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Colorado Rockies: Checking in on Tyler Chatwood and Greg Holland

By Colin Gaiser

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 19: Greg Holland #56 of the Colorado Rockies reacts after allowing a go-ahead two run homerun in the ninth inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Coors Field on August 19, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 19: Greg Holland #56 of the Colorado Rockies reacts after allowing a go-ahead two run homerun in the ninth inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Coors Field on August 19, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – APRIL 02: Tyler Chatwood #21 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in the first inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 2, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – APRIL 02: Tyler Chatwood #21 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in the first inning of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 2, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

It’s safe to say Colorado Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich hasn’t nailed every offseason acquisition.

However, it was clearly the right decision to move on from 2017 closer Greg Holland and longtime starting pitcher Tyler Chatwood. Chatwood is struggling with control as a Chicago Cub, and Holland is off to a disastrous start with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Tyler Chatwood is still Tyler Chatwood

After five topsy-turvy seasons with the Rockies, Tyler Chatwood left Denver for the spotlight of Wrigley Field and a three-year, $38 million contract. But the move to Chicago didn’t take care of Chatwood’s nemesis: walks, walks, walks.

Chatwood wasn’t a bad pitcher with the Rockies. He was promising in 2013, posting a 3.15 ERA and an impressive 142 ERA+ in 20 starts. But after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2014 and missing the entirety of the 2015 season, he struggled with control in 2016-2017.

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Last season, Chatwood walked batters at an unforgivable rate. He posted the second-worst walk rate for regular starting pitchers, walking 12.2 percent of batters. What kept him afloat was his ability to induce ground balls at a 58.1 percent rate, fifth-best in baseball. Meanwhile, his road ERA was 2.53 compared to 4.81 at Coors Field.

Unfortunately for Chatwood and the Cubs, Coors wasn’t the problem.

In 2018, Chatwood is walking a staggering 18.3 percent of batters — 45 batters in just 48.1 innings of work. He has issued five or more free passes in seven starts. Despite maintaining a 51.3 percent groundball rate and giving up just two home runs, the walks balloon his WHIP to 1.62.

Chatwood’s last two outings were easily his worst of the season. On May 22 against the Cleveland Indians, he walked six batters, allowed four hits and four earned runs in the 10-1 loss. In just 2 2/3 innings, he threw 74 pitches.

On May 27, Chatwood gave up three runs in a disastrous first inning against the San Francisco Giants. He was replaced after throwing 88 pitches in just 2 2/3 innings, while allowing five walks and six hits for three earned runs.

"“Definitely frustrating,” Chatwood said on Tuesday, according to ESPN. “One at-bat I’ll feel really good, then the next one I feel like I’m fighting myself.”"

Chatwood is a better pitcher than he’s showed in recent outings. He has the “stuff,” as they say. But inconsistency and control issues will plague him wherever he goes; it’s just who he is. If the Cubs expected Chatwood to transform into an ace away from Coors, they were sorely mistaken.

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