Creepy correlations: The Colorado Rockies and 666 milestones

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14 Jun 1998: Ellis Burks #26 of the Colorado Rockies in action during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Rockies defeated the Dodgers 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Laforet /Allsport /

We’re creeping up on Halloween which means we as Colorado Rockies fans must embrace the spookiness in every way, shape, and form. What was once Rocktober has become no more. In fact, I’ve found myself starting to root for Joctober, his pearls, and his NSFW reasonings for wearing them. I’m literally scared as I sit here rooting for a former Dodger in October. What have I become? Yuck.

Nevertheless, I’ve found a way to embrace more spookiness in the form of random stats and their correlation around the number 666. Talk about scary! So hide yo kids and hide yo wife cuz we snatchin’ up every random 666 stat out here (well, just six of them so that it’s all sixes).

The first stat I wanted to look at for this super scary data dive:

How each Colorado Rockies player has performed in their 666th plate appearance of the season

There have been 32 instances in which a Rockies player has stepped up to the plate at least 666 times since the franchise began in 1993. What may surprise you is just how formidable and spooky scary the Rockies can be when a player’s stepping into the box for the 666th time in a season. The Rockies, in this situation, have put up a slash line of .333/.406/.630 for a 1.036 OPS and just a 9.4% K%. That slash line is very reminiscent to Ellis Burks’ 1996 season when he slashed .344/.408/.639 for a 1.047 OPS. That was good enough for a 151 wRC+ that season.

Even creepier? That 1.047 OPS by Burks in 1996 ranks as the 666th best OPS in a season all-time among qualified hitters since 1871.

Just kidding. It’s 203rd. But how incredible would that have been?

As a more modern comparison, this slash line compares similarly to J.D. Martinez’s 2018 season (.330/.402/.629 for a 1.031 OPS). That season he put up a 170 wRC+.

As for the Rockies who made these plate appearances, Garrett Atkins leads in total bases (5) by going 2-2 with a single and a home run. Todd Helton came to the plate six times for his 666th plate appearance and is 1-4 with a pair of walks. Vinny Castilla did it four times, but went 0-4. Soul-snatching stuff there!

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