Colorado Rockies: Stars need to shine in the final weeks
It is all coming down to the wire for the Colorado Rockies. After losing three straight games and seven of the last 10, they are sitting two games back of the Miami Marlins for the final Wild Card spot with 17 games left to play.
Even though the Colorado Rockies have been heading in the wrong direction, there is a simple solution that could fix their offensive problems: The All-Stars on the team must start to act accordingly.
Last season, Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story, Charlie Blackmon, and David Dahl all made the National League All-Star team and one could make a strong case that none of them would be deserving of receiving such an honor this season had there been an All-Star game. It is now or never for these four to return to form.
Arenado has been the biggest disappointment on the roster offensively. Batting .269 and having an OPS of .803, he has been severely lagging behind his career averages. His power numbers have also fallen off drastically and, after driving in the most runs over the past five seasons, he has managed just 25 RBI.
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Recently he has shown glimpses of breaking out. In the last 15 games, he is 20-for-55 (.364) with a home run and 9 RBI … but the Rockies need him to have one of his infamous hot streak down the stretch.
After having one of the most unbelievable first three weeks of the season, Charlie Blackmon has been practically a non-factor in the lineup. For the first 17 games, Chuck Nazty was slashing a jaw-dropping .500/.527/.721, but it has been ugly ever since.
In his last 94 at-bats, he has a mere 18 hits (.191) with two home runs and 10 RBI. No one is expecting him to go back to hitting .500, but he has to turn it around before it is too late.
Trevor Story has been the most consistent hitter in the Rockies’ lineup, but they could use a lot more out of him. So far, he is hitting .292 with 10 HR, 22 RBI, 34 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases. They will need him to continue setting the table in front of Arenado and Blackmon and wreak havoc on the base paths as the Rockies have been desperate for runs lately.
David Dahl could be the dark horse in the lineup … if manager Bud Black gives him the opportunity. Dahl returned from the 10-day Injured List on Wednesday after being out since August 18 with lower back soreness. Unfortunately for him, he returns to an even more crowded outfield with the addition of Kevin Pillar.
Before going on the IL, Dahl had been in a horrible slump, hitting .189/.238/.243 with no homers, 7 RBI, and 8 runs scored. A return to ’19 form would be a huge boost to the lineup, especially if he is slotted in the leadoff spot.
The Rockies must have their best players show up in clutch or any fantasies of Rocktober baseball will be over before it even started.