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Colorado Rockies: 3 things we saw at summer’s first intrasquad game

By Kevin Henry |
DENVER, CO - JULY 4: Manager Bud Black walks on the field with a face covering during Major League Baseball Summer Workouts at Coors Field on July 4, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JULY 4: Manager Bud Black walks on the field with a face covering during Major League Baseball Summer Workouts at Coors Field on July 4, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
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DENVER, COLORADO – JULY 10: Garrett Hampson of the Colorado Rockies takes fielding practice during summer workouts at Coors Field on July 10, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – JULY 10: Garrett Hampson of the Colorado Rockies takes fielding practice during summer workouts at Coors Field on July 10, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

The Colorado Rockies held an intrasquad game at Coors Field on Saturday night. We were in attendance and these are three of the things we observed.

In a battle of purple versus the pinstripes at 20th and Blake on Saturday night, the Colorado Rockies divided up the team and took another step toward opening the 2020 regular season against the Texas Rangers in Arlington on July 24.

Here were the lineups for the game…

The final ended up being 4-3, with the Purple team grabbing the victory after two home runs from Nolan Arenado (including the game-winner to center off Jesus Tinoco) and a solo shot from Trevor Story.

Sure, Arenado going deep is the story, but there were some subplots we were watching as well. Let’s dive into them.

Garrett Hampson’s speed will be an asset

In the bottom of the first, Hampson looped a base hit down the right field line and didn’t slow down once he hit the bag. By the time Matt Kemp fired the ball back into the infield, Hampson had slid into a second with a double. The next batter, Daniel Murphy, singled to left-center to give the pinstripes a 1-0 lead.

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In his second at-bat, he grounded one up the middle that went off the shoe of reliever Wade Davis, giving him an infield single. Story had to eat the ball after grabbing it on the deflection. Speed gave Hampson another turn on base.

Don’t forget that Hampson stole 15 bases for the Rockies (and was caught just three times) last season, including nine perfect steal attempts in September. Those 15 steals were the second-highest on team, second only to Story. Hampson will likely be in the lineup often in 2020, thanks to his versatility. Can his speed be a weapon? If September (and Saturday) are any indication, the answer is yes.

Oh, by the way, Hampson also made a nice diving catch, robbing Elias Diaz of a base hit in the fourth.

DENVER, CO – JULY 4: Daniel Murphy #9 of the Colorado Rockies chats with teammates during Major League Baseball Summer Workouts at Coors Field on July 4, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JULY 4: Daniel Murphy #9 of the Colorado Rockies chats with teammates during Major League Baseball Summer Workouts at Coors Field on July 4, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

Daniel Murphy looks better

Let’s face it, 2019 wasn’t a great year for Murphy. Between a finger injury at the start of the season and some conditioning issues that were called into question, Murphy underperformed in his first season with the Rockies.

Before spring training began in Arizona, Colorado manager Bud Black said that he expected to see “a different Daniel Murphy” in 2020. So far, he’s spot on.

Murphy not only has completely healed from his finger avulsion, but he has also slimmed down it seems. His first-inning RBI single on Saturday plated Hampson, and then he drew a walk in his second at-bat off Davis.

If Murphy can find consistency in 2020 and provide the left-handed protection for Arenado and Story in the middle of the batting order as was expected when he signed prior to the 2019 campaign, it would be a very good sign for the Rockies in a shortened season.

By the way, there has already been plenty of buzz in Rockies camp about how Murphy improved in the offseason.

TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 26: A MLB baseball rests on the mound prior the spring training game between the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals at Steinbrenner Field on February 26, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 26: A MLB baseball rests on the mound prior the spring training game between the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals at Steinbrenner Field on February 26, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Ryan Rolison impressed

Starting for the pinstripes, Colorado’s own birthday boy (Rolison turned 23 on Saturday) was sharp in his outing, throwing two shutout innings, allowing just one hit and one walk.

Rolison opened the “game” by getting Sam Hilliard on a check-swing to third, then walked Trevor Story. However, he got out of the inning by getting Arenado to ground into a 6-4-3 double play. Not a bad first against a gauntlet of an opener.

Brendan Rodgers grounded a single through the hole between third and short for the only hit Rolison allowed.

Next. Matt Kemp discusses playing for the Rockies, a team he has tormented. dark

After splitting last season between Low-A Asheville and High-A Lancaster, Rolison will likely be a part of Colorado’s satellite camp in Albuquerque. However, his brief outing on Saturday showed that he can be effective, even against some of the toughest batters in the National League.

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