Colorado Rockies: Grading the 2016 Corner Infielders
Aug 31, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies first baseman Stephen Cardullo (65) on deck in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Reflecting back on the performance of the Colorado Rockies corner infielders in 2016, it’s clear the Rockies were living in a paradox where they had both the league’s best and worst players.
As a note, we have only listed the players in this article who played a majority of their innings at a corner infield position.
STEPHEN CARDULLO: 2016 GRADE D+, fWAR -0.3
Perennial minor leaguer Stephen Cardullo got a shot at both corner spot during September callups in 2016. All in all, Cardullo managed a weak .214/.254/.411 line in 59 plate appearances. At the prime age of 29, the club needed to see what Cardullo was capable of. It is safe to say they didn’t find their long-term solution at first base in the presence of Cardullo.
Altogether, it wasn’t all bad having Cardullo in LoDo. After all, it was a fun loving story that an older guy who had spent so much time in the independent leagues was finally getting at shot at the Bigs. In the best moments of his career, Cardullo managed to hit two very memorable homers on the season. First, both homers came during a twin bill against the rival Dodgers (always a great thing). Second, the latter dinger was a first-inning grand slam (you have to love getting on top early). Third, it was also his birthday. Thanks for the gifts, Mr. Cardullo.
Equal to Mark Reynolds‘ situation, Cardullo won’t be around once Spring Training is upon us as he was granted his free agency on December 2. It’s unclear at present if another organization will give him an opportunity to catch on with their club.
Colorado Rockies’ first baseman Mark Reynolds. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
MARK REYNOLDS: 2016 GRADE C-, fWAR 0.1
The Colorado Rockies brought free agent first baseman Mark Reynolds to Denver on a one-year deal under the assumption that he would be the starter for 2016. Consequently, it’s clear the Rockies front office never saw Reynolds to be the long-term answer for the club. After all, it has been six years since he last hit over 30 home runs, which all but indicated that his “Sheriff of Swattingham” days are behind him.
In addition to his diminishing power, Reynolds owns a career .234 average and has led the league in strikeouts four times. Despite all of the above going against him, Reynolds showed a lot of grit to pleasantly surprise Rockies fans. In 2016, Reynolds post a career-best .282 average, and .365 OBP. Despite a few career highs, Reynolds ranks 26th out of 31 first basemen who amassed 400+ plate appearances in 2016 in wins above replacement (fWAR).
Rockies GM Jeff Bridich has made it clear this offseason the Rockies are looking to upgrade and find a long-term solution at first base. Whether Ian Desmond or another potential free agent is the answer Bridich is searching for, only time shall tell.
Apr 14, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies left fielder Ben Paulsen (10) in the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
BEN PAULSEN: 2016 GRADE F, fWAR -1.1
Do you know what Ben Paulsen has in common with Mark Reynolds and Stephen Cardullo? Well, other than the fact they play first base? None of them are wearing purple anymore. But, out of the three of them, Paulsen is the only one with a new home as of this writing. Paulsen signed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins.
In 2016, Paulsen was the worst of the worst. To put it into perspective, Paulsen had one less home run than Cardullo did, but Paulsen had twice as many at-bats. It is very hard to keep your job as a first baseman with a slugging percentage of .304. For this reason, the Rockies had little problem cutting ties with Paulsen.
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Although 2016 wasn’t so kind to him, he was the starting first baseman at Coors just one season earlier if you can believe it. Not only was he the starter, but Paulsen posted an fWAR of 0.8. Based on fWAR alone, Paulsen was better than the starter in 2016. Not by a mile, but by a little at least.
Oct 2, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Hernan Perez (14) slides out to first against Colorado Rockies first baseman Jordan Patterson (72) in the tenth inning at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
JORDAN PATTERSON: 2016 GRADE C, fWAR 0.2
Surprised? You should be. Jordan Patterson has always traditionally been listed as an outfield prospect for the Rockies, but he actually logged 20 out of his 36 big league innings in 2016 at first base.
Patterson has a lot going for him that the others that played first base just don’t. First, Patterson is youngest on our list at the tender age of 24. Second, Patterson is regarded as one of the club’s top 20 prospects. On the scout’s scoring scale of 20-80, Jordan registers scores of 50 across the board. The only exception is that scouts score Patterson’s arm at a 60.
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In 119 Triple-A games last season, Patterson hit for a .293 average and a .376 OBP. Although he only registered 19 plate appearances as a September call-up in 2016, he didn’t slow down. Patterson hit for an impressive .444 average. Clearly, 19 PAs is too small of a sample size, but the potential is higher with Patterson than any of the since-departed players listed thus far. Come Spring Training, Patterson will be fighting for an Opening Day role.
Patterson most likely isn’t the long-term answer at first base. However, he is a serviceable bat who can pinch hit, play the outfield and provide depth to a Rockies squad looking to compete in 2017.
There is excellent rationale why Patterson is the only returning player who logged the majority of his innings at first base from a year ago. As a team, only the Yankees, Athletics, and Nationals got worse play at first base in 2016 than Colorado.
Sep 19, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) fields the ball in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
NOLAN ARENADO: 2016 GRADE A, fWAR 5.2
The heart and soul of the Colorado Rockies is without question Nolan Arenado. At 25, it’s scary that Nolan may even get better. Despite finishing fifth in the National League MVP race in 2016, Arenado hit for a better average, put up more home runs and RBI, all while striking out 50+ less times than eventual MVP Kris Bryant. Had Arenado played for a team in contention, there would have been a much more vigorous argument to have a Rockies MVP for the second time in club history.
Don’t expect to see much of Arenado with the Rockies during Spring Training. As a result of his outstanding play, Arenado has agreed to play for team USA during the World Baseball Classic. The WBC is just another chance for Arenado to add to his already stacked hardware case. In 2016, he took home his second straight Silver Slugger award, fourth consecutive Gold Glove, while being named to his second straight All-Star Game.
Heading into an exciting 2017 campaign, Arenado figures to once again be one of the main workhorses of the Rockies offense … and it could be an improved offense next season. Assuming the Rockies pitching staff can develop further, Arenado might play in the playoffs for the first time of his career and improve on that fifth-place MVP finish.
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