Colorado Rockies: Which players should be on the All-Decade Team?

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DENVER, CO – APRIL 06: Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies receives the Rawlings Gold Glove and Platinum Glove Award before the Rockies home opener against the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field on April 6, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

The calendar is about change to a new year/decade which can only mean one thing … it is list season! I know, I know, it is a cliché, but instead of talking about another useless Nolan Arenado trade rumor (it is not going to happen by the way, so stop worrying), why not take a look back at the past decade?

Over the past 10 years, there have been quite a few highs and even more lows for the Colorado Rockies. Instead of focusing on the lows, let’s take a position by position look at the best the Rockies had to offer during the 2010s with an All-Decade team. There has been a ton of talent that has called Coors Field home, here is a list of the best of the best.

Catcher

What better way to start this list off than with a position in which the Rockies have had zero standout players. Seriously, name a catcher that has had more than one good season this past decade.

Anyone??? Bueller??? Bueller???

From Chris Iannetta to Wilin Rosario to Tony Wolters, the Rockies have struggled to find a constant presence behind home plate. Rosario had the most offensive production but was awful on a good day defensively. Wolters had an all-around solid season in 2019 but that doesn’t make him All-Decade-worthy.

Since there is no clear-cut choice, I am picking the dark horse that is Nick Hundley. Even though he was only in Denver for two seasons, he put up good numbers and handled the pitching staff well. In his two seasons, he hit .281/.330/.455 with 20 HR, 91 RBI, and 75 runs scored in 186 games.

ANAHEIM, CA – AUGUST 27: DJ LeMahieu #9 of the Colorado Rockies reacts to hitting a grand slam during the eighth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium on August 27, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

First base

This is a tougher decision than one would think. On the surface, the obvious choice would be the greatest Rockies player of all-time, Todd Helton. The problem is Helton was in the twilight of his career and didn’t play in more than 124 games or put up good numbers in a season this decade before retiring in 2013. However, Justin Morneau had two solid seasons in Colorado, including winning a batting title in 2014.

It pains me to say it but the winner goes to Ian Desmond. Just kidding! Morneau gets the nod.

Second base

Three Gold Gloves, two All-Star selections, one batting title. Need I say more? For most of the decade, David John, aka DJ LeMahieu, was a cornerstone of the Rockies’ everyday lineup. Why they let him walk to the Yankees last season still gives me nightmares. Nonetheless, there is no other choice for second base.

Third base

Nolan Arenado, period. Let’s move on.

Shortstop

How does one choose between Troy Tulowitzki and Trevor Story? They both are/were defensive wizards with Tulo winning two Gold Gloves and Story being most deserving of one.

Both Silver Sluggers and perennial All-Stars that had/have injury issues. Tulo was a fan favorite but the edge goes to Story for one reason, in my opinion. He broke Alex Rodriguez‘s record for the fastest shortstop to reach 100 home runs, which he did in 448 games. That gives him the nod I believe.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – JULY 07: Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies gets ready to walk to the on deck circle during the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on July 07, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Outfield

The first two selections for the three-man outfield is a no-brainer: Charlie Blackmon and Carlos Gonzalez. Chuck Nazty and CarGo put up ridiculous numbers over the course of the last 10 years, but the decision for the final outfielder is rather difficult.

Four decent seasons of Dexter Fowler, three mediocre seasons of Gerardo Parra, or two and half good seasons of Michael Cuddyer. The decision goes to Cuddyer because it is difficult to pass on his 2013 season in which he won a batting title swatting .331/.389/.530 with 20 HR, 84 RBI, and 74 runs scored.

Colorado Rockies

Starting rotation

This decades’ rotation can’t start without the franchise leader in wins Jorge De La Rosa. In nine seasons with the Rockies, De La Rosa won 86 games, including 60 this decade. That also includes his 2013 season in which he went 16-6 with a 3.49 ERA.

Like most future Rockies “aces” of the rotation, Jhoulys Chacin showed a lot of potential early on but never could sustain it. Chacin had three good seasons with the Rockies but also three bad ones mixed in. A 38-48 record in 109 starts with a 3.78 ERA isn’t the greatest of stats but on a good day, he was a difficult pitcher to hit.

He only pitched in one and a half seasons for the Rockies this decade, but Ubaldo Jimenez‘s 2010 was so masterful that he can’t be excluded from this list. In 2010, he went 19-8 with a 2.88 ERA, finishing third in the Cy Young voting, was the starter in the All-Star game, and threw the only no-hitter in franchise history. He was traded to Cleveland midway through the next season but it is still the greatest season by a Colorado pitcher.

Jon Gray hasn’t become the “ace” they envisioned when they selected him third overall in the 2013 draft out of Oklahoma but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been good enough to make the list. In five seasons, the “Gray Wolf” has gone 43-33 in 114 starts with a 4.46 ERA with 670 strikeouts in 641.1 innings.

To round out the starting five, the decision came down to German Marquez and Kyle Freeland. Marquez has been more consistent in his four seasons over Freeland’s three, but like Ubaldo’s 2010, it is difficult to overlook what Freeland did in 2018. A 17-7 record and a franchise-best 2.85 ERA with a fourth-place finish in the Cy Young voting is to good not to give Freeland the nod.

DENVER, CO – AUGUST 05: Huston Street #16 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Washington Nationals during their game at Coors Field August 5, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Washington Nationals won the game 5-3. (Photo by Marc Piscotty/Getty Images) /

Closer

This is another one of those positions in which the Rockies have not been able to find consistency over the last decade. In the last 10 seasons, there have been eight different players who have led the team in saves with Wade Davis and Huston Street as the only two to do it in multiple seasons.

Davis has been widely considered a bust since the Rockies signed him to the largest contract for a reliever in MLB history and there is a reason why I dubbed Street as “Heart Attack Huston” during his time in Denver. However, I am giving the edge to Street for one reason. Even though this is an all-decade team, Street’s solid 35 saves and 3.06 ERA in 2009 season gives him three good seasons being in the backend of the bullpen.

Reliever

I wasn’t going to include this since there has been a number of relievers who have had solid seasons in relief for the Rockies. However, there is one player who deserves some recognition for his multiple seasons of being a reliable arm out of the ‘pen.

From 2009 to 2014, Matt Belisle was an absolute workhorse. During his time in Denver, he appeared in 392 games, pitched 412.2 innings, compiled a 32-32 record and 3.88 ERA. This includes the 2012 season in which he appeared in a staggering 80 games.

Next. The 10 worst free agent signings in Colorado history. dark

There you have it. The best of what the Rockies had to offer in the 2010s. If you agree or disagree or if I overlooked someone, let us know in the comment section below or on social media.

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