Here we go with the candidates for the Rock Star starting rotation. I'm not going to say a lot here other than this will be a long read and you will get to choose 5 pitchers. Let's take a stroll down Rockies starting pitching history.
Armando Reynoso (1993-96)
Armando Reynoso was drafted from the Braves in the 3rd round of the 1992 Expansion Draft. He would go on to become the ace for the 1993 Rockies. In his 4 seasons with Colorado, Reynoso had a record of 30-31 with a 4.65 ERA and 270 strikeouts. Following the 1996 season, Reynoso was traded to the Mets for reliever Jerry DiPoto.
David Nied (1993-96)
David Nied was drafted from the Braves with the 1st pick in the 1992 Expansion Draft. While he never lived up to the lofty standard of a first pick overall, Nied had a somewhat serviceable career in purple. In 4 seasons with the Rockies, Nied had a record of 14-18 with a 5.47 ERA and 127 strikeouts. Following the 1996 season, Nied left the Rockies via free agency and joined Cincinnati but never made the team.
Marvin Freeman (1994-96)
Marvin Freeman was acquired as a free agent from the Braves following the 1993 season. Freeman was a reliever in Atlanta, but was successfully converted to a starter in Colorado. In his 3 seasons with the Rockies, Freeman had a record of 20-18 with a 4.91 ERA and 199 strikeouts. In late 1996, Freeman was waived by the Rockies and ended up with the White Sox for the remainder of the season.
Kevin Ritz (1994-98)
Kevin Ritz was drafted from the Tigers in the 2nd round of the 1992 Expansion Draft. Although he had a bad start in Denver, getting released and resigned in 1993, Ritz became a very successful starter for the Rockies. In his 5 seasons with Colorado, Ritz had a record of 39-38 with a 5.20 ERA and 337 strikeouts. Ritz retired following the 1998 season at age 33 due to arm and shoulder injuries.
Bill Swift (1995-97)
Bill Swift was acquired via free agency from San Francisco following the 1994-95 strike. Swift was the first major pitching acquisition from free agency and was somewhat of a minor success, mainly because of injuries. In his three seasons in Colorado, Swift had a record of 14-10 with a 5.47 ERA and 102 strikeouts. Late in the 1997 season, Swift was released and signed (for 4 days) by Baltimore.
Roger Bailey (1995-97)
Roger Bailey was selected by the Rockies in the 3rd round of the 1992 amateur draft. Bailey made a rapid rise through the Rockies minor league system and found himself as the second Rockies draft pick to make the majors. In his 3 seasons in Colorado, Bailey had a record of 18-19 with a 4.90 ERA and 162 strikeouts. Following the 1997 season, Bailey was demoted to the minors and finished his career in Tampa's system.
Jamey Wright (1996-99, 2004-05)
Jamey Wright was selected in the 1st round of the 1993 amateur draft by the Rockies. In his first stint with Colorado, Wright was a hot shot prospect with high expectations in his second stint he was a journeyman with almost no expectations. He settled in between those two extremes. In his six seasons with the Rockies, Wright had a record of 35-52 with a 5.40 ERA and 381 strikeouts. Following the 1999 season, Wright was traded to Milwaukee in the three way deal that brought Jeff Cirillo to Colorado.
Pedro Astacio (1997-2001)
At the 1997 trade deadline, Pedro Astacio was acquired from the Dodgers for popular second baseman Eric Young. He immediately established himself at the top of the Rockies rotation. In his 5 seasons in Colorado, Astacio had a record of 53-48 with a 5.43 ERA and 749 strikeouts. At the 2001 trade deadline, Astacio was sent to Houston for pitching prospect Scott Elarton.
John Thomson (1997-2002)
John Thomson was selected by the Rockies in the 7th round of the 1993 amateur draft. After slowly but surely working his way up the minor league system, Thomson won a rotation spot early in 1997. He had a very rough 1999 season and was sent to the minors to work out some kinks for two years before resurfacing in 2001. In his 5 seasons with the big league Rockies, Thomson had a record of 27-43 with a 5.01 ERA and 390 strikeouts. At the 2002 trade deadline, Thomson was traded in a five player deal to the Mets for Jay Payton and two others.
Bobby Jones (1997-99)
Bobby Jones was selected from the Brewers in the minor league phase of the 1994 Rule 5 draft. After a few years of seasoning in the minors, Jones joined the Colorado staff in late 1997. In his three seasons with the Rockies, Jones had a record of 14-19 with a 5.90 ERA with 188 strikeouts. Following the 2000 season, Jones was traded along with Lariel Gonzalez to the Mets for starter Masato Yoshii.
Darryl Kile (1998-99)
Darryl Kile was acquired as a free agent from the Astros following the 1997 season. Kile was another of Colorado's unwise free agent pitching acquisitions, but he had his moments in Denver as well. In his 2 seasons with the Rockies, Kile had a record of 21-30 with a 5.84 ERA with 274 strikeouts. Following the 1999 season, Kile was sent to St. Louis in a seven player deal which brought Jose Jimenez to Colorado. Tragically, Kile passed away in 2002 after of a heart attack at the age of 33.
Brian Bohanon (1999-2001)
Before the 1999 season, Brian Bohanon was acquired as a free agent from the Dodgers. Not much was expected of Bohanon, but he turned out to be a very serviceable (albeit chunky) starter for the Rockies. In his 3 seasons in Colorado, Bohanon had a record of 29-30 with a 5.82 ERA and 265 strikeouts. After the 2001 season, Bohanon left the Rockies via free agency and joined Cincinnati but never pitched in the majors again.
Mike Hampton (2001-02)
Mike Hampton was acquired via free agency from the Mets before the 2001 season. Hampton was yet another high dollar free agent pitching acquisition that failed to live up to expectations, although like the others he still had his good moments in Colorado, mostly with his bat. In his 2 seasons in Colorado, Hampton had a record of 21-28 with a 5.75 ERA and 196 strikeouts. Following the 2002 season, Hampton was traded to Florida in a multi-player deal for Preston Wilson and others.
Denny Neagle (2001-03)
Prior to the 2001 season, Denny Neagle was acquired via free agency from the Yankees. The fourth (and hopefully final) unsuccessful big time pitcher free agency acquisition for the Rockies. In his three seasons in Colorado, Neagle had a record of 19-23 with a 5.57 ERA and 271 strikeouts. He missed the 2004 season due to injuries and had the final year of his contract nullified due to a morals clause following a run in with the law (I'm trying to be classy, look it up if you are curious). He left the Rockies after the 2004 season and wound in Tampa Bay, but never pitched in the majors again.
Shawn Chacon (2001-05)
Shawn Chacon was selected by the Rockies in the 3rd round of the 1996 amateur draft. Chacon was mostly a starter with the Rockies, although he spent one of his seasons as a relatively unsuccessful closer. In his 5 seasons with Colorado, Chacon had a record of 24-45 with a 5.20 ERA and 385 strikeouts to go along with 35 saves. At the 2005 trade deadline, Chacon was traded to the Yankees for pitching prospects Ramon Ramirez and Eduardo Sierra.
Jason Jennings (2001-06)
Jason Jennings was selected by the Rockies in the 1st round (16th overall) of the 1999 amateur draft. Jennings quickly moved up the minor league ladder and won the 2002 Rookie of the Year Award, still the only Rockie to ever win the award. In his 6 seasons in Colorado, Jennings had a record of 58-56 with a 4.74 ERA and 622 strikeouts. Following the 2006 season, Jennings was traded in a five player deal to Houston for Willy Taveras and others.
Aaron Cook (2002-11)
Aaron Cook was selected by the Rockies in the 2nd round of the 1997 amateur draft. The Rockies were wise to show patience with Cook's slow rise to the majors. He currently holds the record for most career victories as a Rockie and figures to hold that record for at least the next few years. In his 10 seasons with Colorado, Cook had a record of 72-68 with a 4.53 ERA and 558 strikeouts. Following the 2011 season, Cook left the Rockies via free agency and signed with Boston.
Jeff Francis (2004-10)
Jeff Francis was selected by the Rockies in the 1st round (9th overall) of the 2002 amateur draft. Francis quickly dispatched minor league hitters and joined the big league club in late 2004. In his 6 seasons with the Rockies, Francis had a record of 55-50 with a 4.77 ERA and 603 strikeouts. He missed the 2009 season due to shoulder surgery. Following a successful comeback in the 2010 season, Francis left the Rockies via free agency and joined the Royals.
Joe Kennedy (2004-05)
Prior to the 2004 season, Joe Kennedy was acquired from Tampa Bay in a three team deal for reliever Justin Speier. Kennedy was a bit of a perceived failed prospect that turned around quite a bit with Colorado. In his 2 seasons with the Rockies, Kennedy had a record of 13-15 with a 4.88 ERA and 169 strikeouts. At the 2005 trade deadline, Kennedy was traded to Oakland in a four player deal for Omar Quintanilla and Eric Byrnes. Tragically, Kennedy passed away in the 2007 offseason from a congenital heart defect at the young age of 28.
Byung-Hyun Kim (2005-07)
Prior to the 2005 season, Byung-Hyun Kim was acquired from Boston for catcher Charles Johnson. He was soon after inserted into the Rockies rotation. Although he is better known from other teams, Kim had a decent couple of years in Colorado. In his three seasons with the Rockies, Kim had a record of 14-26 with a 5.33 ERA and 246 strikeouts. Early in the 2007 season, Kim was traded to the Marlins for reliever Jorge Julio (which is Spanish for George ThreeRunHomer).
Ubaldo Jimenez (2006-11)
Ubaldo Jimenez was signed by the Rockies as an amateur international free agent in 2001. Ubaldo steadily climbed the minor league ladder and made his debut in 2006. He had a career year in 2010, starting his only All Star game and finishing 3rd in the Cy Young voting (highest ever for a Rockie). He is currently the franchise leader in career ERA and strikeouts for starters. In his 6 seasons in Colorado, Jimenez had a record of 56-45 with a 3.66 ERA and 773 strikeouts. At the 2011 trade deadline, Jimenez was traded to Cleveland for four prospects including Drew Pomeranz and Alex White.
Jorge de la Rosa (2008-Present)
Early in the 2008 season, Jorge de la Rosa was acquired as a player to be named later from the Royals for reliever Ramon Ramirez. He quickly showed the Rockies how shrewd (or lucky) they were to pick him up. In his 4 seasons in Colorado as of 2011, de la Rosa has a record of 39-26 with a 4.38 ERA and 486 strikeouts. He is under contract with the Rockies through 2012 and with option through 2014 and is currently rehabbing from Tommy John surgery in mid-2011.
Jason Marquis (2009)
Prior to the 2009 season, Jason Marquis was acquired from the Cubs for reliever Luis Vizcaino. The trade turned out to be a big victory for the Rockies. Marquis is the only candidate with only one year of Rockies experience, but he pitched well enough to be selected for the All Star team in that year. In his lone season with the Rockies, Marquis had a record of 15-13 with a 4.04 ERA and 115 strikeouts. Following the 2009 season Marquis left the Rockies via free agency and joined Washington.
Jason Hammel (2009-11)
Prior to the 2009 season, Jason Hammel was acquired from the Rays for pitching prospect Aneury Rodriguez. Despite not having a great prospect pedigree, Hammel proved to be a somewhat pleasant surprise for the Rockies. In his 3 seasons in Colorado, Hammel had a record of 27-30 with a 4.63 ERA and 368 strikeouts. Following the 2011 season, Hammel and reliever Matt Lindstrom were traded to Baltimore for starting pitcher Jeremy Guthrie.
Jhoulys Chacin (2009-Present)
Jhoulys Chacin was signed by the Rockies as an amateur international free agent in 2004. He destroyed minor league hitters in his climb to the Rockies leading all the minor leagues with 18 victories in 2008. Although just beginning his career, Chacin has the look of an excellent starter for years to come. In his three seasons with the Rockies as of 2011, Chacin has a record of 20-26 with a 3.52 ERA and 301 strikeouts. He is currently under team control until the 2016 season.
Honorable Mention: Shawn Estes, Greg Harris, Bryan Rekar, Denny Stark, Mark Thompson
Voting may begin on the Rock Star starting rotation immediately. You can choose FIVE starters to fill out the rotation. Voting will continue until Saturday at 4PM Eastern. As always, your votes (and comments) are greatly appreciated and highly encouraged. Thanx for reading.
