The Colorado Rockies are off to an excellent start. Heading into tonight, their record is 7-2, 1st place in the NL West and a full game ahead of the Dodgers. They start a 3-game set with L.A. tonight. Why so much early success since this is pretty much the same team that went 66-96 last year?
Pitching last year was horrible. They were dead last in Major League Baseball with a team ERA of 4.84. This year has been great. The team ERA is 2.41. The bullpen couldn’t do anything right last season with a total era of 4.76. Flip the page this year and the bullpen has been outstanding. Relief pitching has an ERA of 1.91. If the relief pitching can continue what they have been doing, then they will be in contention to win the NL West crown.
Pitching isn’t the only reason they are off to a 7-2 start. The Rockies as a team are hitting .301 which ranks 3rd in all of baseball and number one in the National League. The Rockies aren’t settling for singles. They have 39 extra base hits which includes 29 doubles, 2 triples, and 8 home runs. DJ Lemahieu has been hot at the plate with a batting average of .514, ranking 2nd in Major League Baseball. He is not the only one who is seeing the ball well at the plate. Corey Dickerson is hitting .361 while Troy Tulowitzki is at .343. If the Rockies continue to hit the cover off the ball, they will grab leads in games. The Rockies have the best hitting lineup in Major League Baseball and that will be the key to their success the rest of the way.
Rockies fans know they can win at home. It was the road that hurt them last year, going 21-60. Flip the switch to this year. They can’t lose on the road, so far, with a record of 6-0. The Rockies must have a respectable road record to reach the postseason. They must win at least 37 games away from Coors Field. Winning 37 games on the road could be the difference between heading to the postseason or not making it.
The Rockies can’t be satisfied with the great start. Colorado always seems to have a decent April. Once they reach May, their season is all downhill. Hopefully they carry on their hot start the rest of the season.
What do you think of the Rockies start to the season?
Love it so far. Let’s just hope they can keep it going
Hot starts are great. The season is long. Hot finishes in close races are even better.
I hope the Rockies are in a race at the end. We will have to wait and see.