Colorado Rockies: 3 numbers that surprised us 60 games into the season

So has the Colorado Rockies bullpen been better or worse in 2021 than 2020?

There are plenty of numbers out there that show, through the first 60 games of 2021, the Colorado bullpen has been better as a whole than it was during the 60-game season of 2020.

Let’s look at opponent slash line against the bullpen first.

2020 (954 plate appearances): .305/.386/.533 with an OPS of .919

2021 (885 plate appearances): .266/.351/.479 with an OPS of .830

In 2020, the strikeout/walk ratio was 1.90 compared to 2.01 in 2021.

Last season, the Rockies bullpen gave up 58 doubles, eight triples, and 38 homers as part of 439 total bases allowed. This season, Colorado relievers have surrendered 47 doubles, 11 triples, and 31 home runs as part of 365 total bases allowed.

The 2020 bullpen ERA sat at 6.77 and WHIP was 1.670. In 2021, those numbers are 5.38 and 1.520.

Is Colorado’s bullpen dramatically better? No, but it has been incrementally better than it was during a horrific showing last season.

Some final thoughts

Certainly, it’s tough to compare seasons since there are different players on this year’s roster compared to last season and many players have said just how tough the 2020 season was in terms of playing during a pandemic.

However, there are some interesting trends developing with this year’s Colorado team through 60 games that will be fascinating to watch continue or dissolve as the rest of the season unfolds.