The Colorado Rockies best, worst positions by fWAR in the last month

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DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 01: Relief pitcher Jairo Diaz #37 of the Colorado Rockies delivers to home plate during the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on September 1, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

The Colorado Rockies have come crashing down to earth in the last month, going 9-20 since August 9 after starting the season 11-3. Their fWAR rankings have tumbled too.

The Colorado Rockies enter Friday with a record of 20-23, at least 2.5 games back of the San Francisco Giants for third place in the NL West as well as the final NL playoff spot.

Since the Rockies have taken a tumble from the best record in baseball to being 4th place in the last month, we thought that we’d take a look at the stats to see where the Rockies have been strongest (and weakest) by position since then…and some of them may surprise you.

Note: All stats are up to date entering play on Wednesday, September 9.

#3 weakness: The bullpen

The Rockies bullpen has had plenty of struggles in the last month and, frankly, if this wasn’t ranked by fWAR rank in this span, I would, personally, have this higher on the weakness list.

Since August 9, the Rockies bullpen has a ghastly ERA of 8.67, which dead last in baseball and by a wide margin, as the Phillies bullpen is 2nd-worst in that span with an ERA of 7.31.

However, by fWAR, they have a -0.4 fWAR since August 9, which is 26th in baseball at the time and, unfortunately for the Rockies, they have two other positions that they are worse than 26th in that same span.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – AUGUST 24: Daniel Murphy #9 of the Colorado Rockies reacts while batting against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on August 24, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Some of the Rockies weaknesses should not surprising.

#2 weakness: First base

Of all the positions, this position has seen the biggest drop-off in fWAR rankings. Entering August 9th, the Rockies fWAR at first base was tied for 1st in baseball at 0.5. Since then, Rockies first baseman have a fWAR of -0.5, which is 27th in baseball in that span.

That is mainly because the dropoff that Daniel Murphy has had. Through August 8th, he was hitting .372/.413/.628 and since then, he is hitting .176/.208/.191 with zero home runs and four RBI in 68 at-bats.

This is why Josh Fuentes has received six starts at first base in the last two weeks. From August 25 (his first time in the starting lineup in 2020) through September 6 (the last time he was in the starting lineup to date), he hit .385/.414/.615 (10-for-26) with one home run, 6 RBI, and three doubles.

Honorable (or, in this case, dishonorable) mentions: The starting pitching and centerfield

Since August 9th, the Rockies starting pitching and center fielders have been in the bottom third of baseball as well. The Rockies pitching staff was 4th in fWAR entering August 9th (2.0) but they are tied for 20th since (1.0), entering Wednesday.

Center field has long been a weakness for the Rockies and it has been for the entirety of 2020, partially due to the lack of production and, later, the trip to the IL for David Dahl. Before August 9th, Rockies center fielders were tied for 21st with a -0.1 fWAR and they are 22nd since with a 0.2 fWAR.

DENVER, CO – AUGUST 28: Tony Wolters #42 of the Colorado Rockies looks on during a game against the San Diego Padres at Coors Field on August 28, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. All players are wearing #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. The day honoring Jackie Robinson, traditionally held on April 15, was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

The number one weakness has been a weakness for the Rockies for decades.

#1 weakness: Catcher

Every Rockies fan or observer knows that the Rockies catchers have not been … the strongest catching trio in baseball history, to put it nicely. Since August 9, Rockies catchers have accumulated an fWAR of -0.8, which is second-worst in baseball. They have a wRC+ of 28 and they are hitting .161/.211/.280.

They aren’t particularly good defensively, either, as they were 25th in Defensive Runs Above Average (DEF) entering Wednesday and Statcast suggests that they are not great pitch framers either. Drew Butera and Tony Wolters are the only two catchers that qualify for the league in pitch framing and they are 29th and 50th in baseball, entering Wednesday.

The stats say that Elias Diaz is the best pitch framer and offensive catcher… yet, of the three catchers, he sees, by far, the least amount of playing time.

#3 strength: Left Field

Raimel Tapia started off the season very slowly, which is part of the reason why he was not getting much playing time. Through August 10, Tapia was hitting .125/.167/.125 (2-for-16) with two singles, one RBI, and one walk.

Since August 11, though, Tapia has been the Rockies’ primary left fielder. In 25 games (all starts and 19 in left field), Tapia is hitting .340/.442/.447 with one home run, 11 RBI, three doubles, two triples, and 12 walks.

Overall, Rockies left fielders have an fWAR of 0.9, which is 11th in baseball since August 9.

SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 8: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on September 8, 2020 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

#2 strength: Third base

With Nolan Arenado’s struggles, you may think that he is still not up the Nolan Arenado play. With that statement, you would be correct. However, he still has played much better in the last month, which is the reason why third base is the 2nd-highest ranking for a position in the last month.

Since August 10 (Arenado was off on August 9, which was the Rockies first loss in their 9-20 skid when they lost the series finale to the Mariners in Seattle), Arenado has hit .313/.349/.545 with a wRC+ of 111.

Total, players playing third base for the Rockies accumulated an fWAR of 1.2 since August 9th, which is 7th best in all of baseball in that span.

Honorable mention: Designated hitter

Believe it or not, the Rockies designated hitters were 12th in fWAR from the August 9 through September 8 span. They had an fWAR of 0.4. Matt Kemp has struggled some at the plate and he has been the Rockies primary DH but they have had some plate appearances from Raimel Tapia, Trevor Story, and Charlie Blackmon as well.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – AUGUST 24: Infielders Trevor Story #27 and Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies during the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on August 24, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Rockies defeated the Diamondbacks 3-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

#1 strength: Shortstop

The aforementioned Trevor Story is the reason why this has been the Rockies number one strength in the last month.

In that span, Story has hit .300/.369/.536 with a wRC+ of 125. Overall, Rockies shortstops have an fWAR of 1.3 during that period, which is 5th best in baseball and the best ranking for the Rockies.

Final Thoughts

As you may expect, the stats say that the main factor in why the Rockies have struggled so much in the last month is their lack of pitching. It has struggled some due to injuries to some pitchers (e.g. Jon Gray and Scott Oberg) but the Rockies problem, frankly, for much of their entire franchise history, is depth, or lack thereof.

Every team has to deal with injuries but when a team has no pitching or offensive depth and only three or four offensive players playing at or above replacement level, your team is going to have serious problems.

Next. What is Carlos Estevez struggling with in 2020?. dark

And that’s why the Rockies are 9-20 in the last month, three games under .500, and on the outside looking in on the playoffs entering the third-to-last weekend of the regular season

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