Colorado Rockies: Dunn, Holland, Neshek talk pitching at Coors Field

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DENVER, CO – APRIL 10: The statue of ‘The Player’ stands sentry outside the stadium as the Colorado Rockies host the Chicago Cubs during the Rockies home opener at Coors Field on April 10, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

When you think of the Colorado Rockies, thoughts of Coors Field are often intermingled alongside names like Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado. Both are contending for the National League Most Valuable Player title this season and both will undoubtedly have to overcome some sort of national bias about Coors Field being a hitter’s paradise.

If Coors is a plus for hitters, then it should be a negative for pitchers, correct? Detroit manager Brad Ausmus made no bones about his disdain for Coors Field when his Tigers came to town in August, calling baseball in Colorado “pinball baseball.” We’ve heard Coors Field called everything from “playing on the moon” to “not real baseball.” The Rockies have heard these same things as well.

It’s been said often that free agent pitchers don’t want to pitch at Coors Field, yet the Rockies landed two pitchers in the offseason who experseed their excitement about pitching in Denver. Neither Greg Holland nor Mike Dunn backed down from the Coors Field challenge when they signed contracts with the Rockies in the offseason.

And what about trade deadline acquisition Pat Neshek? He suddenly found himself not only pitching at Coors Field but also expected to be a key contributor to Colorado making its first postseason experience since 2009.

Prior to Tuesday’s game against the Miami Marlins in Denver, in exclusive interviews, I asked each of the three pitchers above who are in their first season in Denver about their initial experiences at Coors Field. I asked them about the national perception of Coors Field and if altitude really had an effect on their pitching.

Note: All stats are prior to Tuesday’s game.

Mike Dunn

2017 road: 1-1, 2.54 ERA, .190 opponent average, 1.13 WHIP (28.1 innings)

2017 home: 4-0, 7.40 ERA, .274 opponent average, 1.84 WHIP (20.2 innings)

For Dunn, who had his MLB debut in 2009 and pitched for Atlanta and Miami before signing with the Rockies in the offseason, it hasn’t been about the effects on the mound as much as his routines off the field.

“Pitching, it’s been what I thought it was going to be,” Dunn said. “It’s been more so off the field stuff like my workout routine. Cutting back on weights and making sure you have enough energy and you’re not wasting too much in the gym.”

The southpaw believes it’s more about making the correct pitch than where you’re pitching.

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Pat Neshek

2017 road: 1-0, 2.45 ERA, .200 opponent average, 0.82 WHIP (11.0 innings)

2017 home: 1-1, 2.61 ERA, .262 opponent average, 1.06 WHIP (10.1 innings)

It’s not about altitude in Neshek’s mind. It’s about the size of Coors Field and the bigger outfield.

“It’s just a bigger field,” he said. “The outfielders have to play a little bit deeper. I’ve noticed a couple of things. Those little pop-ups that are shallow, they are tough. They can be hits. A lot of the line drives over the shortstop’s head can get in the gap and they can be triples. They’re mostly base hits a lot of other places.”

The right-hander with the unmistakable delivery who was an All-Star in St. Louis and Philadelphia says he will tip to his hat to a hitter who hits a home run, no matter the park.

“I don’t really mind the ball traveling. I feel like if they hit it, it’s going to be a home run, no matter where it is,” Neshek said. “It does carry a little bit more but, when you give up a ball that far, I feel like I got beat then and they deserve the home run.”

Has Coors Field had an effect on his pitches?

“I haven’t noticed it on my sliders at all. I haven’t noticed my ball rising or anything. It’s just such a big field.”

Did he hear “horror stories” about playing at altitude when he knew he was coming to Colorado in the trade?

“You always wonder. For me, I get tired a lot quicker. You run in and you have to catch your breath. You feel winded. Some guys say they don’t recover as quickly,” Neshek said. “You see the offensive numbers but it’s a bigger field. You scratch out three extra base hits a night and it’s going to make for more offense.”

Greg Holland

2017 road: 0-2, 3.90 ERA, .182 opponent average, 1.12 WHIP (27.2 innings)

2017 home: 3-4, 3.10 ERA, .192 opponent average, 1.14 WHIP (29.0 innings)

Holland, an All-Star this season and twice in Kansas City, says the “Coors effect” has been minimal.

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“I think it’s a matter of not giving out free passes,” Holland said. “The other team is playing on the same field you are. Make them get four or five hits to beat you. You walk a guy and then give up a hit, a home run is worth three instead of one. That’s the way I look at it. I haven’t noticed a huge difference. I haven’t seen that big of an issue.”

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