Colorado Rockies: Five interesting stats from their first 10 games played

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GOODYEAR, ARIZONA – MARCH 26: Ryan McMahon #24 of the Colorado Rockies looks on before the MLB spring training game against the Cleveland Indians at Goodyear Ballpark on March 26, 2021 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

The Colorado Rockies have played ten games in the 2021 season and they have gone 3-7, which is obviously not the start that they hoped to get out to.

There are a few different reasons both on offense and on defense/pitching for why the Rockies have that record and are already five games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the NL West.

So let’s dive into five stats through their first ten games that encapsulate the Rockies play thus far on the season.

The Rockies team slash line

As a team, the Rockies are hitting .231/.285/.418 through their first ten games. Entering play on Monday, those numbers are tied for 14th, in sole position of 25th, and 9th so it’s quite an array.

So what do these numbers say? The team average is in the middle of the road, despite it being a low average. But usually, averages are lower in the early part of the season since the weather is usually cooler. In fact, only six teams are hitting above .260.

The on-base percentage says that they are not walking a lot (they are 23rd in that) and the slugging percentage says that when they are getting hits, it’s of the extra-base variety, which is a good sign.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 23: Garrett Hampson #1 of the Colorado Rockies looks on before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on September 23, 2020 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

The Rockies team home run totals

Despite the Rockies offense sputtering this weekend in San Francisco for a total of four runs in three games, they are still tied for 6th in home runs with 13.

That’s mainly because Ryan McMahon, who has five of those 13 home runs. He is currently in a four-way tie for the most home runs in baseball.

That’s an excellent sign for the Rockies as they desperately need McMahon to replace or come close to replacing Nolan Arenado’s bat in their lineup and in this small sample size, he is.

The Rockies team stolen base totals

The Rockies have a few guys who have been stolen base threats to start the season.

Garrett Hampson is leading the NL in steals with four and Chris Owings (currently on the IL) is tied for third in the NL with two.

But Raimel Tapia and Trevor Story, who both are stolen base threats, have only stolen one thus far. Story lead the NL in steals last year but his bat is just starting to get going, as is Tapia’s, so once they get on base more, the Rockies will still likely stay at the top of this category.

DENVER, CO – APRIL 4: Starting pitcher Austin Gomber #26 of the Colorado Rockies delivers to home plate during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on April 4, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

The Rockies pitching staff’s walks

The Rockies have faltered in a few different areas on the pitching front but the biggest area is control.

They have walked a staggering 52 batters, which is ten more than the next team.

To make matters even worse, in all of baseball, there is a two-way tie for the leaders in walks … and both are Rockies starting pitchers. Austin Gomber and German Marquez both have 11 walks but, at least for Marquez, he has made that in three starts (15 2/3 IP). Gomber has only made that in two (9 1/3 IP).

The Rockies pitching staff’s strikeouts … or lack thereof

The Rockies don’t have many pitchers that have the overpowering stuff to strike guys out a ton but their rate is among the lowest in baseball.

By total, the Rockies are tied for 19th in strikeouts but that’s painting a better picture than it actually it is. The teams at the bottom (Washington and the Mets) are in those spots because they have played five or six games (due to weather and/or COVID-related postponements).

If you exclude those two teams, the Rockies total strikeouts are only higher than five teams.

When you’re walking more than any other team and striking out in the bottom quarter of baseball, that’s not a good combination going forward.

Next. Podcast: Thoughts and reaction after 10 games. dark

The Rockies will need to see much improvement in those two pitching departments going forward or they will be the team that they have been in the first ten games: a team that is tied for the worst record in baseball.

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