Better Than The Way We Had (High on Rockie Top)

[Ghost Of The Year]

Reboot:
I'm going to give this a go again, in MLBTS25. Winning in Colorado... with pitching.

I'll let Coors Field make my hitters viable, not going after any big time free agent everyday position players. And I think my original formula will work better nine years later, 26 man rosters now, so I can afford to carry 13 pitchers full-time.

Thinking outside the batters box, to get Colorado to the hallelujah land. 1400+ innings in a season, all thirteen pitchers will require at least fifty attribute points in their stamina rating, because their will be no staff ace, and no real bullpen. And definitely no closer, or even closer by committee. Quite the opposite, a ''starter by committee''. Every pitcher will start at sometime or another and every pitcher will work out of the bullpen as well. No pitcher will pitch more than 115 innings. On average, this would be around 112 innings but I expect I will use around twenty or more pitchers and not just the main thirteen. Those seven plus pitchers coming up from the minors will most likely be true relievers to help out when there is an injury in the core thirteen and these relievers will also probably have stamina well below forty attribute rating points..

No pitcher will pitch more than three innings in a game and any pitcher who pitches will pitch exactly three innings in a game, outside of extra inning baseball or injury, in which case that games fourth pitcher may wind up pitching only one inning, or less.

This is the way. It's better than the way we had. And it may be the only way to get Colorado a World Series championship.
Time will tell.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Better Than The Way We Had.

Time to get radical with the Rockies, time to change the batter.. change to pitching as a means of winning in Colorado.

And the ladies won't be crying 'cause the story ain't sad.
Apologies to Joe Walsh.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Better Than The Way We Had (High on Rockie Top)

Looking at my 2025 Athlon's season preview magazine, what the roster might look like when I begin:

Pitchers
Kyle Freeland
German Marquez
Antonio Senzatela
Ryan Feltner
Austin Gomber
Chase Dollander
Carson Palmquist
Sean Sullivan
Tanner Gordon
Bradley Blalock
Still need three more starters.
Probably gonna try to sign FA Kyle Gibson

Catchers
Jacob Stallings
Hunter Goodman

Infield
Michael Toglia
Thairo Estrada
Ezequiel Tovar
Ryan McMahon
Kyle Farmer
Aaron Schunk

Outfield
Nolan Jones
Brenton Doyle
Jordan Beck
Sam Hilliard
DH Kris Bryant

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Better Than The Way We Had (High on Rockie Top)

February 21 2025
Colorado begins 2025 Spring Training with a 3-1 win over rival Arizona D'Bags.

The biggest concern came in the top of the sixth frame with the Rockies batting and runners on first and third, no outs. In an earlier inning Colorado had a runner on third and no outs and with a suicide squeeze, pushed in their third run. Trying to play small ball again in the sixth but this time with the bench emptied and substitutes all on base and at the dish, the second attempt at a station-to-station offense was a complete disaster. A rocket bunt pop up to third base and runners going with the pitch resulted in a very easy triple play for the Snakes and left eggs as hard as rocks on the Colorado faces. Thankfully, Arizona's offense had not yet heated up to desert-like temperatures and only managed the lone puny run. Asked about the baserunning meltdown in the sixth inning, Rockie manager Bud Black scowled and said ''If the second string doesn't want to become first stringers for Colorado affiliates, there will be no more naps while navigating the pond.''

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Better Than The Way We Had (High on Rockie Top)

Rockies sign 37 year old free agent pitcher Kyle Gibson to a one year contract reported to be $6.3 million.
To make room in the organization, Colorado outright released minor league catcher Daniel Cope, sent pitcher Luis Peralta to the minors and dropped pitcher Juan Mejia off the 40 man roster.

Rockies GM Nar Sevarg said barring injury, there would be no further free agent signings and Colorado manager Bud Black said the move was necessary because of disappointment in pitcher Antonio Senzatela's overall condition. The key word appeared to be ''overall''. When pitchers and catchers reported in the middle of February, it was anticipated that Senzatela would return as one of the Rockies top five pitchers but it was readily apparent after one week Senzatela would need major progression to get back to previous form. Unnamed sources also say Senzatela is on the wrong side of thirty to rely on this progression, making the Gibson signing absolutely necessary. Senzatela is owed $30.3 millon over the next three years, rendering it difficult to completely give up on Senzatela. Senzatela's biggest supporter appears to be newly named pitching coach Eli Zachary. Zachary says he is excited to have both Senzatela and Gibson available on the hill, while he also fully expects Mejia and Peralta to make important contributions to the club in the very near future.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: Better Than The Way We Had (High on Rockie Top)

February 22 2025
The Snakes and Rocks play to a 2-2 tie.

But for a controversial new mandate forcing teams to finish spring training games to a full winner-loser conclusion, the two managers would have been fine to call it a day after nine innings of 2-2 ball. Major League Baseball was having none of that, as the League office in San Diego insisted on stipulations that there shall be no more ties in meaningless spring practice games. Longtime Colorado assistant to the travelling secretary Jorge ''A.I.'' Kantstanya was heard yelling from Aloha Jhoe's ''Practice, we're talking about practice. Practice. Practice.We're not talking about a game. We talking about practice.'' Aloha Jhoe was then forced to cut A.I. off from any more double espresso lattes. Arizona and Colorado then agreed to simulate game conditions to satisfy the new league rule. Colorado was awarded a 3-2 win in the extra frame.

Bud Black was raising hell again in the bottom of the eighth over his bench players lackadaisical attitude on the basepath. With a 2-2 tie, a runner on second and none out, the Rockies remained snake bit with a rocket bunt flyout and a double play at second with the runner already on third before the catch was even secure. Manager Black says he is not ready to send anyone down to minor league camp yet but he will if the sleepwalking continues.

In related news, GM Nar Sevarg advised first year third base coach Rhys Anguiano to continue leasing his townhouse and not purchase his wifes dream home in the 'burbs. Sevarg has become notorious in baseball circles for his willingness to eat even as long as a three year contract like the one Anguiano currently enjoys.