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Colorado Rockies: Offense Performing as Expected

By Christian Espinoza |
DENVER, CO - APRIL 11: Ian Desmond
DENVER, CO - APRIL 11: Ian Desmond
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SAN DIEGO, CA – APRIL 4: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies hits an RBI double during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on April 4, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – APRIL 4: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies hits an RBI double during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on April 4, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

This week, Rox Pile’s Aaron Hurt took a look at the roller coaster Rockies season so far. Hurt pointed out that Bud Black has utilized 31 different lineups so far this season. No matter how you arrange those ‘pieces’, should the Rockies’ faithful really have expected anything better? We’ve seen enough games and data up to this point to make a few assessments. So, let’s take a look at how the line up as a whole, along with a few key players, are doing through the first month of the season…

As frustrating as they have been at times, nothing about the Rockies in the offseason or spring had ever alluded to this being a top offensive lineup. The Rox went all in on a blueprint that was completely centered on pitching. This offseason, Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich pushed all the chips to the center of the table with a hand of young, high-upside pitchers and a lock-down bullpen. The Rockies made no effort to improve offensively, though.

They replaced Mark Reynolds by rearranging players they already had. Chris Iannetta wasn’t an upgrade over Jonathan Lucroy, by any stretch. It was a wash, at best. Essentially, the Rockies said Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon will put together enough offense for the pitching staff to hang on and win games.

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 06: Ian Desmond #20 of the Colorado Rockies connects on a solo home run in the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 6, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 06: Ian Desmond #20 of the Colorado Rockies connects on a solo home run in the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on May 6, 2018 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Looking at the team performance from a high level, it is clear why the Rockies are having a heck of a time being successful. The Rockies lack the firepower and plate discipline to light pitchers up on a consistent basis. A lot of people have highlighted the Rockies’ troubles by pointing to the game where Freddy Peralta struck out 13 in his MLB debut. However, this isn’t an isolated incident. As a team, the Rockies have had double-digit strikeouts in 16 of the first 30 games this season.

Bright side to all of this is that the Colorado Rockies aren’t too far off how they started the season in 2017. The optimistic baseball fan would say there is time for the team to find it’s self and improve. Here is how the Rockies compared to the first month of last season to the first month of this season.

Year-by-Year Team Batting For First Month of Season
YearWLRHHRRBIBB%SO%BASLGOPS
20182117115218341109.3%25.1%.223.376.676
20178775119216361167.6%22.7%.247.440.750

Provided by FanGraphs

So, yes, it is too early in the season to wave the white flag and start tearing things apart.

The main culprit in the Rockies offensive troubles

Although, there are multiple adjustments that could’ve been made to establish a better offense for later in the season. One that I am specifically alluding to is sitting Ian Desmond and giving just about anyone, at this point, a shot. I am not going to take up more of your time talking about the struggles of Ian Desmond. Jake Shapiro did a fine job of that here at Rox Pile, if you haven’t heard by now.

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 13: First baseman Ryan McMahon #24 of the Colorado Rockies follows the ball against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 13, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 13: First baseman Ryan McMahon #24 of the Colorado Rockies follows the ball against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 13, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

However, the Rockies had at least one option to address that with Ryan McMahon. The Rockies organization has, without a doubt, bungled Ryan McMahon’s visit to the big leagues this season. He is in the midst of being jostled between AAA and the MLB level…which has resulted in a bit of a slump for him.

While I see the reasoning in giving an infielder (Desmond) who is making an average of $14 million a season the playing time, there has to be a point where Bud Black has to explore the best options for winning ball games. If that means giving Ryan McMahon enough at-bats to see where he is against big league pitching, that is the chance he has to be willing to take in what will surely be a tight National League West race.

Individually, the Rockies’ line up is all over the place. (Remember that 31 different line up combos this season referenced above?) Of all the batters that have been given a shot for one reason or another, only 5 players have accumulated at least 100 plate appearances. Those players are Trevor Story, DJ LeMahieu, Charlie Blackmon, Ian Desmond and Nolan Arenado.

Perennial most valuable player candidate, Nolan Arenado has really only been the consistent bright spot of those five players with at least 100 plate appearances. While Arenado is on pace to strikeout 140 plus times this season, he still batted an average of .310, had an OBP of .413, and an OPS of .942 through the first month of the 2018 season. We know what kind of production is going to come from Arenado…and we’ve already got it this first month.

DENVER, CO – MAY 11: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies circles the bases after hitting a 3 RBI triple in the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Coors Field on May 11, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – MAY 11: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies circles the bases after hitting a 3 RBI triple in the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Coors Field on May 11, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Injuries to Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu has certainly played into the inconsistency of this team. Charlie Blackmon still managed to be in the top 4 in home runs among Major League outfielders through the end of April. Dj LeMahieu has been his wildly consistant self, when he has been able to stay on the field, as well.

More from Rox Pile

The dark horse of the Rockies

The dark horse offensive player in the offense is Trevor Story. I wrote about Story’s massive struggles very early in the season. As the month moved along, he started to show flashes once again of his offensive potential, by being in the top 5 among major league shortstops in home runs, runs batted in, and stolen bases.

The caveat to all of this? We are only looking at the first month of the season! However, this is the time the Rockies need to put some games between themselves and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers may be circling mediocrity at the moment. It won’t take much for them to get hot and go on a run.

The Rockies’ offense has been built to struggle. They are going to have really have to get some of the other talent on this roster going, such as Gerardo Parra, David Dahl, and Ryan McMahon.

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Maybe even attempt to acquire a bat at some point this season… I wouldn’t count on that though. If the Rockies don’t start shaking things up in some form or fashion, this is going to be a long, grinding season…

[ Statistics in this article were provided by FanGraphs ]

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