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5 reasons why the Colorado Rockies think they are playoff contenders

By Noah Yingling

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 31: Kris Bryant #23 of the San Francisco Giants looks on from the dugout prior to the start of the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park on August 31, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 31: Kris Bryant #23 of the San Francisco Giants looks on from the dugout prior to the start of the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Oracle Park on August 31, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Kris Bryant, Colorado Rockies
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 10: Kris Bryant #23 of the San Francisco Giants speaks with reporters in the dugout prior to a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 10, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. Today’s game was Bryant’s first time back at Wrigley Field since he was traded by the Cubs. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

Entering the 2022 season, the Colorado Rockies think they are playoff contenders. They believe it but their fanbase (by and large) does not believe it and the baseball world doesn’t believe it either. But signing Kris Bryant to a seven-year deal for $182 million (among other additions) shows that they want to win now.

Kris Bryant believes it and the other Rockies that have been with the team for years believe it as well.

Believe it or not, there are actually more than five reasons why the Rockies believe that they will be playoff contenders. However, we will boil it down to the top five reasons why the Colorado Rockies believe that they are playoff contenders.

Let’s dive in.

1) The Colorado Rockies have added. Other teams have taken a step back or haven’t improved

The Colorado Rockies have added some pieces but many of the other teams that should be contenders have subtracted a lot or done very little.

The Cincinnati Reds would have won the third NL Wild Card spot in 2021 but they have dismantled their team.

They’ve gotten rid of catcher Tucker Barnhart, third baseman Eugenio Suárez, left fielder Jesse Winker, right fielder Nick Castellanos, starter Wade Miley, starter Sonny Gray, and reliever Michael Lorenzen, (former Rockies reliever) Mychal Givens, Amir Garrett, and Sean Doolittle this offseason, with all but Barnhart and Miley leaving since the lockout ended last week.

The San Francisco Giants had Buster Posey retire and, offensively, they have only replaced him with Joc Pederson, a player with an OPS+ of 91 since 2020. They also lost Kevin Gausman but replaced him with Carlos Rodón and Alex Cobb.

The only thing that the San Diego Padres have done that is fairly big among their 26-man roster is add Luke Voit …  but Fernando Tatis, Jr. will miss 2-3 months due to wrist surgery. In that same period that the Rockies went 55-53, the Padres went 45-64. The only way they’ve really gotten better is by making a huge upgrade at manager from Jayce Tingler to Bob Melvin.

The Rockies have added Bryant, José Iglesias (who they believe will be a very good defensive shortstop), Alex Colomé, Chad Kuhl, and maybe even others in the coming weeks.

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