Colorado Rockies: Most Disappointing Player So Far

The Colorado Rockies have had a frustrating season so far. Being third in the division at the All-Star break and 14 games out of first is where none of us wanted to see. There have been players who have struggled in the pinstripes this season. Just to name a few – Jake McGee, Jason Motte and Jorge De La Rosa. However, the most disappointing player so far has been left fielder Gerardo Parra.

The Colorado Rockies signed free agent Parra to a three-year, $27.5 million contract back in January. It seemed like a great signing at the time – the Rockies were getting a power left-handed bat who played good defense and possessed a strong throwing arm.

However, through his 32 games this season (prior to his ankle injury sustained against the New York Yankees when he he collided with shortstop Trevor Story in the outfield), Parra was having a disappointing offensive and defensive season.

He was hitting just .263 (career average .276), an OBP of .274 (.323) and an OPS of .698 (.728). He has walked a grand total of four times. Worse still, he has committed four errors in the outfield for a fielding percentage of .963. Remember just three seasons ago he won a Gold Glove with zero errors committed.

His plate patience has also nosedived, as Nick Stephens of todaysknuckleball.com points out:

"So far this season, Parra is seeing a miniscule 3.20 pitches per plate appearance this year, while the league averages 3.86 pitches per plate appearance. Parra’s teammate Trevor Story, who is in his first big league season, is averaging 4.29 pitcher per plate appearance.Parra’s inability to be patient at the plate has given him a lowly .281 on-base percentage, over 40 points lower than his career average. In addition, he has grounded into eight double plays this year, matching his entire total from 2015."

I don’t think the Rockies wanted to spend $9 million this season on an under-performing, injured veteran.

And with the trade deadline just three weeks away, his trade value is basically nil at this point. First of all he has to show his ankle is healthy, and then he has to show better patience at the plate and better defense.

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By the time these things occur, the season will be just about be done.

David Dahl is currently blowing up Triple-A Albuquerque and he is the Rockies top outfield prospect at just 22 years of age. The Rockies need to start seriously thinking about when they want to bring Dahl up to the major league level.

Maybe it’s September when the rosters are expanded to 40. But if he keeps raking at AAA ball, can they realistically leave him there and leave an under-performing  Parra playing at LF?

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This is a key question which will need to be answered sooner rather than later. However, in the meantime, once Parra returns to the lineup he has to show better plate discipline.