It’s for Jeff Bridich to deliver a complete roster in Colorado
May 29, 2019, 6:22 AM | Updated: May 31, 2019, 12:25 pm
I recently received a tweet from a listener. It said, “Why don’t you lay off John Elway and start directing your ire towards Jeff Bridich?”
My first reaction was to think that this was just another Elway disciple who probably still has a poster of John up on his wall. My second reaction was, “Hmm, you know what? This guy is right.”
I have been completely underwhelmed by the Rockies’ start to the season. I came in with high expectations – demands really. Enough of this wild card crap. It’s time to step up and win the NL West for the first time ever.
Part of my confidence in the Rox ability to do this was based on the Dodgers having a “two straight World Series meltdown hangover.” No such luck there.
However, that doesn’t excuse the Rockies. There’s nothing keeping them from matching L.A.’s torrid start. Especially considering the momentum we all figured the Rox had built from another postseason appearance.
That hasn’t happened and a lot of the blame must land in Bridich’s lap. The way he constructed this team is like someone who builds a luxury home and doesn’t plant any grass. Just a whole bunch of dirt.
Why build a luxury home if you’re going to skimp on something that makes it complete? Or in the Rockies’ case, why do you go out and sign Nolan Arenado to a monster contract, and then step up and dole out a nice deal to German Marquez, only to skimp on key parts of your team?
Losing D.J. LeMahieu bugs me. I figured he was gone. I figured he would sign a rich enough deal that would justify the Rockies letting him walk. I was stunned when it was just two years, $24 million with the Yankees. Why couldn’t Colorado have done that deal? Why do you build this luxury home then decide to break in the Ryan McMahons, Garrett Hampsons and Brendan Rogers’ of the world?
The Rockies have always had a self-inflated view of their prospects. Part of it is justified. Part of it is also arrogance, believing they can let someone like D.J. go and yet another kid will step in seamlessly.
They made that mistake at second base. They also made that mistake with the starting rotation. No, I’m not blaming Bridich for Kyle Freeland. Geez, what is happening there? I get this is a game of adjustments, but how do you explain Freeland being completely clueless this season?
The mistake, some would say arrogance, Bridich made was believing in Tyler Anderson, Chad Bettis and Antonio Senzatela. It was a mistake to think Freeland and Marquez would not only duplicate last season’s success but build on it, while also assuming the No. 3-5 guys in his rotation would also continue to excel.
I have left Jon Gray out of this because he has been what we thought he would be. Not bad, not great. Only continuing to add to his mystique of whether he will ever live up to the jaw-dropping talent he possesses.
The Rockies success last year left too many thinking this young rotation had arrived and could be counted on to deliver the goods again this season. Pitching staffs and bullpens can be finicky. They can ebb and flow from one year to the next.
Bridich would’ve been better served to go out and add a veteran arm to this rotation. Not only for their production, but to also serve as a mentor to these young arms (Joe Flacco thinks that would’ve been an excellent idea).
There is still a chance to rectify this short sightedness. Dallas Keuchel is still mind-bogglingly unsigned. Go get him. Don’t build a team that is about 75% of the way there and then just… stop.
The Rockies’ chances of competing can’t come down to just sitting back and hoping. Bridich must go out and be aggressive to make this team complete. So there you go, criticism of the Rockies’ GM.
One last thought: Dude, you gotta take down that Elway poster.
