June 30, 2012; Denver, CO USA; Fans watch a fireworks display concluding the San Diego Padres at Colorado Rockies baseball game at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Carpenean-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Rockies released their 2014 regular season schedule, jump-starting the “there’s always next year” conversations. And even though we as Rockies fans hardly ever, ever, ever day-dream wistfully of playing next year in a coveted post-season game, it is always fun to take a peek — right??
The Rockies will start the season away from Coors yet again in 2014 with a 4-game series vs the Miami Marlins. The tradition of the past several years of opening the home season against a NL West rival continues as the team welcomes the Arizona Diamondbacks to Denver April 4-6, 2014 followed by a three game set with the Chicago White Sox. It has been since 2002 that the Rockies did not have a home opener versus an NL West team, hosting the Houston Astros that year.
Other AL teams to visit the Mile High next season will include the Texas Rangers (May 5-6), Minnesota Twins (July 11-13), and the Kansas City Royals (Aug 19-20). These aren’t some of the best teams that have visited Coors Field in recent memory, but both the Rangers and Royals are in the midst of a heated 2013 playoff race so undoubtedly they will be tough opponents. The final month of the season will feature all home games against NL West division opponents, with the final home game against the Dbacks on September 21. The Rockies will then hit the road to finish out the season against… yep you guessed it, NL West foes. The Dodgers round out the season on September 28, 2014.
The perennial favorite July 3rd-4th games will be against the Dodgers and will feature the traditional Coors Field fireworks show afterward. The fireworks show put on by the Rockies is literally second to none in the metro area, and I mean that in all seriousness. I am not just saying that because it is about the only fireworks show around Denver. A fan appreciation fireworks game against the Dbacks will be September 19th, during the final home series.
Outside of NL West division games the Rockies will host the Philadelphia Phillies in April, the New York Mets in May, and the Atlanta Braves & St Louis Cardinals in June. After the 2014 All-Star break in mid-July the Rockies welcome the Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates. In August the Rox will host the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds.
While the Rockies schedule doesn’t seem overly daunting, the Rockies will host 7 teams that are currently fighting for a berth in the 2013 MLB playoffs.
Click this exact sentence to be linked to a printable 2014 schedule… and as always GO ROCKIES!
(Downloadable schedules are not available yet for the 2014 season. They will be posted as soon as they are available)