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5 changes to make the Colorado Rockies lineup better right now

By Noah Yingling

Mar 29, 2022; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, Arizona, USA; Colorado Rockies right fielder Charlie Blackmon (19) gets ready to hit against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2022; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, Arizona, USA; Colorado Rockies right fielder Charlie Blackmon (19) gets ready to hit against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /
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Elias Díaz, Colorado Rockies, Colorado Rockies lineup
DENVER, CO – APRIL 10: Elias Diaz #35 of the Colorado Rockies points to the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Coors Field on April 10, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

 4) Elias Díaz needs to move up in the lineup

As an avid Colorado Rockies fan knows, Elias Díaz had an awful start to the 2021 season but since early June, he was phenomenal for the club at the plate. That has continued in 2022 … but he is still hitting seventh or eighth in the lineup.

Since the beginning of this season, Elias Díaz is hitting .333/.333/.571 with two doubles, one homer, and three RBI.

Since June 3 last year (and including this season), Díaz is hitting .288 with an OPS above .900. His wRC+ in that span is 127. That is second-highest on the team after C.J. Cron.

Maybe Díaz shouldn’t be hitting third or cleanup in the lineup but he surely shouldn’t be hitting eight and he probably shouldn’t even be hitting seventh.

5) Randal Grichuk needs to move up in the lineup and play more regularly

As we discussed when the Colorado Rockies traded for him, Randal Grichuk, for some reason, seems to hit really well in even years and slump in odd years.

If his first week in 2022 is any indication, it looks like the same might happen. Grichuk is hitting .286/.412/.357 with an OPS+ of 128, a double, and two RBI.

The Rockies should consider moving him up in the lineup. He has hit sixth twice (which is about right) and hit seventh twice as well (which is a bit low).

And that’s the other thing: Grichuk has already received two off days when, as we mentioned earlier, Charlie Blackmon has only had one.

During the course of the season, everyone should get a few off days but especially with the DH and the way he has started thus far, Grichuk needs to be in the lineup more often, especially over Blackmon.

So what does the ideal lineup look like for the Colorado Rockies right now?

Here’s the ideal lineup for the Colorado Rockies right now.

  1. Connor Joe
  2. Kris Bryant
  3. Ryan McMahon
  4. C.J. Cron
  5. Elias Díaz
  6. Randal Grichuk
  7. Charlie Blackmon/Sam Hilliard
  8. Brendan Rodgers
  9. José Iglesias

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The defensive positions for these players could change nightly depending on who would be the DH and whether or not Blackmon or Hilliard would be in the lineup (Blackmon should DH more and Hilliard should be in the outfield more) but this lineup construction may lead to the Rockies getting some more clutch hits and more production, overall.

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