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Colorado Rockies: Starting the spring off on the right foot

By Logan Whaley |
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 12: Ryan McMahon #24 of the Colorado Rockies follows through on a swing during the second inning of a spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 12, 2018 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 12: Ryan McMahon #24 of the Colorado Rockies follows through on a swing during the second inning of a spring training game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 12, 2018 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JUNE 26: Chad Bettis #35 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the first inning at AT&T Park on June 26, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – JUNE 26: Chad Bettis #35 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the first inning at AT&T Park on June 26, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

For the first time in four months, Colorado Rockies baseball returned. Facing off against division rival Arizona Diamondbacks, the club got off on the right foot with a win.

It has been a long offseason. The past four months have seemed to drag, between the free agency saga and the discussion of where baseball could be heading. Nevertheless, baseball is back. The Rockies played their first official spring training game and showed no signs of rust from the long winter.

Chad Bettis received the start, as manager Bud Black put out a starting lineup constituting Raimel Tapia leading off, Trevor Story hitting cleanup, and Ryan McMahon starting at second base. Nolan Arenado and David Dahl were wedged between Tapia and Story.

While things did not get off to a great start, the team rebounded nicely to show glimpses of how strong their offense will continue to be this season, while receiving nice production from some unlikely sources. That’s the great nature of spring training.

Offense leads the charge

The first few innings did no favors for Colorado, as they managed just one hit off the Diamondbacks combination of Nick Green and Marc Rzepczynski.

However, by the fourth inning, the offense began to put their foot on the gas and did not let up the rest of the day.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 20: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies poses during MLB Photo Day on February 20, 2019 at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 20: Trevor Story #27 of the Colorado Rockies poses during MLB Photo Day on February 20, 2019 at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Justin Tafoya/Getty Images) /

A scary moment occurred in the fourth inning when Story was hit by a pitch. He suffered an elbow bruise and had to leave the game. However, per team sources, Story suffered only an elbow bruise and is day-to-day. Not what fans want to see on the inaugural game day of spring but it is excellent news to hear it is not severe.

Ryan McMahon, who is looking to build on a better 2018, earned the first two RBI for the club, bringing home Yonathan Daza, who replaced Story, and David Dahl, who led off the fourth with his second double of the day.

The team got another run in the fifth, following hits from Tony Wolters and Pat Valaika, who is himself seeking more consistency this season. Despite the fact it is only spring, it is still exceedingly positive to see Wolters and Valaika coming through to produce. Both guys need to have better seasons for Colorado in 2019.

The Rockies then put up two runs in each of the final two frames, courtesy of a pair of two-run home runs from number nine overall prospect Sam Hilliard and number two overall prospect Colton Welker. Top overall prospect Brendan Rodgers, who is looking to crack the Opening Day roster, finished 0-1, R, BB after coming in for Tapia.

DENVER, CO – JULY 13: Jeff Hoffman #34 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning of a game at Coors Field on July 13, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JULY 13: Jeff Hoffman #34 of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning of a game at Coors Field on July 13, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Strong performances on the mound

Bettis received the start for the team, surrendering three runs in two innings of work. After giving up a leadoff single to Socrates Brito, Bettis worked a couple of ground balls before a walk to David Peralta and a two-out, three-run home run to Steven Souza Jr.

In the second inning, Bettis allowed a leadoff single to Yasmany Tomas before inducing a double-play from Nick Ahmed and a strikeout of Alex Avila to end the inning and, subsequently, his day. All said and done, not a bad day from Bettis.

Jeff Hoffman replaced Bettis and proceeded to fire two scoreless innings of his own before giving way to Chi Chi Gonzalez. Hoffman is one to watch this spring, as the former main chip in the Troy Tulowitzki trade looks to find his way back to the show.

Concerning the remaining arms to appear, Gonzalez also pitched two scoreless innings, giving up two hits. He has a career 4.54 ERA across 77 1/3 innings, all with the Texas Rangers and remains a long shot to make the Opening Day roster.

DJ Johnson earned the win, with a scoreless seventh. Johnson appeared in 6 1/3 innings for the 2018 Rockies, pitching to a 4.26 ERA and striking out a third of the batters he faced.

DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 25: Pitcher Yency Almonte #62 of the Colorado Rockies throws in the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field on September 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 25: Pitcher Yency Almonte #62 of the Colorado Rockies throws in the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Coors Field on September 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

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Yency Almonte and Justin Lawrence finished the day off with scoreless innings apiece.

Almonte is one to keep an eye on, as he does have a shot to crack the roster. In 14 2/3 innings last season in Colorado, Almonte posted a 1.84 ERA, and a 2.96 FIP, both well above-average. He is just 24 years old and could provide much-needed depth in the bullpen.

Lawrence is still a few years away, however, shows promise. In High-A last season, Lawrence had a solid 2.65 ERA in 54 1/3 innings and a 27.8% strikeout rate.

Final takeaways

The results of spring training games do not matter. Sure, it is fun to see the Rockies win, but they could go 0-for, and it would still be the same. What does matter is the production from the team and how certain guys are performing. With that being said, many positive takeaways for a club looking to earn a third straight postseason berth.

The offense clicked, the pitching stepped up after a rocky start, and despite the hit-by-pitch to Story, the team avoided severe injury which is, of course, the most important thing about these games.

Looking ahead to tomorrow the team has a home matinee against the Seattle Mariners as Jon Gray looks to get his 2019 off on the right foot and keep the Rockies rolling in the desert. For now, Colorado is 1-0.

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