Colorado Rockies: Trevor Story speaks on listening to national media expectations of the team

Colorado Rockies shortstop Trevor Story spoke to the media on Thursday about the outside expectations of the team in 2020.

The Colorado Rockies struggled in 2019, partially due to injuries and partially due to inconsistencies. As a result, entering the 2020 season, even with the shortened slate of games, the team has been largely written off by most of the national media (with a few exceptions, like Alex Rodriguez of ESPN).

With the expanded 16-team playoff field and the shortened schedule, it gives the Rockies a better chance to get in the playoffs as each first- and second-place teams in each division will make the playoffs and then, by record, the top two third-place teams in each league will also make the postseason as well.

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Even with the expanded playoffs, FanGraphs’ ZiPS projections would still have the Rockies being five games back of the final NL playoff spot with a 26-34 record.

MLB.com and The Athletic also project the Rockies as one of the worst teams in the National League. MLB.com has the Rockies as the 23rd overall team in power ranking and the 4th-worst in the NL. The Athletic (subscription required) has the Rockies as 23rd in their power rankings as well.

On Thursday, Rockies shortstop Trevor Story spoke with the media, including Rox Pile, and he was asked about whether he (and his teammates) ignore the national media’s thoughts on the Rockies or are they motivated by it? Story had a bit of a nuanced answer.

“[It’s] a little bit of both, I think,” said Story. “We know that people aren’t talking about [the Rockies] and that’s alright. The game’s not won by talking or doing anything like that … We’re just going to let our play do the talking. I don’t think we need outside motivation other than what we have in this locker room to do what we want to do and we really truly believe that we can do it. We feel like “why not us?” We have a very talented group and it’s time [for us] to show it.”

They’ll start to show the team that they are in 2020 tonight in Texas for Opening Day at 6:05 PM MT in the first game at the Rangers’ brand new stadium. Stay tuned for our coverage of the game here on the site as well as social media.