Colorado Rockies: The good, the bad and the extremely ugly

On Sunday, the Colorado Rockies completed their 10th game and third series of the season with a pathetic three-game sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers, dropping their record to 3-7.

During the first 10 games, there has been very little good, a ton of bad, and unfortunately some downright ugly for the Colorado Rockies.

The Good

The Rockies have given fans little to cheer about in the first week and a half, but there is one player who has stood out. German Màrquez has been virtually untouchable in his first two starts of the season. He is 1-0 with a 0.69 ERA with 14 strikeouts and only five hits in 13 innings.

The Rockies awarded him with a five-year, $43 million extension through 2023 with an option for 2024, which was officially announced on Saturday. So far, they have gotten a great return on their investment.

The Bad

Throughout last season, the phrase “sooner or later this team is going to hit” was mentioned over and over again until time ran out and they finished with one of their worst statistical seasons in franchise history. That phrase has already crept its way into this season’s early vernacular.

Yes, the Rockies have played in two pitchers’ parks in Florida and they have faced some difficult starters, especially against the Rays and Dodgers, but the Rockies’ offense must start producing. With trips to the IL for Daniel Murphy and Ryan McMahon, the Rockies need someone to step up before they dig themselves too big of a hole.

The Ugly

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There are way too many choices to choose from for the ugliest start of the season. Of course there is Ian Desmond and his despicable 3-for-34 with 15 strikeouts at the plate. However, there is an even more glaring issue. Tyler Anderson and Chad Bettis have been unbearable at the backend of the rotation.

In their four starts, they are 0-4 with 22 earned runs given up in 17.1 combined innings pitched.  Throw in Jon Gray‘s 0-2, 5.68 ERA in 12.2 innings and that spells disaster for a rotation that many expected to be a strength of this club going into the season.

Anderson was place on the IL and was replaced by Yency Almonte on Sunday. If Bettis doesn’t find consistency soon, he will likely be joining Anderson on the sidelines and the need for Antonio Senzatela to rush back from his rehab assignment will speed up and Jeff Hoffman and prospect Peter Lambert might get their chance to prove their worth in the majors.

It has been a disappointingly slow start with little to cheer for to start the season for the Rockies but there is plenty of time to turn things around.  If not, on the brightside, there is a lot of season left to play and be thankful that you aren’t fans of the Chicago Cubs.