Colorado Rockies 2017 Season Preview
By Jason Burke
No matter what a team’s expectations are entering a season, each spring brings hope for the fan base. This spring, the Colorado Rockies and their fans had some high hopes of reaching the postseason for the first time since winning 92 games in 2009. Then the injuries started rolling in…
Nationally, the Colorado Rockies generally aren’t taken seriously. Last season their new Double-A affiliate, the Hartford Yard Goats, played every game on the road with the construction of their new ballpark hitting delay after delay. Colorado’s 75-win season last year was their highest win total since 2010. The thin air at Coors makes their vaunted offense hard to believe or trust.
But this winter things seemed to change a little. The Rockies became everyone’s favorite sleeper pick to make a postseason push with what looks to be an upgraded rotation and an improved bullpen, along with additions like a full season from David Dahl from the farm system and Ian Desmond via free agency to help improve inefficiencies from last year’s roster. We’ll get into some of the additions and subtractions for the club during the offseason here in just a minute, along with what we can expect from the Rox. But first, let’s talk injuries.
The duo that is leading the rebuild effort, Dahl and ace Jon Gray, are both in the trainer’s room. Dahl has been having back and rib troubles while Gray was pulled from yesterday’s start after re-tweaking his foot. Gray’s injury seems to be minor and pulling him seemed to be a precautionary measure, but he is a big reason that there has been optimism surrounding the Rockies for the first time in many, many moons.
Dahl and Gray are the big names, but the most serious absence from camp is Chad Bettis, who is continuing his fight against cancer. Bettis has said he hopes to return to the mound for Colorado this season, which should lend some optimism about his overall situation.
Ian Desmond will be out for at least the first month with a fractured left hand, which should add to some of the worry surrounding his production when he returns following a second half swoon in 2016. Added to the infirmary are minor league catcher and the team’s number 6 prospect, Tom Murphy, along with rotation hopeful Chris Rusin.
The injury list is long and it has definitely dampened the expectations for this club heading into 2017. Although, if they’re able to tread water for a month or two….