Colorado Rockies tired of ‘tests’ to prove they belong among contenders

Entering the 2017 season, the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers were established as elite teams in the National League by pundits across the nation. The Cubs were coming off their first World Series win in more than a century and the Dodgers are the four-time defending National League West champions.

That’s some pretty high-ranking company, right? So when the 2017 Colorado Rockies schedule came out in the offseason, a lot of fans circled the current homestand, with the Cubs and Dodgers visiting Denver for back-to-back series, as one of the “most important” of the entire season. It was as much “must-see baseball” as May baseball can be.

However, there was one thing that many didn’t factor into the homestand. The Rockies would be the ones leading the National League West and playing some of the best baseball in the Majors.

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At 23-14 heading into Saturday, the Rockies lead the Dodgers by 1.5 games in the NL West race. One of the big reasons for that? Colorado has taken three of the five games against the Cubs and Dodgers on this homestand.

In between chants of “Let’s go Dodgers” and “Let’s go Cubs,” the Rockies are winning games. That will be the most important thing as the season goes along. Who the Rockies are beating doesn’t matter in the Colorado clubhouse as much as they’re winning. Claiming a series win is always key, no matter the opponent, Charlie Blackmon recently said.

"“You keep winning series, you’re going to be in a good place at the end of the season. That’s our goal,” the Rockies center fielder succinctly said."

For All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado, the talk of using an opponent as a litmus test to see just how good the Rockies are is growing old.

"“Everyone keeps talking to us all the tests we need to take,” Arenado said. “I don’t know how many tests we need to take. We’re a good team, no matter what. We don’t need any more tests.”"

The Rockies may not have the glorious divisional history of the Dodgers or San Francisco Giants, but this isn’t a history class. It’s about the present and a Rockies team that FanGraphs says has a 47.3 percent chance to make the playoffs this year (as of Saturday).

Making a run to the postseason and qualifying for it is a test that the Rockies haven’t passed since 2009. However, by focusing on series wins (against whichever other team is in the dugout, rich history or not), Colorado can establish a new chapter in its postseason lore.

Next: The value of Chris Rusin to this year's Rockies

It may not be the favorite quote in Denver Broncos country, but the Rockies are following the mantra of Al Davis toward success. Just win, baby, no matter who it’s against.