The Colorado Rockies up and down season and what’s next?

After the Colorado Rockies were finished off in a sweep by the Brewers, it was easy to dwell on the complete lack of offense in the playoffs. As Rockies fans we have to remember that the Rockies took another step forward in NL contention. I’m as disappointed as anyone in the performance in the NLDS, but after a day to drown my sorrows, we think back at some pretty special moments this year.

With a week to go in the regular season, the Rockies were in position to take the NL West title outright (which may have changed their playoff fate drastically). Then after heartbreak when the Dodgers beat them easily, they responded with a gritty extra innings win in the Wild Card game.

Hopes were high and even some national media thought the Rockies would prove too much for a Brewers squad starting out with a bullpen game. When the smoke cleared the Rockies offense had gone stagnant at the worst possible time and fans began to question everything.

I think when the highs and lows balance out this offseason, the Rockies look like a talented young team moving in the right direction.

More from Rox Pile

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: What if Todd Helton had played football instead?
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023?

That being said, the front office has some decisions to make moving forward.

DJ LeMahieu, Adam Ottavino, Gerardo Parra (team option), and Carlos Gonzalez are free agents.

Unfortunately, some inflated contracts on players that haven’t worked out further complicate things. Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee are set to get a combined 17 million that the Rockies would love to offer Adam Ottavino.

We won’t know much about the Rockies 2019 payroll until arbitration comes around, but if the Rockies want to maintain the competitive roster then they’re going to have to spend on these guys or hope that the prospects are ready to take over.

The elephant in the room is extending Nolan Arenado, but I haven’t heard much news on that front. So we’ll have to wait and see and remember the season that was.