Colorado Rockies Enter The Second Half On A High Note

The Colorado Rockies didn’t quite have the first half we expected, especially with a healthy Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez in the lineup — two players that will be heavily involved in rumors as the Major League Baseball trade deadline (July 31) looms. Sitting at a record of 39-49, the Rockies find themselves 11 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League West, yet their play of late has been much better.

The Rockies capped the first half of the season with a bang, sweeping the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field. Colorado outscored Atlanta in the series 24-11, including two quality starts from Chad Bettis and Jorge De La Rosa. Colorado’s pitching was impressive, in fact, one of the more dominant performances from their staff as a whole that I’ve seen in quite some time. Colorado struck out 32 batters in the four-game set — eight via Bettis and seven via De La Rosa.

More from Colorado Rockies News

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: 3 things we appreciated from Tuesday in San Francisco
• What Bill Schmidt’s comments mean for the Colorado Rockies in 2023

Colorado will likely be sellers at the deadline, but one player that has made an impression since being recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque is outfielder Drew Stubbs. Stubbs was flat-out terrible for Colorado once he was sent down, hitting just .118. Stubbs is creating some trade value right now as we speak, going 5-for-17 with three home runs and 4 RBI’s over his last seven games. Not to mention, Stubbs has raised his average up to .162. He could fill the need for a team such as the Pittsburgh Pirates whom are looking for a fourth outfielder.

Nolan Arenado is the best third baseman in Major League Baseball. No, I’m not being biased, I’m being realistic. Arenado is slashing at a line of .293/.329/.598 with 22 doubles, 24 home runs and 70 RBI’s. The 70 RBI’s is good for first in the National League in case you were wondering. What’s more impressive is that Arenado is batting .293 despite a slump in the middle of May in which he was hitting .257 at one point. The guy can seriously do it all. We are witnessing a star in the making at 20th and Blake.

If Colorado wants to make some noise in the second half and perhaps (PERHAPS) make a push back into contention, pitching and situational hitting must get better. One idea, regarding pitching, is to call-up top prospect Jon Gray — which should have happened a month ago in my honest opinion. Colorado seems to have a good one-two punch in De La Rosa and Bettis right now, why not see what the kid can do with less expectations right now?

The Colorado Rockies (39-49) resume action Friday night on the road as they take on the division rival San Diego Padres in a three-game set at Petco Park. Jorge De La Rosa (6-3, 4.34 ERA) takes the hill for Colorado as San Diego counters with James Shields (7-3, 4.01 ERA). First-pitch is scheduled for 10:10 PM EST, 8:10 PM MST.