Missing in Action: Colorado Rockies left off the September roster

As the Colorado Rockies stumble through September, it’s worth looking at some of the players conspicuously left off the 40-man roster. Would the Rockies be better off with these guys on the squad? Or was there good reason to snub them from the roster to make space for, say, the infield prowess of Pat Valaika?

Jeff Hoffman

Hoffman is a familiar face to Rockies fans after starting 16 games for the team in 2017. Despite his uninspiring campaign (5.89 ERA and 1.47 WHIP), it seemed he could still be a viable arm for the Rockies this season.

Unfortunately, 2018 was a tumultuous year for Hoffman. He made one spot start for the Rockies — a home game on July 13 against the Seattle Mariners — and it was an ugly one as he allowed eight hits and three earned runs in just 3.1 innings (the Rockies won the game 10-3). Hoffman made five other relief appearances, and in total pitched just 8.2 innings for a nasty 9.35 ERA and 2.54 WHIP.

Hoffman struggled in AAA as well. He started 21 games for the Isotopes, and while his 4.94 ERA and 80/34 strikeout-to-walk ratio are respectable numbers for the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, his performance declined as the season went along. His ERA was 3.97 before the All-Star Break, with 1.17 strikeouts-per-inning and a .251 batting average against him, but after the All-Star Break his ERA was 6.06 with 0.73 K/inning and a .285 batting average against.

Hoffman has an aggravated case of what’s often ailed Jon Gray — when the going gets tough, he lets games get away from him in horrifying fashion. The Rockies weren’t going to call up a guy they can’t trust with a comfortable lead, especially as the bullpen is finally coming around.

2019 should be pivotal for Hoffman as he attempts to prove he still can play a role in this organization. Otherwise, Jesus Tinoco — who pitched well this season for the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats — is the last man standing from the Troy Tulowitski trade.