Colorado Rockies: Three things that stood out during the homestand

On Sunday, the Colorado Rockies wrapped up a seven-game homestand with a stunning 14-13 loss to the San Diego Padres. The ninth-inning defeat gave the Rockies a 4-3 mark in seven games against the Chicago Cubs and Padres.

Every win matters as the Colorado Rockies (37-34) not only chase the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West (currently out to a 10.5-game lead in the division) but also try to maintain their position within the chase for the Wild Card.

Those wins and losses also hold perhaps extra meaning as the Rockies leave for a nine-game road swing through the NL West, with their first visits of the season to Arizona and Los Angeles, as well as a return engagement in San Francisco.

There is plenty to talk about with this just-concluded homestand. Not only did we have Flag Day and Father’s Day, but there was also plenty of subplots surrounding baseball as well. Cole Hamels plunking Nolan Arenado and causing Rockies fans to have a panic attack. A historic meltdown on Friday night against the Padres. The roller-coaster ride that was Sunday’s game. Brendan Rodgers being sent back to Triple-A.

Yes, a lot happened this past week. We looked at some of the statistical oddities and historical notes of the weekend in this article.

There has been plenty discussed about the high numbers of hits and runs as well as a pair of bullpen implosions. But what else stood out to us the most? Let’s take a look at the perhaps under-the-radar things we saw and some of their implications heading into a big road trip.

It’s all RyMac now

When top prospect Brendan Rodgers was sent back to Triple-A Albuquerque, it sent a clear message to Ryan McMahon. Simply put, second base was now his job and this was his chance to show exactly what he could with regular at-bats.

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McMahon responded on Saturday night with a career-high-tying three hits. He followed that by going 3-for-5 in Sunday’s loss, marking the third and fourth times he had three hits in a game this season.

Earlier in the homestand, he drove in the game-winning run on Monday against the Cubs with an RBI single. That was the fourth time this season he had come through with the game-winning RBI and was part of an 11-for-29 performance during the homestand (including 9-for-19 against the Padres).

He also flashed his defensive abilities, including on Sunday where he ranged to his left, fielded a Manny Machado grounder in the grass and hit a running Bryan Shaw covering first for the out.

“With Mac, there’s an intent and an approach every at-bat, which is what we want,” Bud Black said. “His ability to use the whole field, to drive the ball the other way, to move the ball to where it’s pitched, that’s something that is part of his strength as a hitter.” “We want the complete player from Mac,” Black continued. “We want the complete player from Mac. We want the defense. We want the offense. We want the situational at-bat. Whatever he can contribute to a win, that’s what we want and that’s the expectation. “We think he can do it. That’s the bottom line.”

And that’s part of the reason why Rodgers was sent back to Triple-A. As we explained in this article, it provided regular at-bats for both him and McMahon. That’s a very good thing for two key pieces of Colorado’s future.

Charlie Blackmon makes history … again

Charlie Blackmon is used to being a part of history. In 2017, he set a Major League record with 103 RBI from the leadoff position. Last season, he notched his third straight campaign with at least 100 runs scored and 25 home runs, joining Willie Mays and Duke Snider as the only National League center fielders with three straight 100/25 seasons.

Well, Chuck Nazty wrote himself into the history books again last week, becoming the first player in Rockies history to have at least four hits in three consecutive games. He was just the 12th player in Major League history to accomplish that feat and the first since Rafael Furcal in 2007.

On Sunday, he moved past Johnny Damon into the fourth-most all-time leadoff homers with 13 as he cranked a 1-0 pitch 381 feet just over the yellow line topping the right field wall. It was one of the two hits he had in the first inning as the Colorado offense continued to churn with six runs in the frame.

With those two hits, Blackmon was 20-for-33 on the homestand with six home runs and 14 RBI. It also tied a Major League record for the most hits (14) over a four-game series. After a weather delay, Blackmon ripped a sixth-inning RBI single to break that record for the modern era, part of a 3-for-6 day.

Talk about a player on fire at the plate. Now Colorado fans can hope that carries over to Tuesday when the Rockies open their three-game series in Arizona.