The Huston Dilemma

The Rockies have a tough decision to make this off-season.  For most teams it would be an easy decision but for the “frugal” Rockies, the decision is not so easy.  Do the Rockies resign Huston Street to a multi-year contract?  There were a lot of people who were unhappy with Street’s performance in game 3 and 4 of the NLDS.  Count me as one of them.  And the reason I was so upset wasn’t because of the results, it was because of his demeanor on the mound.

Street converted 35-of-37 save opportunities this season.  After starting off the season slow and losing his closer’s role, Street regained his form and became the Rockies ninth inning man again.  He finished the season 4-1 with a 3.06 ERA and was a dominant force for Colorado.  He stabilized a Rockies bullpen that was beginning to crumble in the first month of the season.

Before the postseason, it seemed like the Rockies had to resign Street.  Colorado knew they didn’t have any other option for the ninth inning that would be major league ready.  Manuel Corpas is coming off an elbow injury, Franklin Morales still has some mechanical and mental issues to work through, Taylor Buchholz is coming off Tommy John surgery and Casey Weathers is also coming of Tommy John but has no major league experience.

While the Street supporters point to the fact that the Rockies wouldn’t have made the playoffs without Street, the Street haters feel the Rockies would have won the series against the Phillies if Street hadn’t pitched.  It always comes down to the chicken or the egg dilemma.  However, I don’t think any of that matters.  It all comes down to Street’s confidence.

What I saw in game 3 and 4 was a man who was not confident.  That was not the same Huston Street that we saw throughout the season.  He always came into the game with a plan.  He knew what pitches to throw and he knew that his stuff was too good for the hitters.  However, in the NLDS, he pitched like he was scared.  He let the Phillies dictate his play.  He didn’t throw his pitches.  He was out there over thinking every pitch and letting the moment get the best of him.  A closer’s biggest responsibility is staying calm and focusing not on the moment but the batter in front of him.

Street was shaken by the vaunted Phillies line-up.  After every pitch, he would walk to the front of the mound, receive the ball from Torrealba and then walk halfway around the mound before getting back on the bump.  You could see him overanalyzing every pitch.  Street needed to stay on the mound and just pitch but he never got in a rhythm and it led to his demise.

So, I’m not worried about Street, the regular season closer.  I think the Rockies would be crazy not to resign him.  I think he will come back and have another great season.  I’m worried about Street, the postseason pitcher.  Is he really a big game pitcher?  Big game pitchers don’t run away, they embrace the challenge.  Street didn’t embrace his role in the playoffs he shied away.  He has to come back next season and prove that he is resilient and ready for that role.  The only way he can shake away the memories of Rocktober 2009, is to lead this team back to the playoffs, back into the spotlight, and show that this postseason was a fluke and he has the confidence to be a big game pitcher.

Tags: Colorado Rockies, Huston Street, Philadelphia Phillies, Yorvit Torrealba