{"id":58850,"date":"2023-06-15T13:00:29","date_gmt":"2023-06-15T17:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=58850"},"modified":"2023-06-15T10:07:48","modified_gmt":"2023-06-15T14:07:48","slug":"the-rockies-franchise-catcher-search","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2023\/06\/15\/the-rockies-franchise-catcher-search\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rockies’ Franchise Catcher Search"},"content":{"rendered":"

For as long as the Colorado Rockies<\/a> 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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 <\/span>Elias D\u00edaz\u2019s \u201823 season is not the first time a catcher has had a good season but has been traditionally below-average production-wise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[metabet_core_side_odds_tile query=”mlb\/elias_d\u00edaz\/player_32211″ size=”350×300″ site_id=”lastwordonsports”]<\/p>\n

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?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Rockies’ Franchise Catcher Search<\/h2>\n

Missed Rockies franchise catcher: <\/b>Elias D\u00edaz\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

At a time earlier this season, D\u00edaz was on an <\/span>All-Star pace<\/span> 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Elias Diaz since his massive series vs. the Marlins that ended May 25th:<\/p>\n

\u2022 53 PA
\u2022 .160\/.208\/.220
\u2022 wRC+: 1 <\/p>\n

I still think Fortes is better suited as a backup and Stallings should be in the KBO\u2026<\/p>\n

BUT<\/p>\n

I\u2019m just not sure if an upgrade is out there right now<\/p>\n

— Alex Ferrer (@PastyA_) June 12, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n