October 26th 2024.
As the season comes to a close, it's become a tradition for me to dive into the Rockies' numbers. I love digging through the statistics, rankings, and trends to get a full picture of how the team performed over the past year. And I have to say, the 2024 season was not a pretty one for the Rockies.
Let's start with the basics. The team's .242 batting average, .304 on-base percentage, and .704 OPS were all the lowest in franchise history. And if that wasn't bad enough, their 1,617 strikeouts were the most in club history. But let's be real, you probably already knew that.
But here's something you may not have known - the Rockies had the second-highest swing percentage (50.9%) and chase percentage (31.8%) in the entire league, only behind the Miami Marlins. In other words, they swung and missed a lot. And it showed in their record.
The Rockies hit rock bottom in early September when they struck out 75 times in just five games, the second-most in the modern era. To put it in perspective, only the 2017 Brewers had more strikeouts over a five-game span. Ouch.
Now, let's take a deeper look at some specific statistics - the good, the bad, and the ugly.
First off, let's talk about the pitching. Opposing hitters had a field day against Rockies pitchers, slashing .285/.354/.468 and hitting 221 home runs. These were the highest numbers in the league in all three categories, and it's safe to say, our pitchers got the full Charlie Brown treatment.
On the flip side, the Rockies had a young team this year. In fact, 12 players age 24 or younger took the field, tied for the second-most in franchise history. And four of those players were pitchers aged 23 or younger, tied for the most in club history. Only the Angels had more young pitchers on their roster. So while the season may not have gone as planned, there's definitely potential for growth and improvement in the future.
Moving on to the bullpen, things were a bit of a rollercoaster. On one hand, the Rockies had the highest ninth-inning ERA in the league (7.10) and opponents hit .295 against them in the ninth inning, also the highest in the league. On the other hand, there were some bright spots, particularly in the performance of six rookie relievers. They combined for a 3.84 ERA, 12 saves, and 8.59 strikeouts per nine innings in 143 appearances. It definitely gives us hope for the 2025 season.
Let's talk about some individual players now. Right-hander Ryan Feltner may have had a rough start to the season, going 3-10 with a 4.49 ERA, but he really turned things around in the second half. In fact, he had a 2.98 ERA over his last 15 starts, making him the first Rockies starter to have a sub-3.00 ERA over a 15-start span since 2021. Looks like he's on the rise.
Another player who caught our attention is shortstop Ezequiel Tovar. Not only was he a Gold Glove finalist, but he also had an impressive offensive season. He hit 26 home runs and added 45 doubles and four triples, giving him a total of 75 extra-base hits. This ranked him second in the National League, only behind Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani. And let's not forget, he's only 26 years old. We're excited to see what he can do in the future.
Of course, there were some struggles as well. Third baseman Ryan McMahon had a strong first half of the season, earning himself a spot in the All-Star game. But unfortunately, he slumped in the second half, slashing just .188/.283/.309 with six home runs. His strikeout rate was the 10th-highest in the league, and he ended the season with 185 strikeouts, the fourth-most in a single season in Rockies history. If we want to see success in 2025, getting McMahon to produce for a full season will be crucial.
Overall, it was a tough season for the Rockies. But there were some bright spots, and we're hopeful for the future. And in the meantime, we'll be keeping a close eye on all the latest news and updates. Want to stay in the loop? Make sure to sign up for the Rockies Insider to get all our MLB analysis.
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