Strike 1: Well before spring training even began, the predictions of a second consecutive 100-loss season for the Colorado Rockies were almost everywhere. As the season unfolded and the young Rockies stumbled out of the gate, losing 100 again looked like a sure thing. And it very well may still happen that way.
But it might not. In fact, after winning one of three in LA against the mighty Dodgers, Colorado needs to win just three of their final six games to reach 63 wins and avoid triple digits in the loss column. All six of the games are at home, starting with a three game set against Nolan Arenado and the St. Louis Cardinals – who have been eliminated from the postseason – beginning Tuesday night. That’s followed by a three-game set against those same Dodgers over the weekend to close things out. Unlike most recent years, the Dodgers have not yet clinched the National League West, so they should arrive in town needing to win.
Ah yes, meaningful games in September. Remember those?
Can they do it? Can the Rockies at least earn a split of these final six games at 20th and Blake? Do Rockies fans really want them to?
The easy answer is yes, and it’s probably the right answer as well, but you can certainly understand why some Rockies followers might feel otherwise. It could be that losing 100 games again would prompt some significant and much needed roster upgrades. And it could be that not losing 100 games would create a false sense of righteousness in how they are going about the club’s endless rebuilding project.
Manager Bud Black’s young team has improved, especially post-All-Star break, and for some strange reason, they seem to play better against the better teams. Recent additions to the bullpen have performed very well, often in clutch situations against playoff contending teams. That kind of success in those kinds of September games can be huge for a young player’s confidence. A youthful, confident and flame throwing bullpen would be a huge boost going into 2025.
But would a late season surge also create that sense of satisfaction with where the roster stands moving forward? Would avoiding 100 losses give the Rockies front office an excuse for standing pat this offseason?
That would not be a good thing.
As exciting as it is for Rockies fans to see the team’s young players evolve and improve, the team is still not where they need to be, especially on the mound. Standing pat during the fast approaching off season would mean going into next season with little or no hope of having a competitive starting rotation. Counting on the healthy return of German Marquez and Antonio Senzatela to suddenly fix what’s wrong with the rotation is not being realistic.
While Colorado does have a couple of young, healthy and talented arms in the minors, there are still not enough of them ready to step on the hill at Coors Field. These young Rockies have an abundance of potential at numerous positions; enough quality depth in places like the outfield that they could make trades from a position of strength to try to improve the starting rotation immediately. But the front office has never operated that way before, always preferring to hang on to home grown talent. If this late season surge allows them to avoid 100 losses again, the decision makers may very well feel justified in staying the course.
Sometimes you can’t win for winning.
