5 difficult decisions the Rockies could make before the end of June

It's without a doubt the first two months of the 2023 season have not been the most ideal for the Colorado Rockies. The team snapped a 6 game-losing skid on Sunday with a walk-off home run from rookie corner infielder Nolan Jones. The Rockies have the worst record in the National League and are 27th in all of baseball with a record of 29-41. The season is quickly getting out of hand for the Rockies even though they just won a series against the Boston Red Sox this week and will begin a four-game road series against the Atlanta Braves who currently hold the best record in the National League at 42-26.

The Rockies' roster is presently undergoing a transitional phase and a complete rebuild in the organization. To implement this change, the team has adopted a "let the kids play" approach and are fielding a lineup consisting of at least four different rookies starting.

Although it's beneficial to give young players the opportunity to gain experience, there may be some challenges that come with it. Not only will the player experience growing pains, but the team may also struggle to win games. As the season continues and approaches the trade deadline, the Rockies will face difficult decisions and will need to fully commit to the ongoing youth movement in Colorado.

1. Who do the Rockies keep at first base and who goes?

A promising prospect, Nolan Jones, has been called up to the Major League roster by the Rockies. Since his arrival, he has been performing exceptionally well and has become a fan favorite in Colorado. Jones's patience at the plate, combined with his raw strength and solid defense, has garnered attention. He recently hit a walk-off home run against the San Diego Padres, further solidifying his potential as a talented player. Jones boasts impressive stats, hitting .339/.397/.613 with a 1.010 OPS, four home runs, and 12 RBIs.

The Rockies are faced with a decision regarding their all-star first baseman, CJ Cron. He has spent some time on the injured list in 2023 and is also due to become a free agent at the end of the season. Considering the emergence of Jones, the team is unlikely to retain him for the next season. As the Rockies are expected to become sellers at the trade deadline, they should explore the possibility of trading Cron to a team in need of a power bat for the stretch run towards the playoffs.

Aside from Cron, the Rockies also have first baseman Mike Moustakas under contract for the rest of the year and he could be another option as a player who could be dealt at the trade deadline. Moustakas has played in a total of 42 games for the Rockies this year and is hitting .248/.336/.396 with three home runs and 15 RBI's.

Once Cron returns back from injury, the Rockies will have a crowded group at first base and they will need to make a decision on who will be starting for them moving forward. Jones seems to be the first baseman of the future and with that being said the Rockies should try to trade Cron and Moustakas at some point this month to bring in additional prospects moving forward.

2. What to do with Brent Suter?

Brent Suter is a reliable reliever for the Colorado Rockies, although he has been struggling in his last seven games. In his eighth MLB season, he has established himself as one of the most dependable relievers in the league. His current stats are impressive, with 28 games and 39.1 innings pitched, a 2.06 ERA, and 31 strikeouts. Hitters have found it difficult to score against Suter, with a meager .208 batting average against him. It's safe to say that Suter is having an All-Star-caliber season.

With Suter's success and the Rockies lack of winning this year, it would be a good move if the team decided to trade him to a team who's looking to make a postseason run in 2023. Most likely, the Rockies aren't going to make the postseason, but why not give a team a rental option in Suter. His pitching has been dominant this year and could benefit any team looking to add on to their bullpen and make it elite.

Trading Suter would also make sense for the Rockies as the ongoing youth movement is very prevalent this year and they are falling very far back in the NL West. The Rockies currently sit at fifth place in the division and are 13 games back out of first place. It's news that fans probably don't want to hear but makes more sense for the long haul.

3. Who will become the team's closer?

Recently, there was a change in the Rockies' closer role. Manager Bud Black made the decision to remove pitcher Pierce Johnson from the position after a blown save opportunity led to a 6-4 victory for the San Francisco Giants. As a result, the closer role has been open and selected by Black on a committee basis. However, it's worth noting that Johnson did manage to secure the save in a 10 inning game against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night, which marked his 12th save of the year.

The Rockies haven't had many chances to save games since their victory last Sunday, when Jones hit a walk-off home run. However, they managed to beat the Red Sox 4-3 on Monday night, and relief pitcher Matt Carasati was credited with the save. Looking ahead to 2023, pitcher Justin Lawrence is a potential candidate for the closer position. It's worth noting that former closer Daniel Bard, who has struggled with mental health struggles, pitched in the ninth inning on Tuesday and didn't allow any runs. If Bard decides to return to the role, he could be a good fit for the team.

5. Will Bud Black remain as Manager?

There appears to be growing frustration among Colorado fans in June as the Rockies have only won five games this month. Many are beginning to question the decisions made by Black this season. Johnson struggled in the closer role for almost a month before being replaced after a blown save against the San Francisco Giants. Additionally, the Rockies rank among the worst in the league for stolen bases, which I believe they should address by being more aggressive at the plate due to the injuries in the starting rotation. MLB increased the size of the base paths in 2023 to increase stolen bases, and with the young talent on the roster, this could become a strength for the team. The Rockies also consistently rank below 25 in MLB's power rankings for 2023 and are among the worst in pitching and hitting outside of Coor's Field.

Although there are factors outside of Black's control, such as injuries to key players like former NL MVP Kris Bryant and the rotation, a skilled manager will still play to the strengths of their young team and adapt throughout the season to achieve success on the field. Black has been rumored to be on the hot seat multiple times during his tenure with the Rockies.

It is unlikely that Black will be terminated in June, however, it is important to acknowledge that his name may be mentioned as a potential candidate for termination if the team does not make any progress moving forward.