Colorado’s Hot Start To The 2020 Season Feels Like A Dream, In Danger Of Missing The MLB Postseason Once Again

By Jordan Long

             The Colorado Rockies started the season at 11-3, looking like a potential threat in the MLB playoffs.  Since that hot beginning, Colorado has a record of 6-16 entering todays’ game against the Giants.  Colorado is still in the hunt for the postseason but has fallen 1.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the last playoff spot in the National League.

                The Rockies had their worst night of the year yesterday.  They gave up a season high 23 runs and 27 hits to the San Francisco Giants.  The 27 hits are the 2^nd most given up in franchise history while the 23 runs are third.

                Colorado is not looking like a team that is going to make an October run.  Teams who end up in the postseason have pitching.  Colorado’s pitching has gone way downhill since their fantastic start.  Manager Bud Black can’t trust starters or the bullpen.  The total team ERA is 5.52, 29^th in MLB.  The starting pitchers’ ERA isn’t terrible at 4.69 16^th in MLB.  The problem is the starters aren’t going deep in games and allowing runs which add to the Rockies deficit.  Black has waited too long to take a pitcher out when they clearly show they don’t have their best stuff that game. 

The bullpen isn’t doing their job either.  They have trouble ending innings as well as keeping teams from scoring.  A reliever will be called into the game and give up even more runs.  The bullpen has a disappointing ERA of 6.88 29^th in MLB.

                The offense is even struggling. Colorado is hitting .258, 9^th in MLB. That is pretty good but Colorado is swinging at pitches outside the zone for strikeouts with 311, 13^th highest in the league.  Colorado is smacking home runs but not as many as they want with 42, 22^nd in MLB. 

                The Rockies are lucky they are still in a race for the 8^th and final playoff spot.  In any other season, Colorado might be 10 to 15 games behind the 2^nd Wild Card spot.  There is time to turn the season around to become a playoff team but they must play better on offense and defense.  The postseason hopes don’t look great for Colorado right now. Colorado may miss the playoffs for the 2^nd consecutive year.