For as long as the Colorado Rockies have been a franchise, they have been looking for consistent and prolonged production from their backstop. A consistent cycle of catchers have made an effort to be the savior, but no one has been able to string together several seasons of at least league-average production.
Now in the 2023 season, the current backstop is in the midst of his best career season, but his track record points to his production being an exception rather than the rule. But Elias Díaz’s ‘23 season is not the first time a catcher has had a good season but has been traditionally below-average production-wise.
[metabet_core_side_odds_tile query=”mlb/elias_díaz/player_32211″ size=”350×300″ site_id=”lastwordonsports”]
Four times have the Rockies seemingly found their answer at catcher, and four times has the team been wrong, so what happened to their thought-to-be saving graces?
The Rockies’ Franchise Catcher Search
Missed Rockies franchise catcher: Elias Díaz
At a time earlier this season, Díaz was on an All-Star pace as he had a .333 batting average and .907 OPS through 50-plus games. However, he is now down to a .296 average and .814 OPS.
In 10 June games up to June 13, he has slashed .184/.244/.316 with just four extra-base hits and no home runs. His .560 OPS to this point in the month is a far cry from his fantastic start, but it is closer to his career norm than what he was producing.
Already 32 years old, his 88 OPS+ in three-plus seasons in Colorado is not the answer, and his age does not fit the timeline of the team. Given his struggles being league-average and that lack of a fit, he is not the answer for the team going forward.
Elias Diaz since his massive series vs. the Marlins that ended May 25th:
• 53 PA
• .160/.208/.220
• wRC+: 1I still think Fortes is better suited as a backup and Stallings should be in the KBO…
BUT
I’m just not sure if an upgrade is out there right now
— Alex Ferrer (@PastyA_) June 12, 2023
Missed Rockies franchise catcher: Chris Iannetta
Chris Iannetta spent eight seasons in Colorado and was a nearly perfectly average hitter. In 620 games, he had a 95 OPS+. He started his career with six seasons with the team, putting up a 99 OPS+, before reuniting with the team for his age 35 and 36 seasons to end his career.
Looking at his first six seasons, he had three seasons with an OPS+ above 100 and, for just over one full season when he was 25 years old, looked to potentially be the answer.
After an 89 OPS+ rookie season and 72 OPS+ sophomore campaign, he put together his best career season in an 18 HR, 125 OPS+ 2008 season.
From 2008 to 2009, he slashed .248/.369/.484, hitting 34 HR and driving in 117 runs. His .853 OPS and 114 OPS+ over those two seasons were signs of hope for the team, but he quickly lost production, putting up a 93 OPS+ over the following two years.
In November 2011, the team dealt the backstop to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for Tyler Chatwood, closing the chapter on yet another catcher.
Missed Rockies franchise catcher: Michael McKenry
It is never a great sign when one of your most productive players at any position in franchise history played as a backup.
Backing up Wilin Rosario (98 OPS+ over five seasons with the Rockies) in 2014 and then Nick Hundley (97 OPS+ over two seasons with the Rockies) in 2015, Michael McKenry put up an impressive 138 OPS+ in 2014 over 57 games but fell back down to earth to the tune of an 86 OPS+ in 2015.
Inconsistent play not only plagues the starters in the Mile High City, but this backup shows it affects the whole roster from top to bottom when playing behind the dish.
Missed Rockies franchise catcher: Wilin Rosario
The previously mentioned starter over McKenry was yet another player in the list of those who have two productive seasons before falling down to being a below-average bat. From 2012 to 2013, Rosario was worth 3.7 WAR and had a 107 OPS+ with 49 HR over 238 games.
Although it is not jaw-dropping production, it certainly is better than what the Rockies usually get on a year-to-year basis. The downfall was the other three years he was in the league. In 2011 he had a 72 OPS+, then in 2014, he went down to a 93 OPS+ before falling all the way down to a 79 OPS+ through 87 games in 2015.
Missed Rockies franchise catcher: Jonathan Lucroy
The stars just did not align for Jonathan Lucroy in Colorado. A midseason acquisition that the front office hoped would bolster the catcher play for a 2017 playoff push, Lucroy played 46 regular season games with the team and had an impressive 117 OPS+ given his low asking price.
In the Wild Card Game that season, he went 2-for-3 with two doubles in a loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the last time he suited up as a Rockies player.
The team did not bring him back, electing to go with the aforementioned Iannetta as he came at a presumed cheaper price. Bouncing around the league the final three years of his career, Lucroy posted a 74 OPS+, so maybe he would have been another victim of this list beyond a half-season.
Main photo credits:
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Players mentioned:
Elias Diaz, Chris Iannetta, Tyler Chatwood, Michael McKenry, Wilin Rosario, Nick Hundley, Jonathan Lucroy
