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Colorado Rockies: Looking at some potential batting order tweaks

By Kevin Henry

DENVER, CO - JULY 03: Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates a fourth inning solo homerun with DJ LeMahieu #9 during a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field on July 3, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JULY 03: Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates a fourth inning solo homerun with DJ LeMahieu #9 during a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Coors Field on July 3, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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Trevor Story of the Colorado Rockies
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 29: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates as he crosses the plater after hitting a 2 RBI home run in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on September 29, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Another big question for next season will be how Story adjusts in his third MLB season. If he displays the power that made him a Rookie of the Year candidate before a thumb injury ended his 2016 season and cuts down on the strikeouts that haunted him in 2017, he could slide into the third position as we discussed previously. He could also strengthen the middle of the order and serve as some protection for Arenado.

In 10 games as the cleanup hitter last season, Story batted .278 while striking out 10 times in 10 games. The average of once a game is high … but it’s also the lowest strikeout per game ratio that Story posted at any position in 10 or more games last season.

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Let’s use our lineup from earlier … and shift it around a bit …

Charlie Blackmon, CF

DJ LeMahieu, 2B

Nolan Arenado, 3B

Trevor Story, SS

Gerardo Parra, RF

Ian Desmond, LF

Ryan McMahon, 1B

Chris Iannetta, C

Pitcher

With this, we have replaced Raimel Tapia at the top with Chuck Nazty and moved Parra to right field while bringing Desmond into the game. It’s perhaps a more “2017 lineup” than what we showed earlier but still brings questions into the mix. Again, it will take the 4-8 hitters coming through more than they did last season for this lineup to flex its muscles.

If Story, Parra and Desmond are hitting, the lineup is formidable.

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