Rockies’ new veteran bats are raising early concerns at the dish

The Rockies are currently 1-4, tied for fourth in the National League West, with their only win coming in the series opener against Toronto.

The most impressive aspect is not only their starting rotation, which has kept them competitive, but also their +2 run differential, despite their record.

Colorado lost all three games in their first series against the Marlins by one run each, resulting in a -3 run differential. Their series opening win against Toronto had put them at +6 before yesterday's 5-1 loss.

Amidst the competitive games, the performance, or lack thereof, from their veteran free agent and trade acquisitions from this past offseason has been overlooked.

Jake McCarthy, Willi Castro, and Edouard Julien have a combined batting average of .133 (6-for-45).

McCarthy, acquired via trade with the Diamondbacks, was expected to be Colorado's speedy leadoff hitter, tasked with getting on base and stealing bases to put the Rockies in scoring position. However, he's only managed two hits in 18 at-bats so far, with three stolen bases and four strikeouts.

Castro, a prized free agent, signed a two-year, $12.8 million contract, bringing valuable versatility to the lineup. He has also struggled, going 3-for-19 with two doubles, two RBIs, and five strikeouts.

Julien has played less often than the other two players, but he has just one hit in eight at-bats, with one double and four strikeouts.

Although baseball is a team sport and it's challenging to attribute the team's record to one player, Colorado's win total might look different if these players had performed better during the first week.

It's still too early to write off these players, considering their previous achievements and track records. Julien presents the most intriguing case, as he hasn't yet fully regained the form he displayed during his outstanding 2023 rookie season, when he recorded a .263/.381/.459 slash line, along with 16 home runs and a 151 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers.