The Colorado Rockies could be making some moves come the August 1 trade deadline, but according to Thomas Harding of MLB.com, any trade Colorado won’t help the Rockies’ lack of home-run power.
Harding joined Gil Whiteley on Mile High Sports radio AM 1340 | FM 104.7 to discuss possible options for the Rockies at the deadline, but stood on his claim that the team doesn’t have enough long-ball power at the plate.
“It’s very hard for me to see them deal a Carlos Gonzalez,” Harding said, “because there isn’t enough home run power in that team.”
The Rockies are fifth in the National League and 12th in the majors with 112 home runs, but the source of those home runs is very concentrated. Only four players make up 75 of those.
Of those four, Charlie Blackmon could be on the move to make room for minor leaguer David Dahl, who Harding thinks “can propel this team a little bit further ahead.”
Dahl hit 13 home runs with the Hartford Yard Goats of Double-A, but since being bumped up to Triple-A Albuquerque on July 4, he’s gone yard twice while hitting .500 with an .846 slugging percentage.
If Blackmon leaves to make room for Dahl, Harding predicts it wouldn’t necessarily be a bad outcome.
“As good as Charlie has been, you may not lose much and you may be able to keep things going that way,” Harding said.
Blackmon’s last minor league season of more than 50 games came in 2013, where he went long just three times in 68 games. In his seven year career in the minors, Blackmon’s highest single-season home run total was 11 in 2010. This year, Dahl has gone long 15 times.
Of course, Blackman (12 home runs so far this season) has increased his power since coming to the majors, but Dahl has room to grow, too, and he’s already showing off his strength.
To hear more about Harding’s take on Colorado’s deadline options, click on the podcast below…
https://soundcloud.com/milehighsports/7-12-16-thomas-harding-joins-gil-in-studio-and-discusses-potential-deadline-options-for-the-rockies
Catch Gil Whiteley Monday-Friday from 11a-1p on Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 or stream live any time for the best local coverage of Colorado sports from Denver’s biggest sports talk lineup.