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Creepy correlations: The Colorado Rockies and 666 milestones

By Kevin Larson |
LOS ANGELES - SEPTEMBER 25: Pitcher Jason Jennings #32 of the Colorado Rockies throws a pitch during the MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 25, 2002 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers won 3-2. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - SEPTEMBER 25: Pitcher Jason Jennings #32 of the Colorado Rockies throws a pitch during the MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on September 25, 2002 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers won 3-2. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
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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
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!

DENVER, CO – APRIL 05: Todd Helton #17 of the Colorado Rockies looks on during warm up prior to facing the San Diego Padres during Opening Day at Coors Field on April 5, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – APRIL 05: Todd Helton #17 of the Colorado Rockies looks on during warm up prior to facing the San Diego Padres during Opening Day at Coors Field on April 5, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

Let’s move on to some other milestones revolving around 666 and see what the evil number has in store for us. Will it be a trick? Or are there some treats hidden within? You’ve never seen that metaphor used before, I know it.

Here are 3 Colorado Rockies moments involving 666

Game #666

The 666th game in Rockies history was played on June 29, 1997, against the San Francisco Giants. The Rockies lost 7-4 as Roger Bailey gave up five earned runs and three homers to Barry Bonds, Jeff Kent, and the lesser-known Giants legend Damon Berryhill. An eighth-inning pinch-hit homer from Harvey Pulliam and a ninth-inning solo shot from Larry Walker weren’t enough to overcome the Giants as the Halloween-colored team won this one.

Win #666

Fast-forward to 2001 for this one. The Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 4-0 behind a couple home runs from Larry Walker and Todd Helton in early October. Jason Jennings pitched six shutout innings in a preview for his 2002 Rookie of the Year season. The Padres only got hits from two players and were offensively underwhelming, perhaps foreshadowing their performance in the latter half of the 2021 season.

Loss #666

All too fitting for this franchise, the 666th loss came on May 30, 2001, in a 4-0 loss to the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Chan Ho Park walked six batters and that only amounted in one single run, a solo shot from Todd Helton. They left eight runners on base and went 0-4 with RISP. Sound familiar? All too ghoulish of a reality.

2 Aug 1996: Pitcher Kevin Ritz of the Colorado Rockies throws a pitch during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Rockies won the game 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport
2 Aug 1996: Pitcher Kevin Ritz of the Colorado Rockies throws a pitch during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Rockies won the game 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport /

Let’s look at the 666th home run and strikeout in Colorado Rockies history

Home Run #666

The 666th home run in franchise history came on September 2, 1996, against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Three Rivers Stadium. There are a plethora of batters who you would’ve expected to hit this homer:

Larry Walker, Ellis Burks, Vinny Castilla, Dante Bichette or Andres Galarraga would make fine guesses. You might have even thought that Walt Weiss or EY might have snuck one out.

But no … it was that day’s starting pitcher KEVIN FREAKIN’ RITZ with a solo shot in the top of the third to tie the game at 2 that was the 666th bomb in franchise history. His was actually one of three solo shots that inning (Castilla, Ritz, Weiss), but his was ultimately the spookiest.

Strikeout #666

The 666th strikeout in franchise history was thrown by Marcus Moore in the bottom of the eighth against the Philadelphia Phillies on August 19, 1993. He struck out Phillies icon Mickey Morandini and got him looking to become the Rockies’ 666th strikeout victim in franchise history as the Rockies went on to win 6-5 to send them to a 44-77 record (and coincidentally drop the Phillies to a 77-44 record). Not to mention the alliteration between Marcus Moore and Mickey Morandini is ghastly in itself with that many Ms together and none of them resulting in King Size candy in my pillow case. My ninja costume deserved better.

Next. 4 NL West players who slashed the Rockies in 2021. dark

So there you have it! Six stats/moments from the Colorado Rockies revolving around the number 666. Were you spooked? Or were you OK reading them all because you’re old enough to know that Michael Myers isn’t anywhere near as scary as a Mike Hampton start.

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