Colorado Rockies All-Time Team

Before we review the Rockies All-Time team, a brief announcement: if you participated in the 600th Post giveaway your PWE was shipped out today. And if anyone would like some extra football and/or basketball cards, please let me know as I had planned to include those in the 300-ct prize box before the random drawing was won by Derek in Canada. [That was also shipped today.]

Now let's head to the Mile High City for the Rockies All-Time Team. Can you believe this franchise is celebrating its 30th anniversary? Where does the time go?

Two managers have led the Rockies through half their history: Bud Black, their current skipper, and Clint Hurdle - the franchise leader in games managed and wins.

A highly-touted prospect in his playing days, Hurdle called the shots for Colorado's only pennant-winning team in 2007. Here's his all-time lineup.

Charlie Blackmon is the only starter on the present-day Rockies. The 13-year veteran has played more games for Colorado than any player except likely 2024 Hall of Famer Todd Helton.

Dante Bichette would have been a perfect DH had the National League implemented it in his day, though Hurdle has a better batter on his bench.

	Rockies stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Dante Bichette	4.8	0.316	0.352	0.540	0.892	112
	*Ellis Burks	12.0	0.306	0.378	0.579	0.957	128
	*Vinny Castilla	17.5	0.294	0.340	0.530	0.870	106

Burks should probably start in center field over Blackmon, but designated hitter will do.

Andres Galarraga would be the backup first baseman here, but the Expos/Nationals franchise was so thin at the position that the "Big Cat" earned a spot on their roster with noticeably less production than he had in Denver. 

Bichette has to battle Brad Hawpe to keep his roster spot, while Vinny Castilla has some competition at third.

	Rockies stats	WAR	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
	*Vinny Castilla	17.5	0.294	0.340	0.530	0.870	106
	Garrett Atkins	5.3	0.289	0.354	0.457	0.811	102
	*Dante Bichette	4.8	0.316	0.352	0.540	0.892	112
	Brad Hawpe	5.1	0.280	0.374	0.492	0.866	116

Neither Hawpe nor Garrett Atkins can crack this roster. Dante stays.

Hurdle's starting pitching was among the weakest in the original series. It's still subpar, but improvements are available.

Staff ace Ubaldo Jimenez is the only starting hurler in Rockies history with an ERA under 4.00. Everyone else has to compete with the new guys.

	Rockies stats	WAR	ERA	ERA+	K/BB	WHIP	starts
	*Jon Gray	11.4	4.59	107	3.03	1.338	151
	*Jhoulys Chacin	14.0	4.05	113	1.82	1.348	110
	*Jorge De La Rosa	15.5	4.35	105	2.05	1.381	200
	*Aaron Cook	17.7	4.53	106	1.37	1.468	206
	German Marquez	16.0	4.41	111	3.26	1.283	173
	Kyle Freeland	18.4	4.20	116	2.28	1.390	159

Gray and Cook are out. Freeland and Marquez are the new #2 and #3 starters, pushing Chacin to #4 and De La Rosa - the franchise leader in wins and strikeouts - to #5.

Colorado's bullpen is less volatile. Daniel Bard isn't yet eligible but he can qualify at the end of this season - which is incredible considering he didn't throw a pitch for the Rockies before his 35th birthday.

	Rockies stats	SV	ERA	ERA+	K/BB	WHIP	games
	*Jose Jimenez	102	4.13	126	1.86	1.414	265
	*Matt Belisle	4	3.88	117	3.97	1.270	392
	Bruce Ruffin	60	3.84	131	1.93	1.445	246
	Darren Holmes	46	4.42	116	2.18	1.454	263
	Manny Corpas	34	4.01	118	2.46	1.337	311
	Rex Brothers	20	3.42	132	1.99	1.490	286
	Scott Oberg	7	3.85	127	2.32	1.317	259

Hurdle didn't have a hard time deciding to keep Jimenez and Belisle in the 'pen.

Looking ahead, Colorado has some young middle infielders on their current roster but none of them have shown the ability to hit at the big league level. Brendan Rodgers is the most accomplished and capable - but he's currently on the IL.

Perhaps Brenton Doyle succeeds Blackmon in center field. If not Doyle, look for Zac Veen in a couple years. If not Veen....I have no idea.

TL; DR: Two changes from the original roster. Gray and Cook out, Freeland and Marquez in.

We're hitching a ride with Nikola and the Nuggets, heading from Denver to Los Angeles for the final four teams. Come back next week for the Dodgers, Padres, Giants, and Barnstormers.

Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend!



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