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Colorado Rockies: The State of the franchise

By Noah Yingling

DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 07: A general view of Coors Field before the start of Game Three of the National League Division Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Colorado Rockies on October 7, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 07: A general view of Coors Field before the start of Game Three of the National League Division Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Colorado Rockies on October 7, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 5: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies rounds third base after hitting a homer in the fourth inning in a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on September 5, 2018 at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 5: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies rounds third base after hitting a homer in the fourth inning in a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants on September 5, 2018 at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

The state of the Rockies offense is one that is not looking good.

For the past two seasons, the Rockies offense (not including pitchers) has been below league average by OPS+ and in the postseason, it has shown in a big way as well.

Trevor Story and Nolan Arenado are the two biggest bats for the Rockies. Story had a season in 2018 which saw him cut his strikeout rate by a total of 33 in nearly 100 more plate appearances in 2018, with 37 home runs, 108 RBI, a .291/.348/.567 slash line and 27 stolen bases. For his slash line, he raised his average by more than 50 points, he raised OBP 40 points, and he raised his slugging percentage 110 points. He was an All-Star, won a Silver Slugger Award, and came in 8th in the NL MVP voting.

Arenado came in 3rd in the NL MVP voting, his highest mark to date, and he remained consistent in nearly every offensive category, as he has for much of his career.

However, Arenado’s career with the Rockies could be at a cross roads as he is eligible for free agency after the season so this very well could be his last season in Denver.

The left side of the infield is more suspect as the Rockies could use Ryan McMahon, Garrett Hampson, or Brendan Rodgers at second base this year after the departure of DJ LeMahieu. One or more of them will have to step up for the Rockies this season.

Free agent signee Daniel Murphy will have to move to first base for the Rockies in 2019. He has been a very good hitter in his career but in 2018, he was injured for much of the season as missed more than 70 games. However, in the prior two season, he averaged 24 home runs and 98 RBI with 45 doubles and a .334/.387/.569 slash line (145 OPS+). The Rockies need him to reclaim that former glory to improve the offense.

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