Colorado Rockies: Four quotes that explain so much about the bullpen

It is no secret that the Colorado Rockies bullpen hasn’t lived up to expectations in many areas. Bryan Shaw has struggled mightily, including giving up his first career grand slam on Saturday in a crushing loss to the Miami Marlins. Jake McGee has surrendered runs in five of his last six outings. Closer Wade Davis has a 10.57 ERA in June.

Those three relievers are not only the biggest signings of the offseason for the Rockies (and where the majority of the offseason payroll went) but they are also three of the players Colorado said would be the difference-makers for them to reach their second consecutive postseason.

Well, as we know, things haven’t gone according to plan. There is still time for things to turn around and for the Rockies to make a run at the National League West lead … but we are growing very near to the halfway point of the season.

With that in mind, it’s important for Rockies fans to understand the current mindset when it comes to the bullpen. That includes understanding that, other than a trip to the disabled list (like happened to Shaw on Sunday), the veteran relievers who may be causing you (and Bud Black) to have some sleepless nights aren’t going to Triple-A Albuquerque and aren’t going to be designated for assignment.

After listening to Black over the last few games, I thought I’d put together some of the most telling quotes about the bullpen and some context behind them. It may help fans understand what Black and Rockies management is thinking when it comes to the relief corps.

Let’s dive in…

“Davis. Four years. Dunn. Three years. We have some multi-year deals. They’re here.”

Yes, Colorado signed relievers to multi-years deals in the offseason. Davis is signed through the 2021 season, as is Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee. Mike Dunn will be here through the 2019 campaign.

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Colorado is paying these relievers an enormous amount of money to perform and they’re not going to just cut them and eat that money. It may have happened with the end of Jose Reyes in Colorado, but there was also the specter of domestic abuse hanging over him as well (it hasn’t stopped the Mets from still playing and paying him … but that’s a whole other story). Cutting players and eating that much salary doesn’t happen with small market teams like the Rockies.

These multi-year deals are a bit scary. If Colorado’s veteran relievers don’t find their way, it’s not like the Rockies will be able to work their way out of the contracts in the near future. They have committed a lot of resources to these players … and they will all be back in the 2019 season and beyond.

Yes, Colorado general manager Jeff Bridich rolled the dice in a big way … not only for this season but for seasons to come. Black and Rockies management needs that investment and gamble to pay off soon.

“When you look at the eight-man staff, which we’ll likely carry through September, there are going to be some of those guys in the bullpen now. The other two spots could change. That will depend on performance and injury. Rest assured, the guys who are proven veteran pitchers will be in our bullpen.”

Again, let’s be clear about one thing … the veteran pitchers like Shaw, Dunn, McGee and Davis aren’t going anywhere. They are a part of Black’s plan for this season and the near future.

The pieces around them, however, may change. Their roles may change as well. Could a Jeff Hoffman or Antonio Senzatela or Harrison Musgrave or Carlos Estevez or Yency Almonte play a more prominent role in the bullpen as the season goes along? Absolutely … but Black will still need to throw his veterans at some point. As hot as Adam Ottavino has been so far this season, Black can’t throw him every game. He will need other guys to step up and take their place in the “I can trust this pitcher to come into the guy in a clutch situation” category. Right now, that category is pretty bleak.

Estevez is on his way to Triple-A to begin a rehab assignment and that could be very good news for the Rockies bullpen … if he performs at the level he is capable of performing.

Whoever is in the Rockies bullpen as the season churns along, if the veterans can’t perform, younger players will need to step up.

“We have some (relievers) coming back that might potentially be able to give Bryan a little step back.”

This was a quote from Black after Saturday’s loss to the Marlins at Coors Field where Shaw came in and surrendered a grand slam that completely deflated the party-like atmosphere that had enveloped the stadium all day with the celebration of Colorado’s all-time 25-man team.

These words were also the first time that Black had publicly admitted that Shaw might not be used in high-leverage roles. Shaw has been rolled out in 41 games, the most that any Major League pitcher has been used this season. Shaw has been a workhorse throughout his career and still could be in Colorado … but could it be in mop-up duty or as an “innings eater” moving forward?

What will be Shaw’s role when he returns from the disabled list? Black uttered this quote knowing that Mike Dunn, Scott Oberg and Carlos Estevez are working their way back from injury. Could one of them slide into Shaw’s role? Quite possibly … but any of these pitchers will need to prove he can hold down the role and live up to the pressure.

Next: Larry Walker talks about playing at Coors Field and the impact it has on his Hall of Fame bid

There are options coming into the bullpen for the Rockies. It means changes are coming not only in terms of personnel but also potentially in terms of roles as well.