Colorado Rockies: Top 10 all-time best Opening Day lineups

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17 Jun 2001: Larry Walker #33 of the Colorado Rockies at bat during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Rockies defeated the Reds 4-2. (Mandatory Credit: Mark Lyons /Allsport) /

Let’s talk a look back at some of the best Opening Day lineups ever fielded in the history of the Colorado Rockies franchise.

With the 2020 Major League Baseball Opening Day pushed back to an uncertain date, we thought it would be good to look at some of the lineups of the past and their collective offensive prowess.

We will start our list from a lineup that took the field almost 20 years ago.

10. 2001: (Overall Batter OPS+ 102)

Juan Pierre CF
Todd Walker 2B
Larry Walker RF
Todd Helton 1B
Jeff Cirillo 3B
Todd Hollandsworth LF
Neifi Perez SS
Brent Mayne C
Mike Hampton P

When you have a National League lineup and weakest batter is not the pitcher, you wouldn’t think it could hold up in any all-time best list. But when your top two hitters are Todd Helton in his prime and Larry Walker’s last great season (each had a 160 OPS+/35+ homers/120+ RBI/.330+ batting average), you can still secure the 10 spot with only two hitters with an OPS+ over 100. The heart of this lineup was stone-cold.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 19: Carlos Gonzalez #5 of the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park on September 19, 2012 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

9. 2012: (Overall Batter OPS+ 98)

Marco Scutaro 2B
Dexter Fowler CF
Carlos Gonzalez LF
Troy Tulowitzki SS
Todd Helton 1B
Michael Cuddyer RF
Ramon Hernandez C
Chris Nelson 3B
Jeremy Guthrie P

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At first glance, you may wonder why this lineup would be in the top 10. What this Opening Day lineup is hiding is that DJ LeMahieu and Charlie Blackmon were both coming off the bench as virtual rookies.

This lineup was even further lengthened by career years for Jordan Pacheco with a 93 OPS+ in 505 plate appearances and Tyler Colvin with a 114 OPS+, 10 triples, and 18 home runs. This is with a lineup featuring Carlos Gonzalez during a 20/20 season (leading the team in OPS+ at 122, and Wilin Rosario hitting 28 bombs at the catcher position.

This lineup had an overall batter OPS+ of 98 and ranked in the top five in every offensive statistic except stolen bases, caught stealing percentage, and walks.

DENVER – JULY 4: Vinny Castilla #9 of the Colorado Rockies against the Detroit Tigers on July 4, 2004 at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

8. 2004: (Overall Batter OPS+ 100)

Luis Gonzalez 2B
Royce Clayton SS
Todd Helton 1B
Preston Wilson CF
Vinny Castilla 3B
Kit Pellow LF
Jeromy Burnitz RF
Charles Johnson C
Shawn Estes P

You read that right, the eighth-best lineup in Rockies history has an overall batter OPS+ of 100, which means they almost never fielded a lineup that had a single below average hitter.

This lineup was led by Todd Helton in his prime. Helton had a 165 OPS+/NL-leading .347 average, three batters that hit 30+ homers, and four hitters with an OPS over .800. This was Matt Holliday’s rookie season where he replaced an ineffective and injured Preston Wilson later in the campaign.

14 Jun 1998: Larry Walker #33 of the Colorado Rockies against the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. (Mandatory Credit: Vincent Laforet /Allsport) /

7. 1998: (Overall Batter OPS+ 95)

Mike Lansing 2B
Ellis Burks CF
Larry Walker RF
Dante Bichette LF
Vinny Castilla 3B
Todd Helton 1B
Neifi Perez SS
Kirt Manwaring C
Darryl Kile P

This lineup is the first version of it on this list, but the last of the great Blake Street Bombers lineups in LoDo. The reason this lineup may seem so low is the names in the heart of the lineup. But this was Todd Helton’s rookie season, and only one batter hit more than 30 home runs (Vinny Castilla with 46).

However, they did have five batters with an OPS+ of 105 or higher and four batters with 20+ homers/.313+ batting average. That puts this lineup squarely in the top 10, if with less pop than those higher on the list.

DENVER – OCTOBER 12: Jason Giambi #23 of the Colorado Rockies in Game Four of the NLDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Coors Field on October 12, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

6. 2009: (Overall Batter OPS+ 102)

Ryan Spilborghs CF
Seth Smith LF
Todd Helton 1B
Garret Atkins 3B
Brad Hawpe RF
Ian Stewart 2B
Troy Tulowitzki SS
Chris Iannetta C
Aaron Cook P

Ahhh, the year of the Golden Thong Goes West.

Ok, I kid, this has been argued as the best Rockies team to ever take the field. And while this may be true when you talk about the overall roster, when just taking the lineup into account with the outstanding history that lays in the hallowed halls of Coors Field, you only get to sixth all-time. This should go to attest to the depth of offensive greatness that has graced the field at 2001 Blake Street. A lineup in which a fresh-faced Carlos Gonzalez couldn’t crack on a regular basis as the key piece in the Matt Holliday trade can only make it this high. Oh and Jason Giambi was crushing off the bench while showing off the old-man beach-bod in the clubhouse. That all helps it land just outside the top five.

DENVER, CO – APRIL 7: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Colorado Rockies (L) and Charlie Blackmon #19 hold their 2016 Silver Slugger Awards before a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Opening Day at Coors Field on April 7, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

5. 2016: (Overal Batter OPS+ 103)

Charlie Blackmon CF
Trevor Story SS
Carlos Gonzalez RF
Nolan Arenado 3B
Gerardo Parra LF
Mark Reynolds 1B
Nick Hundley C
DJ LeMahieu 2B
Jorge De La Rosa P

This Opening Day welcomed to the world to the greatness that is Trevor Story. This is also lineup that boasted three Silver Slugger Award winners (one is batting eighth in this lineup), and six hitters with an OPS+ of 100+ … yet it barely cracked the top five.

The fourth-best hitter was rookie Trevor Story, who famously hit two homers off Zack Grienke in his MLB debut, which also happened to be Opening Day of the 2016 season.

4. 2007 (Overall Batter OPS+ 104)

Willy Taveras CF
Kazuo Matsui 2B
Garrett Atkins 3B
Todd Helton 1B
Matt Holliday LF
Brad Hawpe RF
Troy Tulowitzki SS
Chris Iannetta C
Aaron Cook P

This has been argued to be the best team to grace Coors Field. When you take the whole roster into context, this may be true. However, the lineup taken alone just barely cracks the top five.

This is still the most entertaining team without a doubt, winning 20 of 21 games to close out the season and eventually grab a spot in the World Series and birth Rocktober. How does a team accomplish this? By having a lineup led by Matt Holliday of course. He slashed .340/.405/.607 with 36 homers and 137 RBI for an OPS+ of 150. He led the league in both RBI and average, almost taking the Triple Crown (finished fourth in home runs) and finishing second in MVP voting. I think we can all agree on this placement as much as Holliday touching the plate.

12 Jun 1996: Center fielder Ellis Burks of the Colorado Rockies swings at the ball during a game against the Houston Astros at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies won the game 8-0. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport /

3. 1996: (Overall Batter OPS+ 104)

Walt Weiss SS
Ellis Burks CF
Dante Bichette LF
Larry Walker RF
Andres Galarraga 1B
Vinny Castilla 3B
Jason Bates 2B
Jorge Brito C
Kevin Ritz P

This is one of the most athletic lineups to ever step on any field anywhere. Ellis Burks and Dante Bichette joined the 30/30 club. None of the eight lineup regulars hit below .280. Burks led the team with a slash line of .344/.408/.639 with 40 home runs, 32 stolen bases, and 128 RBI for an OPS+ of 149.

I haven’t even gotten to Eric Young Sr. and his 53 steals. This lineup went to another level when EY Sr. was added as they ended the year with over 200 home runs, doubles, and stolen bases. Leading the league in every offensive category but doubles and triples, where they were second and third, respectively.

I could wax poetic about this lineup forever. Wait … you’re telling me i’m not done? On to the next!

25 May 1997: Outfielder Larry Walker of the Colorado Rockies against the Houston Astros at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. (Mandatory Credit: Brian Bahr /Allsport) /

2. 1997: (Overall Batter OPS+ 106)

Eric Young Sr. 2B
Ellis Burks CF
Dante Bichette LF
Larry Walker RF
Andres Galarraga 1B
Vinny Castilla 3B
Kirt Manwaring C
Walt Weiss SS
Kevin Ritz P

As promised, we continue with the best version of the Blake Street Bombers. Unfortunately they were completely wasted by a team ERA of 5.25. If they could have gotten league average pitching we could be talking about one of the best teams of all time. Instead, the only MVP season (Larry Walker) in Rockies history ended without a postseason berth.

There is three 40+ homer and four 30+ homer hitters throughout the heart of this lineup. The leadoff man hit .282 and swiped 32 bags before a midseason trade with the rival Dodgers. Prior to 1995, only the 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers had four hitters with 30+ homers. This was Colorado’s third consecutive year of accomplishing this feat (they again did this in 1999). This still has not been matched. No other has more than one such season (the aforementioned Dodgers, 1977 and 1997).

So how is this not the best? Well, buckle up for a bit of a shocker….

TOKYO, JAPAN – NOVEMBER 14: Justin Morneau #33 of the Colorado Rockies at Tokyo Dome on November 14, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images) /

1 2014: (Overall Batter OPS+ 108)

Charlie Blackmon CF
Michael Cuddyer RF
Carlos Gonzalez LF
Troy Tulowitzki SS
Justin Morneau 1B
Wilin Rosario C
Nolan Arenado 3B
DJ LeMahieu 2B
Jorge De La Rosa P

Unlike the rest where the heart of the lineup tells you why they sit where they do in this ranking, the bottom of the lineup tells the story here.

Two perennial All-Stars/Silver Sluggers/Gold Glove winners are hitting seven and eight in the lineup. That should be all you need to know about how a team that finished 30 games below .500 ended up at the top of this list.

Even when adding in pitchers, this lineup posted an OPS+ of 102. Last year’s AL MVP top five vote-getter DJ LeMahieu was the weakest hitter and number eight hitter.

Next. Where does LeMahieu rank among the franchise's top five second basemen? Find out there.. dark

This lineup lead the NL in every major offensive statistic. Just as the second-best Opening Day lineup on this list, unfortunately, the legendary offense was undone by historically bad pitching.

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Let’s talk a look back at some of the best Opening Day lineups ever fielded in the history of the Colorado Rockies franchise.

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