After last night's activation of Carlos Gonzalez, that still leaves 8 players on the DL, 7 of them pitchers. Brett Anderson will come back tomorrow, but the damage is already done.
The Rockies never have deep starting pitching and this year so far have used 13 different starting pitchers. Their projected 5 Starters at the beginning of the season (De La Rosa, Anderson, Chacin, Lyles, and Nicasio) have started a total of 59 of 93 games and De La Rosa has 19 of them. Chacin is done for the season most likely, Nicasio struggled without being hurt and is back in the minors.
For much of the year up until yesterday, there have been at least two of the starting 8 on the DL as well. Cuddyer is the only starting fielder who is still on the DL and has missed 56 games so far on two stints. Arenado missed 37 games, Gonzalez 35 and Rosario 12, although he has had other minor injuries that have not landed him on the DL in June and July. Fortuately, the Rockies have adequate backup in the Outfield to make up for Cuddyer's and Gonzalez's loss, but the lack of infield depth hurt.
I think Nolan Arenado's injury was the biggest blow, because try as they may with several players, there was no adequate fielding backup to Arenado, and outs that he could have made became hits and taxed the pitching even more.
But in the end, the pitching wore down quickly which affected the bullpen, (which was less than effective to begin with) overworking many of them.
With the upcoming break it may bring some relief, to recharge and start over. Winning the division is out of the question, but getting back to .500 and respectability is a noble goal for 2014. Getting the pitchers healthy will go a long way to achieving it.
But will they come through?
