Colorado Rockies: 2017 Batting Order Possibilities with a Designated Hitter

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Aug 24, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Detail view of Safeco Field sign in left field prior to a game between the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

Earlier this month, we took a look at the different configurations that the Colorado Rockies could use in their batting lineups. We took a look at how the lineup might appear against right-handers, left-handers, and even at the end of the season, depending on if the Rockies were in or out of the playoff chase. You can read the article by clicking here.

One thing we didn’t look at in that article was how the Rockies might line up when facing an American League team on the road. Those series will be at Minnesota (May 16-18), Seattle (May 31-June 1), Cleveland (August 8-9) and Kansas City (August 22-24).

As a reminder, before we dive into the lineup scenarios, let’s remember that, however the lineup might shake out, offense has never been much of a problem for the Rockies. Take a look at some of the numbers last season and where Colorado ranked among all of Major League Baseball…

2016 numbers and MLB ranking

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Average: .275 (2^nd)

Home Runs: 204 (10^th)

RBI: 805 (2^nd)

Stolen Bases: 66 (Tie for 20^th)

Runs: 845 (2^nd)

OBP: .336 (3^rd)

SLG: .457 (2^nd)

OPS: .794 (2^nd)

So how will the lineup look in an American League park? Let’s take a look…

Aug 31, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies left fielder David Dahl (26) and center fielder Charlie Blackmon (19) and right fielder Carlos Gonzalez (5) congratulate each other following the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field. The Rockies defeated the Dodgers 7-0. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Against right-handed pitchers

Charlie Blackmon CF (.320 last year vs. RHP)

DJ LeMahieu 2B (.354 last year vs. RHP)

Nolan Arenado 3B (.304 last year vs. RHP)

Carlos Gonzalez RF (.309 last year vs. RHP)

Trevor Story SS (.268 last year vs. RHP)

Ian Desmond 1B (.269 last year vs. RHP)

David Dahl LF (.316 last year vs. RHP)

Mark Reynolds DH (.297 last year vs. RHP)

Tony Wolters C (.267 last year vs. RHP)

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We broke down why players like Trevor Story and Ian Desmond might be slotted into the lineup in certain places in our previous article on lineups that you can read here. But let’s look at the impact of the designated hitter here.

In this lineup, Mark Reynolds or Ian Desmond can serve as the designated hitter with the other player manning first base. Again, Desmond’s versatility will provide some opportunities to move players around this season, especially when playing in an American League park with the designated hitter. Perhaps Desmond shifts to shortstop and Story focuses on hitting for the day. Perhaps Blackmon gets the day off in center field while Desmond plays the outfield. The possibilities are many. It’s just a matter of how new Rockies manager Bud Black wants to play that day.

One other thought is Tom Murphy serving as the designated hitter. He hit .323 against right-handers in limited duty (31 at-bats last season). Again, there are possibilities.

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

Against left-handed pitchers

Charlie Blackmon CF (.331 last year vs. LHP)

DJ LeMahieu 2B (.331 last year vs. LHP)

Nolan Arenado 3B (.267 last year vs. LHP)

Carlos Gonzalez RF (.338 last year vs. LHP)

Ian Desmond DH (.338 last year vs. LHP)

David Dahl LF (.313 last year vs. LHP)

Trevor Story SS (.280 last year vs. LHP)

Mark Reynolds 1B (.250 last year vs. LHP)

Tom Murphy C (.154 last year vs. LHP)

There are some interesting options to talk about with this lineup against left-handers, especially considering how many left-handed hitters the Rockies have in the outfield.

Gerardo Parra hit .258 against left-handers last season so it is conceivable that he could figure into the mix as well against southpaws. However, that .258 average is certainly below what CarGo, Dahl and Blackmon posted last season. While it is the lowest in the outfield, it is higher than what Reynolds logged last season. With that in mind, Desmond could shift to first base and Parra could be inserted as the DH. Here’s how that would look.

Charlie Blackmon CF (.331 last year vs. LHP)

DJ LeMahieu 2B (.331 last year vs. LHP)

Nolan Arenado 3B (.267 last year vs. LHP)

Carlos Gonzalez RF (.338 last year vs. LHP)

Ian Desmond 1B (.338 last year vs. LHP)

David Dahl LF (.313 last year vs. LHP)

Trevor Story SS (.280 last year vs. LHP)

Gerardo Parra DH (.258 last year vs. LHP)

Tom Murphy C (.154 last year vs. LHP)

The lowest average against left-handers in the lineup belongs to Tom Murphy, hitting just .154 against southpaws last season. Tony Wolters wasn’t much better, hitting just .225. However, we give Murphy the edge in this lineup simply because he’s a right-handed hitter and we’re playing the right versus left scenario.

Next: Looking at Who Would Make Colorado's All-Time 25-Man Roster

What do you think about the potential lineups? Let us know in the comments below.

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