Most Colorado Rockies Fans Shouldn’t Be Optimistic, But Here’s Why I Still Hold Out Hope
By Andrew Dill
May 7, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) throws to first on the ground-out hit by Texas Rangers right fielder Alex Rios (not pictured) during the ninth inning of a baseball game at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Rockies won 9-2. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Rockies haven’t given their fan base much to cheer about this past June, as the team has collected a record of 8-19 entering Monday night’s three-game set with the Washington Nationals. However, the Rockies have dealt with a slew of injuries, regarding two key pitchers in Brett Anderson and Tyler Chatwood (who were slated to go 3-4 in the rotation), and key positional players such as Nolan Arenado, Michael Cuddyer, and Carlos Gonzalez.
Before I go into the depth of why I still hold out hope for the Colorado Rockies this season, let me take you back to a situation last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers. They were struggling mightily as head coach Don Mattingly was feeling the wrath of the hot seat as the team started out 23-32. LA was in desperate need of a spark to get their team going as they ended up promoting Cuban outfielder prospect Yasiel Puig.
The story would take off from there. Puig would bring energy and hustle to a team that desperately needed it. He would slash at a line of .312/.402/.521 with 20 doubles, 4 triples, 11 home runs, and 45 RBI’s. Puig’s presence alone catapulted the Dodgers to reach the postseason as the team went 19-6 in July and 23-6 in the month of August.
As for the Rockies, they are sitting at 36-46 on the season. In my opinion, getting Nolan Arenado back into the lineup would create that same feel in which Arenado plays hard night in and night out and can save potential runs with his stellar glove at the hot corner. Before going down with a broken middle (mallet) finger, the 23-year-old was hitting .305/.333/.489 with 17 doubles, 6 home runs, and 28 RBI’s. Not to mention, the second-year pro out of Newport Beach was a key part of the lineup when batting with runner’s in scoring position. Nolan was 18-for-47 (.383), with 5 doubles, 2 home runs, and 24 RBI’s.
Granted, Colorado’s pitching has to be better in which they will be getting southpaw Brett Anderson back soon and Eddie Butler down the road. The starting pitching has to get better due to the fact that the bullpen has been drastically overused already and they haven’t been good — and I’m saying that nicely.
In conclusion, the return of Nolan Arenado will be a huge factor to the team’s success moving forward, energy-wise, offensively, and defensively.