Putting The 2009 Rockies Into Proper Context

I came to a revelation recently - after following the Colorado Rockies existence for 17 years, I can definitively say the 2009 squad is the best team the franchise has ever fielded.  Among Rockies fans maybe it's an obvious statement, as the team is approaching it's first ever 90-win season (in the regular 162 game schedule), but to others I'm sure the 2007 team, and their amazing run, probably stands out ahead of the current team (there may also be a rare hardcore fan who thinks the Blake Street Bomber team of 1995 is the best).  After a dismal 20-32 start to the season, the Rockies shifted into high gear and are 31 games over .500 since then.  Yes the Wild Card isn't quite locked yet, but before the mayhem of the playoffs start and then the potential (as always) of the team being reconfigured during the off season I wanted to take a moment and point out why the 2009 version is the best team.

Pitching has been the key for success of the 2009 Rockies.  8th in the NL in ERA may not sound like something to be very proud of, but for the Rockies it's quite an accomplishment.  Assuming they maintain their current 4.24 ERA, this will only be the 2nd time in their existence they have finished in the top 12 in the NL in ERA.  Please take a moment to soak that in.  The 1995 team had a typical Rockies joke of a rotation, and I have infinitely more faith in this team's rotation than the 2007 version.  The key to this year's rotation is depth: among Ubaldo/Cook/Marquis/De La Rosa/Hammel, the highest ERA is 4.47 (Cook) and if Hammel wins 1 more game, all 5 starters will have 10 wins.  The 2007 version had a 4.97 ERA on it and only 2 10 game winners.  This rotation has pitched 902 innings (with 9 games to go) compared to 821 by the '07 staff.  Yes Francis probably had better numbers than any starter this year, but the fact that all 5 current starters likely could have pitched the #2 spot on the 2007 team speaks volumes.  

The bullpen's of 2007 and 2009 are somewhat comparable.  2007 featured an emerging Manny Corpas and Taylor Bucholtz (93 IP) and the steady Fuentes and Herges, and were integral to the big win streak at the end of the season.  The 2009 team, when healthy, has reliable Huston Street as the anchor, backed by the Venezuelan connection of Morales, Betancourt, and Chacin and as well as Matt Daley.  No one comes close this year to the innings Bucholtz contributed in '07, but they have been effective for the most part and, aside from Morales, I trust them in the big game situation. 

Comparing Rockies All-time lineups is much more pleasing than their pitching staffs.  2009 doesn't jump off the page with some of the gaudy seasons Walker, Galaraga, Bichette, Castilla, Helton, or Holliday produced, but 2009 still holds their own. 

1995 featured one of the best 3-6 hitter combinations of all-time, the Blake Street Bombers: Larry Walker, Andres Galaraga, Dante Bichette, and Vinny Castilla - all 4 of which hit 30+ HR, and 3 of 4 hit for greater than .900 OPS as well as above .300 BA (keep in mind the 144 game 1995 schedule). True bashers - none of which have been mentioned in the steroid saga - this team made everyone else cry foul on Coors field, and eventually lead to the insistence of using the humidor in CO. Aside from Eric Young though, the rest of the lineup was forgettable and hurt them come playoff time.  Hard to beat this team's sheer numbers though, as they led the NL in Runs, HR, BA, and OPS. 

The post-humidor, 2007 team was led by superstar Matt Holiday and his ridiculous 36/137/.340/1.012 HR/RBI/BA/OPS stat sheet, but also featured the very solid production of vets Todd Helton and Garrett Atkins, and budding stars Troy Tulowitski and Brad Hawpe.  If there's one thing the '09 team is missing, it's a Matt Holliday.  Apart from Larry Walker's prime years, no other Rockie has ever put together as complete a season as Holliday's '07 campaign, and it's not hard to imagine that team losing 10-15 more games that year without him.  They may not have had to power of the '95 team, but they did lead the NL in BA and came through in the clutch time and again at the end of the season. 

The 2009 team sneaks up on you, and that's what I like about them.  Yes, Tulo is turning into a star, but he will likely be the only guy to 30 HR, and no one - I repeat, no one - will 100 RBI, or really even be close.  Only 1 player is batting above .300 (compared to 5 in '95, 4 in '07) and as a team, have nearly 1200 Ks already, 2nd in the NL.  Yet despite this, they lead the NL in OPS, and are 2nd in Runs and HR.  How?  Depth.  They team features 8 regulars that, when they step to the plate, I feel confident they will have a can good something good (Helton, Tulo, Hawpe, Stewart, Fowler, Gonzalez, Smith, Barmes).  This team works the pitchers, they find the holes, they move the runners and they hustle.  This is the only team I can remember wishing we could add a DH spot (or 2, or 3) for.  In the '07 series we batted Spilborghs DH in the 8 or 9 spot.  This year we could throw in whichever of the outfielders is sitting their turn out, as well as Atkins, or Giambi and I'd be fine with it.  We also have plenty of pure speed in Gonzalez and Fowler, plus EY Jr off the bench.  This lineup may not be the most feared in Rockies history, but it certainly the most balanced.

Defense can also not be ignored.  The 2007 team trumps the 2009 team in this area for sure.  In '07, The Rockies committed the fewest errors in the NL (68), and turned the 2nd most DPs - largely thanks to Tulo (was robbed of a Gold Glove simply because he was a rookie).  They also outclassed the '09 team in terms of Range Factor at almost every position.  The '09 team is still very solid in the field - only 82 errros on the year, and Tulo is the best defensive SS in the game.  Barmes and Stewart both had rough starts to the season, but have found their groove now, and Fowler covers a lot of ground in the spacious Coors outfield. 

When it's all put together, I have no doubt this team is better than the 2007 (or 1995) team.  Undoubtedly, this is the best pitching staff ever to face a season at Coors field.  The '07 team has it's advantages to the '09 version - with star power and defense, but what it really comes down to is trust - trust that has been earned through a season of play.  This isn't just a young team that got hot for a month, this is gritty, focused, balanced, and determined team who has shown their heart and talent for months now.  I haven't had near adrenalin rush as that unforgettable '07 team, true, but it's a different kind of enjoyment to be able to watch a team come into it's own, that is composed of all the right pieces and not yet tainted by the inevitable (and the occasionally understandable) downfalls of free agency, ego, expectations, and failure.  If this were a Red Sox, Yankees, or Dodgers team, the fan base would be cautiously optimistic.  They'd gloat over the powder keg of stockpiled young talent, yet wouldn't think they are quite ready for an October run, and still a few big signings away from a powerhouse dynasty.  But for me, this is as good as it gets.  It's what I've hoped for in the Rockies while I had outlined earlier in the decade why I had to stop rooting for a team that spent absurd sums on the likes of Hampton and Neagle, harboured washed-up vets and worried more about short-term appeasements than long-term investing.  Yet, I can already see myself 3 years from now looking back on this team and wondering what could of been if so-and-so wouldn't have gotten hurt, or traded, or left town, gotten into the slump or had the bad attitude.  I realize its entirely possible they could go another 10 years before they make the playoffs again, and so instead of thinking about the what ifs, I just want to enjoy what I have now. Fun guys, fun games, maturing home-grown talent, living only for the moment, that's your 2009 Colorado Rockies.