Colorado Rockies: Looking at some potential batting order tweaks

Some will argue that Nolan Arenado batting cleanup could potentially give him fewer at-bats per season … and that’s one way to look at it. However, we want to take a little different spin.

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Last season, with some of the struggles displayed by Carlos Gonzalez and Trevor Story, Colorado’s lineup was powerful with Blackmon, LeMahieu and Arenado, but dropped off often after that. There was little consistency after the first three batters of the order. Sure, Mark Reynolds and Gerardo Parra had their moments, but it wasn’t something that was consistent like the threat the top three brought to the plate.

Arenado batted fourth in a nice 69 games in 2016 and actually hit for higher average (.301) versus third (.291). He also hit more home runs and drew more walks from the cleanup spot as well. It goes along with a career trend that shows Arenado has a higher slugging percentage and OPS from the cleanup spot than the third position.

A lineup with Arenado fourth could still happen with Blackmon leading off. It would be dicey but it is conceivable. Possibilities would include Trevor Story hitting third (if he can cut down on his strikeouts) or even a Gerardo Parra stepping into the role (if he is on a roll like last July when he returned from injury to hit .443 and drive in 17 runs in 61 at-bats). Absolutely, both of those options bring risks.

Extending the lineup by pushing Arenado down could make a difference for the Rockies and allow plentiful RBI opportunities … if someone like Tapia or Story could step up.