Signs show that the Colorado Rockies are trending toward contention for the NL West

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DENVER, COLORADO – MAY 30: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies hits a RBI single to tie the game in the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on May 30, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Finally, the Colorado Rockies have reached and surpassed the .500 mark!

The last time the Rockies tasted the feeling of being over .500 was back on March 29th, just three games into the 2019 season with a 2-1 record. That quickly evaporated when they ended up splitting the opening series in Miami, dropping to 2-2 and falling below .500 after that.

However, after pulling off an amazing four-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday afternoon, the Rockies now sit at 28-27 on the season as they head toward the month of June

Here are five signs that this stretch is not a fluke and that we are witnessing the real 2019 Colorado Rockies:

The Rox have been consistently winning for most of the season

Believe it or not, despite just now getting back to around .500, the Rockies have been consistently winning more than losing for most of the 2019 season so far. It is just that their start was so bad, it took a while to overcome it.

We all know that the start of the season was not a good one, as the club went 3-12 over the first 15 games. However, since then the Rox are 25-15 over the last seven weeks, which is one of the top records in all of baseball over that stretch.

On top of that, since losing four of the first five series, the Rockies have won eight of the last 13 series they have played. Remember that a baseball season is a marathon and not a sprint, and that it is impossible to win every single night — however, if you can do what the Rockies have been doing and win more series than you lose, you will end up being a successful baseball team.

DENVER, COLORADO – MAY 30: Ian Desmond #20 of the Colorado Rockies celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on May 30, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Getting production from everybody at the plate

Even though Nolan Arenado has been as hot as you can possibly be over the last month, and he is a key reason the Rockies have been so consistent in May, it isn’t only Nolan who is producing at the plate.

Colorado is getting contributions from everyone in their lineup right now, including the often bad-mouthed Ian Desmond and Chris Iannetta. In-fact, both Desmond and Iannetta have put up very respectable numbers at the plate over this current hot streak.

Youngsters like Raimel Tapia, Ryan McMahon and Brendan Rodgers have been consistent performers over this stretch and are going to continue to be important pieces on offense as we approach the summer months.

The Rockies ace from 2018 isn’t close to being himself yet

Kyle Freeland is struggling, we all know it — heck even he knows it. Whether it is some of the stuff that Rox Pile’s Jake Shapiro discussed in this article a few weeks ago or something different, it needs to be fixed in order for the Rockies to truly contend for the NL West the rest of this season — but the good thing is there is still plenty of time for him to figure it out for the stretch run.

I bring this point up because it’s amazing that the Rockies have been a .625 ball club over the past 40 games with all of the struggles that Freeland is facing. It is truly a sign that this team is coming together and will have their each other’s backs through the rough times.

To be honest, Freeland’s struggles are the talk of the town at the moment, but could you imagine how much bigger of a deal it would be if the Rockies were playing poorly? The wins have helped hamper the disappointment surrounding Freeland’s brutal start to the season, and it perhaps is proof that this team would be okay without him for a while if the front office decides to let Freeland figure things out in the minor leagues.

DENVER, COLORADO – MAY 30: Daniel Murphy #9 of the Colorado Rockies is doused with water by Tony Wolters #14 after hitting a RBI walk off single in the tenth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field on May 30, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

The bullpen is a mess, but it’s working

Along the same lines as the point about Kyle Freeland’s struggles, the bullpen comes to mind. Currently, the Rockies are without their prized closer Wade Davis and have seen the likes of Mike Dunn, Seunghwan Oh and Bryan Shaw struggle lately. All of this has forced Rockies manager Bud Black to sort of piece together his bullpen on a nightly basis, often having to make adjustments mid-game or mid-inning when his guys just don’t have it that night.

Currently, Scott Oberg is the acting closer for the Rockies, and he has been lights out for the most part. Other than that, there really are not any roles cemented for anyone. One night Chad Bettis is pitching in mop-up duty and the next he is in a set-up role — which I actually really like, but I will leave this for a separate topic for you all to read on another day.

That being said, with all of the struggles and confusion the bullpen has faced lately, the team is still coming out on top. Like I said with Freeland, imagine what this club could look like when/if the bullpen ever gets to the level it’s expected to be at?

Colorado is figuring out how to come through in the clutch

So many close wins during this stretch, including four walk-offs over the last week. Sure, these have been against pitchers and teams that you’d like to see the Rockies blow away — but that just really isn’t in the nature of this sport.

Over the course of a 162 game season, you are going to find yourself in a ton of close ballgames — and the Rockies are showing everyone that they can overcome just about anything to end up on top at the end of the game.

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Especially with these games against dangerous teams like the Blue Jays, Cubs and Mets coming up and then a long stretch if NL West games in the latter part of June, it is important that the Rockies are learning how to prevail in close games and to get timely hits in the clutch.

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