The Colorado Rockies and Phillies are deceptively similar

It may not look like it from the current series between the Colorado Rockies and the Philadelphia Phillies, but these two franchises have more in common than you might think. (The Rockies outscored the Phillies 23-5 in the first three games of the series). While they may be trending in different directions at the moment, the trajectories of the Rox and Phils seem to parallel each other quite well.

This goes back a decade ago when both teams rode into October off the play of their shortstops and MVP candidates. The Phillies are the only team the Rockies have ever played twice in the postseason. While 2007 brought the Rockies to the World Series, 2008 brought the Phillies the same opportunity when they beat Joe Maddon and the Rays.

While the Rockies were still good in 2010, the next season was the beginning of a major decline for the franchise. Philadelphia was the best team in baseball in 2011 behind one of the greatest pitching staffs in history. But they were out in the first round thanks to the eventual champion St. Louis Cardinals.

More from Rox Pile

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: What if Todd Helton had played football instead?
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023?

Good pitching was fleeting for both clubs after that season and ever since the Rockies and Phillies have hovered around fourth or fifth place in their respective divisions. When the Rockies have success or failure, the Phillies seem to follow suit.

The Rockies lost their franchise first baseman who struggled with injuries and Ryan Howard followed suit in 2017 as he signed a minor-league deal with the Braves only to be released earlier this month. The Phillies seem to be in total rebuild mode at the bottom of the N.L. East. Every Rockies fan can relate.

But even though the Rockies and Phillies seemed intertwined beyond franchise trajectories, doesn’t mean the Phillies haven’t had the upper hand in head-to-head matchups. The Rockies are 13-25 when playing at Citizen’s Bank Park in the last ten years. The best record the Rockies had in Philly was in 2015 when they went 3-0. Every other year the Rockies have historically struggled in their city of not so brotherly love.

That is what makes this road trip and the potential four-game sweep of the Phillies so special for the Rockies. They have never dominated in Philadelphia. Even when the Phillies aren’t playing well, they usually find a way to play well against the Rockies. (Colorado has a 77-104 record against Philadelphia). Another reason the 2017 season feels different for the Rockies.

Next: Colorado Rockies: Best move may have been one that did not happen

While they go about baseball operations differently, the outcomes have been fairly similar. If the Rockies 2017 season is any indication, the Phillies should show flashes of success in just a couple of years.