Analyzing The Colorado Rockies' First Series At Coors

Apr 12, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu (9) runs after hitting a three run triple in the second inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Some reaction and post-mortem on the Colorado Rockies’ final game in the series against the Chicago Cubs in Denver on Sunday afternoon.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Colorado Rockies as we react to Sunday afternoon’s finale with the Cubs, and prepare to go on the road for a series in San Francisco (yikes) followed by another in Los Angeles (gross).

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Rockies answered the Cubs’ runs

After Cubs’ scores in the second and fifth innings, the Rockies immediately answered back with crooked numbers of their own.

In the second, to take the lead, and then in the fifth, to extend their lead after a Cubs rally, the Rox offense picked up Lyles when he faltered and gave the club a manageable two-run leading heading into the late innings.

It’s one thing to jump out ahead and never look back, like the Rockies did in Milwaukee, but another thing entirely to answer your opponent with your own scores, and twice this afternoon, the Rockies did that.

Lyles bent and didn’t break

Jordan Lyles went six, allowing three runs (but just one earned) on five hits and three walks, against three strikeouts, in 98 pitches (56 strikes).

Obviously, tossing just 56 strikes and consistently falling behind hitters and working with runners on base isn’t ideal at Coors Field, but Lyles made the most of it especially considering the suspect defense (three errors) behind him.

Plus, Lyles got nine groundouts in addition to the three strikeouts, and recorded just two fly outs, so working down in the zone and letting the infield do what it does best certainly helped him on Sunday afternoon.

Rockies’ hurlers don’t throw like Clayton Kershaw or Jose Fernandez, but if the staff can leave games getting 18 outs while allowing three runs, this club will be in a lot of games and the offense will have plenty of opportunities throughout the summer.

DJ is red-hot

Again, again, again, again, it’s breakout time for DJ (and we aren’t the only ones who think that)!

A bases clearing triple got the Rockies going today, and despite making an error behind Adam Ottavino in the seventh, he’s hitting the ball and not only starting rallies in the eighth and ninth spots of the lineup, but driving in guys himself and helping the club immensely.

I’ve said it before, and it’s just been six games, and I hope I keep saying it again: this is DJ’s breakout year at the plate, to go along with his great glove work at second base.

The defense was… suspect.

The Rockies defense committed four errors today – three behind Lyles, and one behind Ottavino. While the defense behind Lyles burned the club to the tune of two unearned runs, the Rockies nevertheless didn’t feel the brunt of their errors like they probably normally will.

The club is 35-81 when they make 3 or more errors in a game; obviously, no team can expect to win consistently if they give away more than an out a game. You shouldn’t expect four-error games to continue, considering how good the defense is, but it’s nevertheless unfortunate to see the Rockies kick it around as much as they did in the field today.

The bullpen… well…

Look, I love how Walt Weiss is using match ups with Adam Ottavino and Boone Logan, and both of them were great Sunday afternoon and did what they needed to do.

But now LaTroy Hawkins, after struggling throughout Spring Training, has blown two consecutive saves and looks very hittable on the mound in the ninth inning.

It’s probably time to start thinking about making Adam Ottavino the closer.

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Analyzing The Colorado Rockies’ First Series At Coors

By Bobby DeMuro | Apr 12, 2015