MEDIA CLIPS – June 26, 2018
Cruz, Arenado claim Player of the Week honors
Daniel Kramer | MLB.com | June 26, 2018
A pair of the game's most elite sluggers capped breakout stretches over the past seven days. And on Monday, they were acknowledged for as much, as Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz and Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado were named the American League and National League Players of the Week, presented by W.B. Mason. This is the fourth such honor for each player.
Arenado did all of his damage last week at Coors Field, clubbing a tied-for-NL-high five homers while hitting
.379/.419/.966 with an MLB-leading 13 RBIs over the Rockies' seven-game stretch against the Mets and Marlins for
Colorado's first winning homestand of the season. And this manifested while the Rockies' bullpen gave up an MLB-high
21 runs, and just days after Arenado was mired in a career-worst 0-for-19 funk during Colorado's road trip through
Philadelphia and Texas.
"There's an incentive definitely coming to the ballpark trying to do something to help the team win somehow," Arenado said. "When we were losing and not getting hits and I wasn't doing anything to help, it hurts. It's disappointing. It keeps me up at night. It's frustrating. It feels like I'm not doing my part. So it feels good to contribute right now, help these guys out and play a part."
Arenado, who is vying for his fourth straight NL All-Star bid, is quietly putting together a season in which he's in the hunt for the NL batting title, and is tied with Matt Kemp for fifth place with a .318 average. He also ranks third in the NL with 55
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RBIs, behind only teammate Trevor Story and Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez, who each have 58. Arenado ranks fifth in the NL with a 150 wRC+.
"Nolan over the course of his career is becoming a better hitter," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "He's taking what the pitchers are giving him, especially this year. You've seen over the course of May and June Nolan being pitched really tough … You're talking about one of the best players in the game, so it's not surprising that he adjusts and adapts. That's a sign of a talented player."
Cruz led all AL hitters with a .500 batting average and a 1.042 slugging percentage over 24 at-bats in six games during a road trip through the Bronx and Boston. Cruz belted three homers this week, including a Statcast-projected 465-foot shot on Friday that remains the Mariners' longest this season, bringing his season total to 20, good for fourth most in the AL.
His 156 wRC+ trail only Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez and Jose Ramirez.
"I've been playing healthy for a few weeks now," Cruz said. "I think that's the difference. For me, it's just getting to be out there and play a lot of games, and the timing will come."
Said Mariners manager Scott Servais: "He continues to grind it and work his tail off. He had a great week, got the results we've all been looking for. This last week has been exceptionally hot for him."
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Arenado holds 3B lead in All-Star voting Blackmon on cusp of outfield selection; Story in fourth at shortstop
Thomas Harding | MLB.com | June 25, 2018
DENVER -- As voting for the National League All-Star starters enters its final 10 days, Rockies third baseman Nolan
Arenado is third in overall votes. Center fielder Charlie Blackmon is fourth among outfielders and Trevor Story is in fourth at shortstop.
Arenado, who earned National League Player of the Week honors Monday after hitting home runs in five of his past six games, has 1,706,923 votes. In the race for the starting job, he is ahead of the Cubs' Kris Bryant at 1,060,467. In overall voting, Arenado trails Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (2,199,904 votes), and Braves outfielder Nick Markakis
(1,829,276).
In the outfield, the top three will start the game. Currently, those are Markakis, the Dodgers' Matt Kemp (1,498,827) and the Nationals' Bryce Harper (1,403,335). Blackmon sits fourth at 983,660.
The Giants' Brandon Crawford leads the shortstop balloting with 1,701,098 votes, followed by the Braves' Dansby
Swanson (888,077), the Cubs' Addison Russell (771,478) and Story (555,788).
Fans may cast votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online using the 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Ballot until Thursday, July 5, at 9:59 p.m. MT. On smartphones and tablets, fans can also access the ballot via the MLB At Bat and MLB Ballpark mobile apps. Each fan can vote up to five times in any 24-hour period, for a maximum of 35 ballots cast.
Following the announcement of this year's All-Star starters, reserves and pitchers, fans should return to MLB.com and cast their 2018 Camping World MLB All-Star Final Vote for the final player on each league's roster. Then on Tuesday, July
17, while watching the 2018 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX, fans may visit MLB.com to submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet with the 2018 MLB All-Star Game MVP
Vote.
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The 89th Midsummer Classic, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in
Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide
Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-
Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit
AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.
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Nolan Arenado, Rockies third baseman, named National League player of week
Patrick Saunders | DenverPost.com | June 26, 2018
Nolan Arenado had one heck of a week, and all of baseball took notice.
On Monday, the Rockies’ all-star third baseman and five-time Gold Glove winner was named the National League player of the week for the period of June 18 through Sunday.
Arenado batted .379, with a .419 on-base percentage and a .966 slugging percentage. He mashed five home runs, scored seven times and added two doubles. He also drove in 13 runs over seven games. For the season, he’s batting .318, which ranks sixth in the NL.
It marked the fifth time in his career that Arenado was named player of the week, and the first time since July 23, 2017. It was the Rockies’ first player-of-the-week award this season.
In Colorado’s 11-3 victory over the Marlins at Coors Field on Saturday, Arenado was 3-for-4 with a home run and two
RBIs — the fourth consecutive game in which he had at least two hits and a home run.
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Nolan Arenado channeling passion — and anger — to get Rockies on track Arenado has been on a tear, hitting .390 (16-for-41) in 10 games, with six home runs
Patrick Saunders | DenverPost.com | June 26, 2018
Nolan Arenado plays baseball with the joy of a Little Leaguer, but his smile masks the intensity that burns within. No one is harder on Arenado than Arenado.
On June 14, the Rockies third baseman was ticked off — at himself, and at the way his team was playing. That day, the
Rockies lost 9-3 at Philadelphia, their seventh loss in eight games. Arenado sat on the bench that day, getting a breather and contemplating a slump that would reach a career-high 19 consecutive at-bats.
Since then, Arenado has been on a tear, hitting .390 (16-for-41) in 10 games, with six home runs, five doubles and 16
RBIs.
“I’m sure the day off helped,” Arenado said, explaining his sizzling streak. “Probably the anger of losing and playing bad helped, too. I work hard. I hit late at night after games if I have to. I don’t like to be bad. I put a lot of pride in it and I try not to let it consume me, but I know I put the work in so I go into games pretty confident.”
Monday, Arenado was honored with his fifth National League player-of-the-week award. For the period of June 18 through
Sunday, he hit .379, with a .419 on-base percentage and a .966 slugging percentage.
Arenado blasted a two-run home run off Marlins left-hander Caleb Smith in the first inning Sunday in Colorado’s 8-5 loss.
It was his fifth homer in the last six games and his 18th of the season, ranking him second in the National League behind
Washington’s Bryce Harper entering play Monday.
His nine first-inning home runs are the most in the majors.
“I just try to have a good at-bat, try to set the tone,” said Arenado, who has 24 first-inning RBIs. “Whenever you get a knock in that first at-bat, it always feels good. As the game gets going, it gets tougher to drive the ball just because pitchers are really good — you’re facing some high-end relievers.”
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Arenado’s career high for home runs came in 2015, when he hit 43 and led the majors with 89 extra-base hits, the most ever by a third baseman. That year, he had 20 homers, 16 doubles and three triples at this point of the season. Currently, he has 18 doubles and two triples to go along with his 18 homers, so he’s on pace to match the best power numbers of his career.
But Arenado has become a more mature hitter as evidenced by his .318 batting average and .403 on-base percentage.
His career average is .293 and his career OBP is .346.
“Nolan, over the course of his career, is becoming a better hitter,” manager Bud Black said. “He’s taking what the pitchers are giving him, especially this year. You’ve seen over the course of May and June that Nolan is being pitched really tough.
But he’s adjusted.
“You’re talking about one of the best players in the game, so it’s not surprising that he adjusts and adapts. That’s a sign of a talented player.”
True to his nature, Arenado downplayed the roll he’s on as the Rockies headed to San Francisco to begin a three-game series against the Giants on Tuesday.
“I wouldn’t tell myself I’m hot right now; I don’t really say those things,” Arenado said. “That can change. I thought I was hot (Saturday) and I went 0-for-4. I try to have good at-bats. I feel good right now. I’m slowing the game down, slowing my body down and getting my swing off.”
He understands that the Rockies need him to channel his talent, his passion, and yes, his anger, to help get the team back on track. The Rockies are 8-14 in June.
“There’s an incentive definitely coming to the ballpark trying to do something to help the team win somehow,” he said.
“When we were losing and not getting hits and I wasn’t doing anything to help, it hurts. It’s disappointing. It keeps me up at night. It’s frustrating. It feels like I’m not doing my part. So it feels good to contribute right now, help these guys out and play a part.”
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Complete Package
Where Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado ranks among the National League batting leaders:
.318 average (6th)
18 home runs (2nd)
18 doubles (14th)
55 RBIs (3rd)
.403 OPS (4th)
.595 slugging (1st)
.997 OPS (1st)
(Through games of Sunday, June 24)
Looking ahead
Chad Bettis #35 of the Colorado ...Tom Pennington, Getty ImagesChad Bettis of the Colorado Rockies pitches against the
Texas Rangers in the bottom of the first inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on June 15, 2018 in Arlington, Texas.
Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (5-1, 5.23 ERA) at Giants LHP Derek Holland (5-7, 4.48), 8:15 p.m., ATTRM
Bettis got hit around for eight runs in 4.2 innings in his last start against the Mets, and he’s yielded at least five earned runs in each of his prior five outings. The right-hander will have to get his momentum turned around against a San
Francisco team that has hit him well collectively to the tune of a .301 average (41-for-136), including tagging him for five runs in a Rockies’ win May 28. Colorado, too, has had success against Holland, hitting .329 (27-for-82), with catcher Chris
Iannetta highlighting with a .323 average and a homer in 31 career at-bats.
Wednesday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (7-6, 3.55) at Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner (1-2, 3.20), 8:15 p.m., ATTRM
Thursday: Rockies RHP Jon Gray (7-7, 5.52) at Giants RHP Chris Stratton (8-5, 4.14), 1:45 p.m., ATTRM
Friday: Rockies RHP Tyler Anderson (4-3, 4.62) at Dodgers LHP Rich Hill (1-2, 5.30), 8:10 p.m., ATTRM
Saturday: Rockies RHP German Marquez (5-8, 5.53) at Dodgers RHP Kenta Maeda (4-4, 3.84), 5:15 p.m. FOX
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Tuesday Farm Report: Dunn, Oberg Ready to Rejoin Rockies
Tracy Ringolsby | InsidetheSeams.com | June 26, 2018
Relievers Mike Dunn and Scott Oberg both made what are expected to be their final rehab assignment appearances
Monday night, throwing a shutout inning apiece for High-A Lancaster at Modesto. They are expected to join the Rockies in
San Francisco on Tuesday and be activated Wednesday.
Carlos Estevez, meanwhile, made his first rehab appearance at Triple-A Albuquerque, and suffered the loss against
Sacramento. Estevez threw 19 pitches, retiring two batters and giving up two runs.
IN MONDAY'S GAMES
AAA Albuquerque (38-38) lost 9-4 against Sacramento. Isotopes pitchers allowed four home runs, bringing the season total to 115. David Holman (5.85) started and gave up three among the eighth hits he allowed in giving up four runs, walking one and striking out four in six innings. Raimel Tapia (.308) was 2-for-4 with a double. Garrett Hampson (.305) was 2-for-5 with a run scored. Third baseman Jose Fuentes (.323) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBI and a home run.
AA Hartford (37-37) won 5-0 against Richmond, which was 0-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Evan Grills (2-1, 275) in his fourth start after missing last season with Tommy John surgery, pitched six shutout innings, giving up six hits, walking three and striking out three. Hartford scored its five runs on two sacrifice flys, a walk, an error and a passed ball.
Mylz Jones (.284) and Sam Hillard (.291) were both 2-for-4 with a run scored.
High A Lancaster (3-2, 2nd half; 36-39) won 3-2 at Modesto. Rico Garcia (7-7, 3.42) allowed two runs on six hits, striking out six in six innings. Tyler Nevin (.279) doubled and scored the winning run in the seventh on a single by Alan Trejo
(.281), who leads Lancaster with 45 RBI. Reid Humphrey earned his California League-leading 15th save despite walking three batters in the ninth. Steve Linkous (.310) had a two-run single in the fourth.
Low A Asheville (3-1 2nd half; 30-43) was off.
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Short-season A Boise (6-5) won 7-2 at Eugene, completing a sweep of a three-game series. Boise scored five runs in the third on an RBI double by Luis Castro (.303), a walk, wild pitch, passed ball and double play. Danny Edgeworth (.326) accounted for the two other runs driving in one with a double and then scoring the other. Pearson McMahan (1-0, 3.86) allowed two runs on two hits and five walks, striking out three in five innings.
Rookie Grand Junction (5-6) lost 5-3 at Ogden. Daniel Montano (.303) was 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and
RBI. Niko Decolati (.324) was 4-for-5 with a double and run scored. Alfredo Garcia (0-2, 5.40) allowed five runs, four earned, on eight hits and two walks, striking out two.
Dominican Summer League South (7-13) lost 5-4 against the Twins. Anderson Amarista (2-3, 6.97) allowed five runs, two earned, on four hits and three walks, striking out five in 5 1/3 innings. Third baseman Bladimir Restituyo (.275) had a triple, scored a run and drove in a run.
Dominican Summer League Northeast (11-9) won 6-4 at the Mariners. Shortstop Eddy Diaz (.279) was 2-for-5 with a single and RBI. Walking Cabrera (.250) was 2-for-4 with a home run. Yolki Pena (.217) was 2-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and two RBI. Carlos Gonzalez (3.52) allowed one run on five hits, striking out three in six innings. Diego
Blanco (1-0, 8.36) was credited with the victory despite allowing three runs on two hits and a walk, striking out two in two innings. Raymells Rosa (386) earned his third save.
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The Rockies’ splits are starting to make sense, and that’s a good sign The Rockies have a much better record away from Coors Field, but do the stats tell the same story?
Samantha Bradfield | PurpleRow.com | June 26, 2018
The Rockies have played 78 games so far in 2018 — almost half of the season. They sit at 38-40 and in fourth place in the NL West behind the Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants. Notably, and uncharacteristically, they have a better team on the road (23-18) than at Coors Field (15-22). That’s unusual. In 2017 as a whole, the team finished 87-75: 46-35 at home and 41-40 on the road. In 2016, they finished 75-87 with a record of 42-39 at home and 33-48 on the road. The last time they finished below .500 at home was 2015, when they finished 36-45 at home and 68-94 as a whole. Even when they lost 96 games in 2014, they finished with a winning record at home (they didn’t in 2012 when they lost 98, but that would have been quite an accomplishment).
The Rockies’ home/road record split is pretty clear, but what do the stats say? We’re about halfway through the season now, with 18 games until the All-Star Break and 84 games left in the season, so it’s about time to take a look at the
Rockies’ home and road splits.
★ ★ ★
Team Batting Statistics
Initially, the team started off much better on the road before going 4-3 on their last homestand — the first winning homestand of 2018. Now, with 4 less games played at home than on the road, the team has more or less normalized.
Many of their stats show that they are better at home now. However, they still have three more home runs on the road than at home.
Team Batting Statistics
Location R 2B 3B HR BB% SO% BA OBP SLG
Overall 371 (2nd) 125 (8th) 17 (4th) 97 (3rd) 8.40% (5th) 23.20% (9th) .251 (5th) .319 (6th)
.421 (3rd)
Home 196 64 15 47 8.30% 22.70% 0.276 0.341 0.463
Road 175 61 2 50 8.50% 23.60% 0.229 0.3 0.383
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Difference (home-road) 21 3 13 -3 -0.20% -0.90% 0.047 0.041 0.08
Offensively, the Rockies are all over the map in terms of where they place amongst their 14 National League peers. They only rank in the top third in runs scored, triples, home runs, walk percentage, batting average, and slugging percentage.
The only category in which they fall in the lower half of the National League is in strikeouts. Below are individual batting statistics.
Individual Batting Statistics (starters)
Chris Iannetta is much better on the road than at home, except for doubles and batting average. However, many of his categories even out or are within one point (or less) of each other. Iannetta is a pretty consistent overall player.
Chris Iannetta
Location R 2B 3B HR BB% SO% BA OBP SLG
Overall 18 9 0 5 12.60% 24.70% 0.234 0.343 0.39
Home 8 7 0 2 9.60% 27.70% 0.25 0.337 0.431
Road 10 2 0 3 15.20% 22.20% 0.22 0.347 0.354
Difference (home-road) -2 5 0 -1 -5.60% 5.50% 0.03 -0.01 -0.077
Ian Desmond started off much better on the road than at home and that still remains the case in a lot of regards, but the splits aren’t as dramatic as they were before this home stand. He has walked more at home, thanks in part to nine walks in his last seven games. Those walks also helped even out his on base percentage to almost even.
Ian Desmond
Location R 2B 3B HR BB% SO% BA OBP SLG
Overall 41 8 1 15 9.40% 25.90% 0.213 0.296 0.422
Home 17 4 1 4 12.20% 26.50% 0.184 0.293 0.328
Road 24 4 0 11 6.70% 25.30% 0.239 0.3 0.507
Difference (home-road) -7 0 1 -7 5.50% 1.20% -0.055 -0.007 -0.179
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DJ LeMahieu is an interesting case. His only majorly dramatic splits are slugging percentage and home runs. Other than those two, his splits are fairly even across the board, leaning ever so slightly one way or another.
DJ LeMahieu
Location R 2B 3B HR BB% SO% BA OBP SLG
Overall 40 15 0 7 7.60% 14.90% 0.279 0.331 0.438
Home 21 7 0 1 5.70% 15.00% 0.282 0.321 0.259
Road 19 8 0 6 10.10% 14.70% 0.274 0.343 0.547
Difference (home-road) 2 -1 0 -5 -4.40% 0.30% 0.008 -0.022 -0.288
Nolan Arenado is off on another hot streak, but he is currently feeling the Coors Field Effect with only his doubles and walk percentage, and strikeout percentage being more prevalent on the road. His home runs are double at home than on the road, thanks in part to five home runs in his last seven games. That also dramatically skewed his slugging percentage towards Coors Field.
Nolan Arenado
Location R 2B 3B HR BB% SO% BA OBP SLG
Overall 52 18 2 18 12.90% 18.60% 0.318 0.403 0.595
Home 32 7 2 12 11.40% 16.50% 0.357 0.43 0.693
Road 20 11 0 6 14.40% 20.60% 0.276 0.375 0.493
Difference (home-road) 12 -4 2 6 -3.00% -4.10% 0.081 0.055 0.2
Trevor Story, like Nolan Arenado, heavily favors Coors Field. All of his stats are skewed heavily, except for doubles (even) and strikeout percentage (8.6% less at Coors).
Trevor Story
Location R 2B 3B HR BB% SO% BA OBP SLG
Overall 41 20 4 16 8.40% 26.00% 0.264 0.332 0.518
Home 25 10 4 13 10.80% 21.50% 0.313 0.399 0.739
Road 16 10 0 3 6.30% 30.10% 0.223 0.273 0.339 13
Difference (home-road) 9 0 4 10 4.50% -8.60% 0.09 0.126 0.4
Gerardo Parra’s numbers favor the road for the most part, but he is also pretty even across the board. The only dramatic splits are runs, walk percentage, and slugging percentage.
Gerardo Parra
Location R 2B 3B HR BB% SO% BA OBP SLG
Overall 31 13 0 5 4.90% 16.40% 0.304 0.342 0.427
Home 10 4 0 2 1.90% 19.20% 0.298 0.384 0.682
Road 21 9 0 3 7.10% 14.30% 0.32 0.374 0.461
Difference (home-road) -11 -5 0 -1 -5.20% 4.90% -0.022 0.01 0.221
Charlie Blackmon is having a rare year where he’s been playing better on the road than at home — as evidenced mostly by his 8 more home runs on the road than at home.
Charlie Blackmon
Location R 2B 3B HR BB% SO% BA OBP SLG
Overall 60 9 4 14 10.00% 19.40% 0.282 0.361 0.483
Home 30 5 3 3 9.80% 21.60% 0.299 0.373 0.445
Road 30 4 1 11 10.20% 17.50% 0.268 0.35 0.516
Difference (home-road) 0 1 2 -8 -0.40% 4.10% 0.031 0.023 -0.071
Carlos González is fairly even across the board as well, with his only major home skews are in his slash line.
Carlos González
Location R 2B 3B HR BB% SO% BA OBP SLG
Overall 29 9 2 7 7.90% 24.10% 0.274 0.329 0.447
Home 15 5 2 5 7.60% 30.40% 0.329 0.38 0.612
Road 14 4 0 2 8.10% 19.40% 0.232 0.29 0.321
Difference (home-road) 1 1 2 3 -0.50% 11.00% 0.097 0.09 0.291 14
Overall, the Rockies have some players who favor one place over another, which is completely normal. As mentioned earlier, they started the year much better on the road than at home. Their win/loss record still shows that, but a lot of their offensive statics have normalized. Their pitching statistics show a different story, however.
★ ★ ★
Team Pitching Statistics
As a complete pitching staff, including starters and relievers, they favor the road almost everywhere. Their road ERA is almost a full two points lower and they’ve also surrendered fewer hits, runs (earned or not), and home runs on the road.
They’ve walked only a few fewer batters on the road, but have struck out far less at home. For the most part, their starters are doing fairly well. However, Chad Bettis and German Márquez have been struggling heavily at Coors, as referenced in the individual stats section below.
Team Pitching Statistics
Location ERA IP HR BB% SO% WHIP
Overall 5.13 694.2 97 9.20% 22.20% 1.424
Home 6.16 336 57 9.30% 21.10% 1.595
Road 4.17 358.2 40 9.10% 23.20% 1.263
Difference (home-road) 1.99 -22.1 17 0.20% -2.10% 0.332
Individual Pitching Statistics (starters)
Jon Gray seems to be finding himself at home. After his performance against the Marlins on Friday in which he pitched seven innings of one run ball and struck out 12 batters, his stats are leveling out.
Jon Gray
Location ERA IP HR BB% SO% WHIP
Overall 5.52 88 10 6.90% 28.60% 1.455
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Home 5.64 44.2 6 6.50% 30.40% 1.522
Road 5.4 43.1 4 7.40% 26.80% 1.385
Difference (home-road) 0.24 1.1 2 -0.90% 3.60% 0.137
Tyler Anderson favors the road with a much lower ERA, but his stats are not skewed as heavily as some of his peers.
Tyler Anderson
Location ERA IP HR BB% SO% WHIP
Overall 4.62 85.2 15 8.20% 21.10% 1.342
Home 5.26 39.1 9 8.70% 20.80% 1.551
Road 4.08 46.1 6 7.80% 21.40% 1.165
Difference (home-road) 1.18 -7 3 0.90% -0.60% 0.386
German Márquez heavily favors the road. His ERA is almost double at Coors Field than on the road, and he has been hit a lot more at home (28 more times). He has a lower walk rate at home, but a higher strikeout rate on the road.
Germán Márquez
Location ERA IP HR BB% SO% WHIP
Overall 5.53 73 14 9.30% 22.20% 1.554
Home 7.93 42 9 10.10% 20.20% 1.952
Road 3.07 41 5 8.20% 24.70% 1.146
Difference (home-road) 4.86 1 4 1.90% -4.50% 0.806
Chad Bettis also heavily favors the road. He has yet to record a decision at home, but owns an almost quadruple ERA at
Coors than on the road. He’s been hit a lot more and surrendered more runs, but his walks and strikeouts are also fairly even.
Chad Bettis
Location ERA IP HR BB% SO% WHIP
Overall 5.23 86 14 8.70% 17.20% 1.384 16
Home 8.75 36 8 8.30% 17.20% 1.778
Road 2.7 50 6 9.10% 17.30% 1.1
Difference (home-road) 6.05 -14 2 -0.80% -0.10% 0.678
Kyle Freeland appears to be the Rockies statistically best overall pitcher. His ERA is the only one in the starting rotation that is lower at home than on the road, which can probably be credited to the fact that he has spent his whole life pitching in Colorado and hasn’t had to make adjustments to the altitude and climate like some of the other guys. That could also be part of the reason why he struggles a little bit more on the road - surrendering twice as many runs there than at Coors
Field.
Kyle Freeland
Location ERA IP HR BB% SO% WHIP
Overall 3.55 91.1 11 8.20% 20.40% 1.259
Home 2.95 36.2 6 10.50% 22.40% 1.282
Road 3.95 54.2 5 6.70% 19.10% 1.244
Difference (home-road) -1 -18 1 3.80% 3.30% 0.038
★ ★ ★
As mentioned earlier, the Rockies really seemed to be on a trajectory where they heavily favored playing on the road than at home. They were two completely different teams in those two settings, which would be normal if it weren’t backwards.
Luckily, things seem to be evening out, and the Rockies have still played .500 ball. If they can take advantage of Coors
Field like their individual stats suggest they can, the Rockies can hopefully make up some ground going into the All-Star
Break and into the playoff race.
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Colorado Rockies: Make or break time as the schedule now turns brutal
Aaron Hurt | RoxPile.com | June 26, 2018
Last week, after the Colorado Rockies lost the first game of their seven-game homestand to the New York Mets by a 12-2 score, I stated that it was imperative that they win five of the next six games or face falling out of contention in the National
League West. After winning the next four games, the Rockies disappointingly dropped the final two games to the teams with the National League’s worst record, the Miami Marlins, to finish the homestand at 4-3.
The back-to-back losses, leave the Rockies, before play on Monday, sitting two games under .500 at 38-40, 6.5 games back in fourth place in the NL West to the Arizona Diamondbacks and 4.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot. It might be only one game but going 4-3 instead of 5-2 on the homestand may be really tough to swallow for a few reasons:
First, it was a chance for the Rockies to get back to .500. It might not sound like a big deal but, for perception and for morale, being at or above .500 would have given this team a much-needed boost of confidence.
Second, it was a chance for the pitching to get right. Both the Mets and Marlins are at the bottom of National League in most offensive categories. Unfortunately that didn’t happen as the pitching staff gave up exactly seven runs a game during the homestand.
Finally, and most importantly, the Rockies needed to take advantage of playing the two worst teams in the NL because now schedule now turns absolutely brutal. For the next six weeks, there is not a single team currently with a losing record on the schedule. It won’t be until August 6, when the Pittsburgh Pirates come to Coors Field, that the Rockies will see a team under .500.
From June 26 to August 5, the next 33 games are against teams who are a combined 78 games over .500. Those teams include the Giants (six games), Dodgers (three), Diamondbacks (six), Mariners (six), Astros (two), A’s (three), Cardinals
(four), and Brewers (three).
For those of you who are glass half-full thinkers, this provides the Rockies a prime opportunity to get right back into the thick of the race. If you are on the opposite side (like me), this stretch will turn the Rockies into sellers at the July 31 trade
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deadline. If the Rockies can’t win a series at home against the team with worst record in the NL, how do you think they will fare when the MLB-best Astros roll into town?
The next six weeks are going to make or break the Colorado Rockies. Hopefully they used Monday’s day off to get things right or the second half of the season is going to be a long one in Denver.
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