By Jordan Long
The Colorado Rockies finished last season 91-72, making the playoffs for the second straight year. What helped them achieve this was the offense. They were the 6th best hitting team in all of Major League Baseball with a team average of .256. They added 210 home runs. They were ultimately swept in the Division Series by the Milwaukee Brewers because the offense didn’t show up. The team average was only .146.
Colorado felt they needed a better hitting coach in order to make a deeper playoff run. They decided Duane Espy would not return in 2019 because of the lack of offense during the playoffs. Espy had been with the Rockies for the 2017 season. In 2017 the Rockies batting average was .273.
This season it dropped. Espy showed he couldn’t improve the Rockies batting especially in big games. It seemed when the Rockies took batting practice, it didn’t translate into on field success. For that it was time to move on.
Colorado hired Dave Magadan. Magadan has 16 years of hitting coach experience. He was part of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ staff as hitting coach for the last 3 seasons. The Diamondbacks weren’t that great offensively last year under Magadan. They hit .235, 27th in all of Major League Baseball. Colorado is hoping he will have better results.
Colorado knows in order to win ball games next year and make a run at the National League West Division Title, the offense has to be there. They are always one of the top hitting teams in Major League Baseball and that must continue.
Magadan’s job is to help the Rockies reach the postseason. If they do manage to make the playoffs, he has to help them have results in the playoffs. Magadan needs to have the players listen to change their swinging style which didn’t seem to occur with Espy. Adding Magadan could be the difference in them winning a playoff series and being swept. tion; \
Looks like it was a solid year for the Rockies Jordan.