Colorado Rockies: Grading and Analyzing the 2016 Rotation

JORGE DE LA ROSA: 2016 GRADE C- (fWAR 0.03)

Jorge De La Rosa’s Colorado Rockies swan song has come to a close. When it was all said and done, Jorge deserved a better tune. In 2016, Jorge posted the highest ERA of his nine-year Rockies career at 5.51. As the result of a horrific start to the season, Jorge was banished to the bullpen by late May with an ERA of 10.52. The exile of De La Rosa didn’t last, however. A litany of injuries forced the Rockies to return Jorge to the rotation. The veteran would not disappoint. In his next 15 starts, JDLR would go 6-3 with a 3.46 ERA before faltering again over his last three starts of the season.

All in all, the franchise’s all-time leader in wins and strikeouts deserved a better send off than a what a mediocre 2016 provided. Decreased velocity and inconsistent control were the major pitfalls to Jorge’s season. For a guy that has lit up the radar gun at 97 MPH at points in his career, Jorge could get away with missing his spots. In 2016, averaging just 90 MPH with his best fastball, perhaps Jorge was trying to get a little too fine at times.

Currently, Jorge is a free agent and doesn’t appear to ever be in purple pinstripes again. Despite that, Colorado Rockies fans can reminisce and cheer of JDLR as he will represent Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.