Colorado Rockies: A way-too-early spring overreaction

Spring training is still in its early stages as Opening Day is more than three weeks away … but there is a big red flag close to being waved on the horizon for the Colorado Rockies.

Last season, the Colorado Rockies‘ catching trio of Chris Iannetta, Tony Wolters, and Tom Murphy were woeful offensively with a combined .206/.307/.349 split, 15 home runs, 72 RBI, and 56 runs scored. These stats were 13th in the National League with a -0.1 in Offensive WAR for that position group.

Unfortunately, these offensive struggles have carried over as early spring game results have not been kind for the catching position. In the first 10 games, the catchers who have reported to camp are a combined 5-for-44 with a homer, an RBI, and four runs scored. This includes an ugly 4-for-32 from Iannetta, Wolters and Murphy, with the lone home run belonging to Murphy.

Obviously, this overreaction is extremely premature, but if these struggles continue to persist, the Rockies may begin to regret that did not address the need for an offensive upgrade in the offseason and be forced to look into alternative options.

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Or perhaps they may stick to last season’s playbook and be content with having a black hole in the back end of the lineup. To their credit, defensively, the Rockies’ catchers were solid in 2018 and were responsible for managing one of the best pitching staffs in franchise history.

The big dilemma for the Rockies heading into the season may be to decide if they are willing to sacrifice offensive output for the betterment of the pitching staff? Hopefully, that is a decision they won’t have to make.

So before I receive a bunch of negative comments and Twitter messages, again, there is a lot of spring ball left to play … but the Rockies will be in desperate need for some offensive contributions from the catcher’s spot when the season starts on March 28 in Miami. If some improvements aren’t seen before then, don’t be surprised if some sort of roster move is made.