3 reasons why the 2019 Colorado Rockies will make the postseason

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CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 02: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates with Ryan McMahon #24 after defeating the Chicago Cubs 2-1 in thirteen innings to win the National League Wild Card Game at Wrigley Field on October 2, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Over the last two seasons, Colorado Rockies fans have enjoyed back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time in franchise history. But will 2019 mark the third straight year of Rocktober?

Yesterday, we posted this article stating why the Colorado Rockies would not make the postseason. That was the negative side of the coin. Today, we are taking a more positive spin and looking at the reasons why Colorado will once again be one of the teams to beat in the National League.

With Bud Black once again at the helm, Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story holding down the left side of the infield and armed with arguably the best rotation in franchise history, the Rockies plenty of weapons in the arsenal to get back to the postseason again. However, it will be reasons other than those just listed that push Colorado back into meaningful October games.

Sure, there are predictions that have the Rockies posting a winning record, there are plenty of sites out there that have Colorado winning more than losing … but also having plenty of other National League teams with better records who would keep the Rockies out of the postseason.

So what are some reasons to ignore the projections and believe that Rocktober 2019 will happen? Let’s take a look…

Daniel Murphy + Coors Field = success

The biggest offseason acquisition for the Rockies, Daniel Murphy was described as “a professional hitter” in his introductory media conference by Colorado general manager Jeff Bridich. After last season’s franchise-worst .256 batting average, something had to be done to strengthen Colorado’s lineup card. The tonic, it seems is the belief, is Murphy.

Murphy hit 38 or more doubles in six consecutive seasons before a knee injury derailed him for the start of the 2018 campaign. If Murphy is healthy, with the expansive outfield at Coors Field, the soon-to-be-34-year-old could find himself once again among the leaders in extra-base hits.

Jon Gray and Tyler Anderson pull it together

Barring something unforeseen in spring, Kyle Freeland and German Marquez seem etched into the 1-2 spots in the 2019 Rockies rotation. Following that young duo, performances by Gray and Anderson this season have the chance to truly make the Rockies one of the best top-to-bottom rotations in Major League Baseball.

Gray’s struggles last season have been well-documented. However, even during the darkest days of last season, there were signs of hope. A 1.66 ERA in three July starts, spanning 21.2 innings. His second-to-last start of the year where he allowed one run and four hits over seven innings in a home win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

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It’s clear that the former first-round pick is being given every opportunity to rebound and come back even stronger in 2019. If he can truly succeed in what has been called a physical and mental rebuild and have the “ace” debate taken off his shoulders as he slides into a third or fourth starter role, it would be huge for the Rockies.

Anderson, meanwhile, started a career-high 32 games last season and seemed to put his health issues behind him. Like Gray, though, there was plenty of inconsistency. April saw a 1.88 ERA in five starts while five August starts netted an 11.38 ERA. He gave up 30 home runs last season, tying him for the most in the National League. He also allowed just one run and four hits over six innings in an NLDS start at Milwaukee.

What can a second healthy season bring for the 29-year-old southpaw? Like Gray, if he can put together a strong campaign and help solidify the back end of the rotation, it would go a long ways toward Colorado reaching the postseason again.

Finding the answer at second base and late relief

There are two big questions for the Rockies right now. First, who will replace DJ LeMahieu at second base? Second, who will take over Adam Ottavino‘s late-inning clutch role in the bullpen?

Make no mistake about it, Colorado has players fully capable of being the answers to both questions. In the infield, Ryan McMahon and Garrett Hampson seem as the likely choices to inherit LeMahieu’s high standards at second. Both are young players and both have the skills to impact Colorado’s offense. They may not have LeMahieu’s Gold Glove defensive capabilities, but are they solid enough defensively to maintain Colorado’s high standards for its infield?

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McMahon provided some highlight reel moments last season. Hampson had an impressive debut and has the tools to slot into the leadoff role, which could help move Charlie Blackmon down in the order.

If either of them (or a combination of the two) shine this season at second, it will show that Colorado general manager Jeff Bridich rolled the dice correctly when he let LeMahieu walk away.

In the bullpen, Ottavino joined LeMahieu with the New York Yankees and left behind an All-Star-type of season in 2018 to be filled. Scott Oberg and Seunghwan Oh are the most logical players to step into Ottavino’s role. Can Oberg continue the success he saw last season? What can Oh do in his first full season with the Rockies?

Ottavino’s role could also be filled by two players looking to bounce back from rough campaigns last year, Bryan Shaw and Chris Rusin. Shaw’s success this season is critical to Colorado’s overall bullpen strength. A repeat of 2018 simply can’t happen.

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There are plenty of options to fill in for LeMahieu and Ottavino. If Bud Black can find a successful combination to cement those two big roles for the Rockies, it bodes well for a third straight Rocktober.

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