Runners on 1st…and 2nd Guesses: Batting Leadoff for the Colorado Rockies

Welcome back Colorado Rockies fans to the second edition of Runners on First…and Second Guesses.

I hadn’t planned on waiting so long in between editions but the horrific start to the season by the Rockies put a damper on the fun that is criticizing their play. It seemed too cruel to kick them anymore than need be when they are were already down and it is hard to nit-pick when everything is going terribly wrong.

However, now that they have started to show some signs of life, it feels like a good time to give that rug underneath them a little pull and see what if left standing.

As always, remember this is to stir to debate, so don’t hesitate to let us know if I am completely off base or on the mark.  We appreciate all messages whether it be in our comment section or on Twitter at me (@FlatlandRockies) or @RoxPileFS.

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?

It is time to move Charlie Blackmon out of the leadoff role, at least for the time being. The Rockies are 29th in the Majors with only two runs scored in the first inning and Blackmon is a large reason for it.  In 18 plate appearances to lead off the game, Nazty is 2 for 18 (both singles) with 5 strikeouts, 1 walk, and no runs scored. The Rockies need to stop playing from behind and it starts with getting on the board early.

Even though he hit a walkoff, two-run homer to end Friday’s extra inning game, that didn’t come with him leading off the game or an inning. He was hitting fourth in the inning.

Whether it be something as simple as flipping him with David Dahl in the 2-hole or dropping him down to 5th or 6th in the lineup, the Rockies need to do something just to try to get him out of this horrible slump to start the season. If the Rockies are going to climb back into race, Chuck has to hit a lot better than his current .232 and maybe the home run will get him started.

I don’t this isn’t controversial but Pat Valaika should have been sent back down to the minors instead of Josh Fuentes when Ryan McMahon came off the injured list on Thursday.

In 11 games, Patty Barrels is hitting a pathetic 2-for-24 with 11 strikeouts. It’s not that Fuentes has played much better but he is just as versatile as Valaika and Valaika has looked completely lost at the plate as of late.  Obviously, this will all be a moot point once Daniel Murphy comes back from his injury and Valaika will be sent down anyway to make room on the roster.

It has been a much more enjoyable week to sit back and watch the Rockies. It is a lot more fun to find little things to complain about instead of the entire team being a dumpster fire. Hopefully they will continue to climb back into the race.