Colorado Rockies: NL West outlook based off Spring Training

We’re starting to get deeper into Spring Training and that means were getting closer to the regular season. Now some say that what happens during Spring Training doesn’t matter after it’s over. Though it’s fairly believable that what happens during Spring Training has a positive or negative impact on the regular season. Because of that I think it’s smart to go over what’s been happening this Spring with not only the Colorado Rockies, but the rest of the NL West.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The D’Backs are still mourning their loss of J.D. Martinez. He’s not dead, but he did put up most of the offense for the team in the second half of the season. Arizona is currently 9-9 this Spring and 2-2 against the Rockies.

One thing to watch out for with this team is their pitching. Zack Greinke is in his prime and it shows. However, this spring, he has only pitched in 2 2/3 innings and, now, he has a groin injury that may sideline him for Opening Day. Along with him, there’s starter Robbie Ray he also has a crazy high ERA of 6.55 in 11 innings pitched. This probably won’t be anything like his ERA during the regular season, but it does show that these guys haven’t had the best springs. Archie Bradley isn’t looking too hot either. The potential D’backs closer also has a high ERA at 5.68. Not the best look for someone who may be a closer.

Moving onto offense. let’s go ahead and talk about the face of the team, Paul Goldschmidt. He’s having himself a pretty good spring. The 30 year-old is 8-for-22 with a batting average of .364 along with a home run and 5 RBI. This should come as no surprise to anyone as this is what Goldschmidt does, as he has had 95+ RBI in four out of the last five years (he didn’t in 2014 because injuries limited him to 109 games played). He has also ranked second or third in NL MVP voting in three of the past five years.

A.J. Pollock is also on track, he’s currently 7-for-27 with a batting average of .259. His projections look a little wonky for someone who’s only 30, but that may be because of his past injury riddled seasons we’ll most definitely have to look into how his season goes. The majority of the offense is doing well per usual for a team that finished 2nd in the NL West last year. As of now heading into the regular season this is the team the Rockies have got to beat to be on top.