possibly get). That, and having good enough command to tunnel their pitches effectively.
They may or may not get more swing-and-miss, but (anecdotally) Cutters/Sinkers seem to still do decently at getting soft contact in Denver (and pitchers with really good Sliders can still find some success with those pitches).
If guys can really sell their Changeups is the only way that pitch succeeds there (since it won’t break as much); and hanging Curveballs are common there, so can’t really count on those.
They won’t ever contend until they figure out how to take advantage of pitching at Coors, because everybody can hit well there.
That’s a very good analysis of the Coors Field effect. The team has had successful pitching staffs in the past, in 2007 the Rockies had a good rotation, so they can construct a good pitching staff, it’s just, I don’t want to sound mean, but the Rockies front office has made bizarre decisions in the past few seasons, putting it nicely.
The Rockies problem has been hitting rather than pitching for years now, contrary to the conventional wisdom of everyone who doesn’t watch them play. Their pitching is quite solid, park adjusted and when healthy (I believe their bullpen is top 4 in baseball). If they had even an average offense they’d be a 500 team or better. Same has been true for several years now. Their problems are they have zero power, haven’t adapted to changes in the game since about 2010, and have the unique handicap of having to adapt to different pitch movement 25 or so times a year when they leave altitude and when they return. And unlike Miami and Cleveland, two teams that also have no power, they play in a very hitter friendly stadium so they rarely have the opportunity to win 3-2 games, at least at home. So no, it’s not true that “everybody can hit well at Coors.” The Rockies don’t, at least compared to other teams.
They have a sh#t-ton of hitting talent in the minors on the way, though, although the idiot front office and manager don’t like to play them.. Interesting to see where they go.
You’re familiar with the Coors Hangover effect, yes? You just described it, but the gist for those that don’t know: The Rockies spend half of their games at Coors where pitches break less, so they’re accustomed to making swing decisions on those pitches with less break. When pitches break heavier (i.e. like every other ballpark), they struggle to adjust.
Anybody CAN hit well at Coors, but not just anybody can hit well at Coors and also produce on the road (that’s why there are always questions about whether hitters like LeMahieu or Arenado can translate their production elsewhere).
Yes, their bullpen is quite good, but they’re also not dealing with hitters multiple times through the order making adjustments; the rotation is actually abysmal (bottom 5 by most every metric).
I’m not a Rockies fan, but I’ve seen their struggles up close over the years when they play the DBacks; the DBacks’ ballpark is about the closest approximation we have to Coors (high elevation, large OF dimensions, and use of a humidor), and I’ve seen how they’ve made adjustments to hitting/pitching in their ballpark over the years. Some of those strategies could be useful for them, but it requires their FO having the self-awareness to acknowledge that they’re dogwater right now and the reasons for it.
For the moment, relying on the likes of C.J. Cron and Mike Moustakas to catapult them past the Padres, Dodgers, and D-Backs seems like the primary issue. You got this Kris Bryant!
Papa was a Rodeo
Mama was a Rock & Roll Band
I could play guitar
And rope a steer
Before I learned to stand
Home was anywhere with diesel gas
Love was a trucker’s hand
Never stuck around long enough
For a one-night stand