Colorado Rockies Outfield Battle: Final Week

Well, forget a great deal of what I’ve said over the last few weeks: the Rockies have a fourth outfielder for the 2016 season, and his name is not Brandon Barnes, or even Kyle Parker. It’s Ryan Raburn. I haven’t given him any kind of serious look this spring, which I now regret. With the selection of Raburn’s contract earlier today, the Rockies have made it clear that they don’t think Barnes has the goods to fill that spot. They’re probably right. Raburn can hit lefties while Barnes can’t really hit anyone. Raburn’s stats for spring training are not inspiring, but he evidently comes with a chip on his shoulder, so there’s that.

Just for kicks, let’s take a look at this week’s performance from all those still around, even though the decisions have pretty much been made.

Brandon Barnes

Spring Training: 48 AB | 14 H | 5 R | 4 XBH | 5 RBI | 2 BB | 16 K | .292/.320/.417                                     Week Four: 10 AB | 3 H | 2 R | 1 XBH | 1 RBI | 0 BB | 3 K | .300/.300/.400

It was a good week for Barnes, but evidently that doesn’t matter, because he’s not even assured of making the final cut. According to Patrick Saunders, the team could opt to use Mark Reynolds or Ben Paulsen as a fifth outfielder behind Raburn, since the two figure to platoon at first base and therefore won’t be getting regular at-bats. Barnes doesn’t really stand a chance if the Rockies release him, but the good thing about having him in Albuquerque is knowing that he represents major-league-quality depth (ish) and can be called up at a moment’s notice if injury occurs. Any outfield that includes Carlos Gonzalez must always have that.

Charlie Blackmon

Spring Training: 46 AB | 14 H | 11 R | 6 XBH | 7 RBI | 10 BB | 7 K | .304/.439/.609                                        Week Four: 13 AB | 6 H | 4 R | 3 XBH | 3 RBI | 1 BB | 2 K | .462/.500/1.000

Blackmon has the distinction of slugging 1.000 this week, which is mighty impressive. He sat out two games, but in the games he played he made his mark. I don’t expect him to go 6-for-6 on opening day like he did two years ago, but I fully expect him to play a lot of games this season and to deliver both offensively and defensively. If Raburn works out, I also expect Blackmon to be gone at the trade deadline if Cargo isn’t. That will be a sad day, but in a rebuild, everything must go.

Carlos Gonzalez

Spring Training: 49 AB | 12 H | 8 R | 6 XBH | 8 RBI | 1 BB | 8 K | .245/.260/.490                                          Week Four: 11 AB | 4 H | 1 R | 3 XBH | 4 RBI | 0 BB | 1 K | .364/.364/.818

It was back to good for Cargo this week. I have nothing to add to this stat line except that it was entirely predictable.

Kyle Parker

Spring Training: 20 AB | 6 H | 5 R | 1 XBH | 2 RBI | 1 BB | 10 K | .222/.250/.259                                           Week Four: 4 AB | 1 H | 1 R | 0 XBH | 0 RBI | 0 BB | 0 K | .250/.250/.250

Parker is included in this list only because he did play this week, but he was sent down to minor league camp Monday, so he’s officially out of the running. It’s hard to see the Rockies holding onto him even in case of emergency, since he isn’t even on the 40-man roster.

Gerardo Parra

Spring Training: 50 AB | 12 H | 10 R | 4 XBH | 9 RBI | 5 BB | 8 K | .240/.309/.400                                        Week Four: 12 AB | 0 H | 0 R | 0 XBH | 2 RBI | 1 BB | 1 K | .000/.077/.000

After hitting just about everything last week, Parra slowed way down this week. Luckily, his role as starting left fielder has never really been in question, so he gets a pass. Still, let’s hope his performance this season more closely mirrors last week than this one.

Ryan Raburn

Spring Training: 34 AB | 7 H | 4 R | 1 XBH | 5 RBI | 7 BB | 7 K | .206/.341/.235                                          Week Four: 11 AB | 1 H | 1 R | 0 XBH | 0 RBI | 2 BB | 0 K | .091/.231/.091

As I said above, Raburn’s stats are super not encouraging. But he comes cheap and he does hit lefties slightly better than righties. Only slightly though. The offensive production from this outfield will be something to watch this season. It has the potential to be brilliant or abysmal.

And the winners are: Parra in left, Blackmon in center, Cargo in right, with Raburn and maybe Barnes available from the bench.