May Malaise, lost art of bunting, Lambert’s status
Q: Patrick, it seems the Rockies continue to fall into the pattern of playing decent, even exciting, baseball in April. Fans get excited, but then the bottom quickly falls out in May. Too many errors and no offense. Why the quick start and then the quick swoon? As a fan, it’s frustrating each year to see this same pattern play out. Is this a coaching problem or a player problem or both?
— Kari, Denver
Patrick: Kari, I wish I had a definitive answer. I’m sure the Rockies wish they had an answer, too. I call it the “May Malaise” or the “June Swoon.” It infects a lot of teams.
The bottom line is that the Rockies simply don’t have as much talent as perennial playoff teams such as the Dodgers and Giants. The Rockies’ fast starts are often unsustainable because they don’t have the depth — particularly with their pitchers — to sustain the winning record that we sometimes see in April.
Plus, as we have already seen, the Rockies struggle mightily on the road.
I also think that the holes in the bullpen become exposed as the season goes on and it costs the Rockies a lot of games.
Q: When the Rockies are behind and need base runners, the opposition will shift and leave third base open. Why do the Rockies refuse to bunt to third? The opponent is giving them the single. But the Rockies’ left-handed hitters continue to ground out into the shift.
— Tim Eitel, Orlando, Fla.
Patrick: Tim, I’ve wondered the same thing for quite some time. Of course, beginning in 2023, teams no longer will be allowed to have more than two infielders on one side of second base, so the shift, at least as we know it now, will be banned.
When that happens, the bunt will be used even less. It truly is a lost art.
But I’ll try to answer your question, as it pertains to the current state of the Rockies. In 2021, major-league left-handed hitters faced defensive shifts 52.5% of the time, while righties only faced a shift 16.5% of the time. So why don’t lefties bunt more? There are a number of reasons.
First, a lot of players simply don’t know how to bunt. They don’t practice it very often and it’s not taught much at the major-league level. The Rockies’ best bunter is utility player Garrett Hampson, but he’s a right-handed hitter. He learned how to bunt in college at Long Beach State where the skill was stressed.
Second, a lot of players simply don’t think bunting is a particularly effective weapon. Back in 2018, Daniel Murphy (who played for Colorado in 2019 and ’20) explained in an ESPN article why he didn’t bunt:
“I haven’t really stolen bases for five or six years. If I drop a bunt down, what am I gonna do? I’m stuck at first base, so what I’ve done is ask our ballclub to get two more singles, or I’ve asked someone else to hit a double.”
In other words, a lot of power hitters don’t think it makes sense for them to limit themselves to a bunt single with the hope that someone will drive them in.
Q: Any word on Ryan Rolison or Peter Lambert? I know they both had injuries prior to the start of the year. Any chance either will see time this year?
— Mike, Denver
Patrick: Interesting that you would bring this up. Just a short time ago, manager Bud Black was asked about the state of the Rockies’ starting pitching depth. He mentioned that Lambert could be ready to help out in another month or so as he recovers from inflammation in his right forearm. He began a rehab assignment with Triple-a Albuquerque on Tuesday.
Rolison is going to take quite a bit more time because of his shoulder injury. He’s currently on the 60-day injured list.