Colorado Rockies: The offense will be the deciding factor

To put it simply, the Colorado Rockies will go as far as its offense will take them. For 141 games, we have been told that this team is going break out and hit. With the most important stretch of the season upon us, it’s time to get it going.

Believe it or not the pitching staff has kept the Colorado Rockies in games. Yes, they have been ridiculously bad in the first inning and the bullpen is shaky at best but, for the most part, they have kept them in ballgames.

It’s the offense that must hold up its end of the bargain for the Rockies to make the playoffs.

Friday and Saturday night’s games against the Los Angeles Dodgers are prime examples of just that. On Friday, the offense didn’t show up when needed and they lost the game. Yes, they were facing future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw, but he wasn’t the same three-time Cy Young Award winner that everyone has learned to fear over the years. The Rockies had multiple opportunities to take control of that game but failed to do so scoring only two runs in six innings off Kershaw. Add hitting 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and leaving 10 on base for the game and that’s a recipe for a loss.

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In Saturday’s win, the offense may not have been as productive against rookie phenom Walker Buehler, but it got the big hits that the previous night was lacking. The Rockies ended up batting 2-for-3 with runners in scoring position and only left three runners on base.

We all know the struggles of the offense, but it is unimaginable to think that a Rockies team, who is leading the NL West, would be having their worst statistical year in franchise history. This club may be in the top third of the majors in most offensive categories this year but, historically, they rank dead last in batting average at .254 and second to last in on base percentage at .319. When they have gotten on base, they are hitting .255 with runners in scoring position. It’s not a horrible number … but it is not what we have come to expect around Colorado.

If this team is going to make the playoffs, it obviously starts with getting Nolan Arenado back to being Nolan Arenado. His slump hasn’t hurt this team badly yet as the they are 6-1 this month, but they will need him to get hot and win them a few games down the stretch.

If anything, Arenado has hurt Matt Holliday‘s production. Since joining the team on August 23, Holliday is 11-for-27 (.407) with two home runs but only three RBI. The lack of traffic on the bases in front of Holliday is keeping important runs off the scoreboard.

Next. What Nolan is saying about his shoulder and his slump. dark

There has been a playoff atmosphere already with three weeks to play in the season. The Rockies bats have to deliver in order to win their first-ever NL West title.

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