Note: CU Independent Rockies Beat Writer Justin Guerriero is covering the team live during Spring Training play in Scottsdale, AZ from March 23-29.
The great calamity that was the Rockies’ starting pitching in 2014 was a leading factor in the team winning only 66 games last season. Other than inking starter Kyle Kendrick to a one year, $5.5 million deal, relatively no moves were made this offseason to remedy the problem of starting pitching.
Despite the lack of moves, management is convinced that the answer lies within the Rockies organization itself. The team’s two best prospects, Jon Gray and Eddie Butler, are both pitchers fighting to make the team’s starting rotation.
Both have been very impressive this Spring Training. Gray has a 2.08 ERA through 13 innings pitched and has struck out nine batters while walking only one. By comparison, Butler has a 2.63 ERA in 13.2 innings pitched, and has struck out eight while walking three batters.
Both players are excited at the prospect of making the club’s 25-man roster at the start of the season. They both admitted that the thought of making the team is constantly in their heads but acknowledged the importance of keeping the excitement levels down.
“There’s nothing you can do about that [being naturally excited],” Gray said. “ But you gotta set that stuff to the side, go out there and do your best, and everything else will take care of itself.”
Butler voiced a similar belief.
“When you’re out there, all you need to think about is making pitches and trying to get your mind right,” he said.
Both pitchers have been extremely fun to watch, and their competition will make it tough on Rockies manager Walt Weiss to make a decision on who to cut and who to keep when the regular season starts on April 6.
Despite improvement on both sides, the fact remains that neither man has proven that he can hang at the Major League level. Butler pitched a few games last season, but was ineffective, and ended up on the Disabled List before management could get a proper sample size to judge him with. Gray has never pitched in a Major League game.
But with ace Jorge de la Rosa most likely headed to the Disabled List for the start of the regular season, it’s possible that both of them could be part of the starting rotation on Opening Day.
On top of their own competition with each other, they’ve also had to fight against Christian Bergman and David Hale for a rotation spot. All have performed well.
All four pitchers will likely throw another inning or two before the end of Spring Training, but no matter what, expect a very close race by the time Weiss is forced to make a decision.
Contact CU Independent Rockies Beat Writer Justin Guerriero at justin.guerriero@colorado.edu, and follow him on Twitter @TheHungry_Hippo.
