Let’s give the Colorado Rockies kids a chance to beat the Dodgers

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Manager Bud Black #10 of the Colorado Rockies congratulates Garrett Hampson #1 after he scored on a single by Tony Wolters #14 of the Colorado Rockies in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 20, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: Manager Bud Black #10 of the Colorado Rockies congratulates Garrett Hampson #1 after he scored on a single by Tony Wolters #14 of the Colorado Rockies in the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 20, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)

Another trip to Los Angeles resulted in another loss for the Colorado Rockies on Friday night. In fact, it was Colorado’s 12th consecutive defeat at Chavez Ravine, tying the Cincinnati Reds from 2006-09 for the longest losing streak at Dodger Stadium all-time, according to @StatsBySTATS.

The Colorado Rockies rolled out another veteran-laden lineup yesterday in an effort to stop the losing streak, including Ian Desmond and Daniel Murphy as well as All-Stars Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado. Blackmon and Arenado certainly did their parts, belting solo homers in the 12-5 defeat. Desmond and Murphy, however, combined to go 0-for-7 in the loss.

Maybe, just maybe, the Rockies should take a page from the Dodgers’ playbook and let the kids play. Colorado has already seen first-hand this season what can happen when youth is injected in the lineup as rookies had the game-winning walk-off hits in three consecutive games earlier this season in Los Angeles. Perhaps Colorado’s youth should get their chance to make a mark in the series?

Sam Hilliard (who had a pinch-hit homer on Friday night), Josh Fuentes and Dom Nunez need their starts. Ryan McMahon and Raimel Tapia (while by no means rookies) need their regular playing time. Garrett Hampson even chipped in a home run last night and has flashed his skills in recent games, pushing his average to .246 on the season.

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The truth is that we know what Colorado’s veterans can (or can’t) do. There are still, however, plenty of question marks about what the younger players can bring to the table with regular playing time. As a lost season comes to a close and a division rival holds a decisive advantage in their own park in recent games, maybe it’s time to shake things up a bit and give Hilliard, Fuentes and company a longer chance to shine. Sure, it won’t be easy facing Walker Buehler and Hyun-Jin Ryu but something different has to be tried, right?

Colorado is looking for momentum heading into the offseason and that momentum includes not having that losing albatross hanging around their collective necks next season when they head back to Los Angeles in the second series of the 2020 campaign, starting on March 30.

Let the kids have their chance to break the streak. Please.

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