Colorado Rockies: 3 questions left unanswered with spring stoppage

When the Colorado Rockies and the rest of Major League Baseball had spring training stopped prematurely because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, there were questions left unanswered about roster battles and more.

With no definitive date set yet for the return of baseball, Colorado Rockies fans are feeling a little lost without the sport they love, especially with the original Opening Day (scheduled for March 26 in San Diego against the Padres) coming later this week.

However, we know that baseball will return. And, when it does, there will be questions that need to be answered.

Chief among them is the status of the relationship between All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado and general manager Jeff Bridich. The unexpected stop to spring training took the spotlight away from the “quiet game” that has been played between the two without talking with each other (according to last report).

Will the unexpected break give the duo a time to talk? If so, can some (or any) of the chill be taken out of their working relationship? If not, will it just be “business as usual” until the start of the season?

Of course, the delay of the start of the season means we’re not sure how many games will be played, what the schedule will look like, and when a trade deadline might be set, among other things. The talk of a potential trade is seemingly what sent the negative side of their relationship into the public’s eye in the days and weeks ahead of spring training’s start.

Certainly how the Rockies fare at the start of the season (whenever that is) will determine just how comfortable things might be in the clubhouse. Winning puts a lot of problems in the background while a tough start to the season (like last year) could put the Arenado-Bridich rift right back into the spotlight.

By the way, on Saturday, Arenado penned a heartfelt message to Rockies fans …

Who will take the fifth starter spot for the Rockies?

There is no question that German Marquez, Jon Gray, and Kyle Freeland will lead the Rockies rotation in 2020. It is widely thought that Antonio Senzatela be a part of the rotation mix. However, who will fill in the fifth starter role is still very much up in the air.

Jeff Hoffman is one of the options but gave up 10 hits to the 30 batters he faced in 5.2 innings spanning three outings. His 6.35 ERA and three walks with just four strikeouts wasn’t the kind of reassuring stats the Rockies were hoping to see this spring, especially with Hoffman out of minor league options.

Ubaldo Jimenez is likely still in the mix, but his last outing of the spring was problematic. After giving up four hits and two runs in four combined innings in his first two starts of spring, Jimenez was rocked by the Los Angeles Dodgers in his last spring start, giving up five hits and seven runs (three earned) in just 1.1 innings. After that game, manager Bud Black assured me and other members of the media that Jimenez was going to be a starter. He also said that the veteran would likely be willing to accept a stint in Triple-A in an effort to work his way back to the Major League mound.

Peter Lambert was thought to be in the mix, but a right forearm injury (to which we still don’t exactly know the extent of that injury) will likely knock him out of the competition … for the time being.

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Finally, there is Chi Chi Gonzalez, who I believe will land the fifth starter role when the season kicks back in. He’s faced 42 batters so far this spring and allowed 11 hits in 10 combined innings. The ERA is sitting at 6.30 and he’s allowed two homers.

But there’s a spring split to talk about here. In his first two spring outings, he gave up seven runs in four innings. In his last two outings, he’s struck out three each time while scattering four hits and not allowing a run in six innings of work.

That has clearly put him in the lead for the job, meaning Hoffman (if he is still on the roster) would move to a long reliever role.