With just a week and a half remaining on what is pacing to be one of the five worst seasons in franchise history, and with eight of their last 11 games against playoff teams from this year or last year, it’s time for the Rockies to throw in the towel and commit 100 percent to seeing if these three prospects can deliver at the Major League level.
Alternatively, there are players that need to be shelved for the rest of the season – possibly longer.
Two Down: Justin Morneau
While it was great to see Justin Morneau finally return from a 103-day layoff due to a concussion and whiplash, this season made it abundantly clear that Ben Paulsen will be the long-term solution at first base.
Morneau has now missed significant parts of three seasons due to concussions dating back to 2010 and ’11. He was thought to be mostly in the clear after going three years without major incident, but this year questions arose as to whether his career was completely over.
Morneau is a clubhouse leader and consummate professional, but his $9 million price tag next year should be spent on starting pitching, especially considering Paulsen’s emergence this year. Morneau has a $750,000 buyout on his 2016 salary – it would mean an unceremonious end to his time in Denver, and maybe his career, but it’s what the Rockies need to do to compete next year.
Give him a spot start here and there to end this season, but don’t put him at further risk more than necessary.
