Colorado Rockies: How to avoid repeating the ’18 NLDS in ’19

Desmond isn’t the sole solution to the struggles of the bottom third of the lineup just as he isn’t its sole cause. But he is an important contributor to both.  In the end, the Rockies need to do more than just get Desmond going. They need a corner outfielder or two (hopefully David Dahl cemented his role as an everyday guy at the end of the season but, unfortunately, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to not see him in the Opening Day lineup in 2019) and probably a catcher. We can hope the Rockies will address those areas this offseason.

Lastly, the Rockies need more production from first base. This is an offensive position that needs to produce more than a 83 OPS+. There is an argument that lower production from first base is acceptable because Trevor Story‘s MVP-type offense (.291 AVG, 37 HR, 108 RBI, 27 SB) from a typically less-productive offensive position offsets Desmond’s lacking production.

That approach works fine for a .500 team, but the Rockies can do better than that. Winning teams don’t look at a great shortstop as an opportunity to settle for less offense from other positions. Instead, they look at it as a chance to have a great hitting shortstop in addition to a great first baseman.

Ian Desmond still needs to pick up his on base percentage significantly, but otherwise, his offense would be acceptable if it was coming from a bottom-third corner outfielder. Does that mean the Rockies finally give Ryan McMahon an opportunity to be the everyday first baseman? Or do they go after another first baseman on the market?

Either way, they need to fix first base.