After a split at Fenway, the Rockies are right where they should be
May 16, 2019, 9:28 AM | Updated: 10:09 am
We can all agree the Rockies haven’t played their best baseball to start the season. After splitting a two-game set with the Red Sox at Fenway Park, however, they showed me something; if they can get hot this summer/fall, they should remain in the 2019 World Series discussion.
We’ve seen the Rockies go up against some of the National League powerhouses this season, but I was still curious to see what the team look like going up against a powerful Red Sox club? The answer is pretty good, all things considered. The team was down in both games to the defending World Series champs, but also climbed back into each, taking one of them and then forcing Boston to scratch out a win in the other.
The results of the games are not what Rockies fans should be focusing on, though. Instead, the encouraging part of the quick trip to Boston was the fact that the Rockies just proved that the champs aren’t too much of a task for a club that has looked shaky early on. Rockies fans should also focus on the fact that most World Series winning teams don’t play their best baseball until June, July or even August.
The positive note to focus on is the Rockies stood up to Boston, even after not playing their best brand of baseball. In two days, Colorado broke the major-league record for strikeouts in two games, whiffing 40 times at Fenway. They also had a number of miscues, as well, including not moving Nolan Arenado to third and scoring him after the All-Star third baseman led off the 10th inning of game two with a double.
Those mistakes are inexcusable and no doubt have to be cleaned up, but the Rockies have proven so far that they play a pretty clean game. Plus, the team did rack up 17 of those K’s in game 1 against perennial Cy Young candidate Chris Sale. Most teams wouldn’t have fared much better. Even after all of that, the Rockies still looked up to the task and weren’t intimidated by the defending champs.
Are the Rockies still a World Series contender?
Their early season tug-of-war with the .500 mark has left some fans wondering where the Rockies sit in 2019. Are they still a team capable of competing for a title, as many national media members predicted during spring training? Can they still win the NL West? Are they a wild card team once again? Or could we be looking at a disappointing season?
The answer to some of those questions are still up in the air. One thing is for sure, though; if the Rockies can get hot and play clean baseball later this year, they should at least be a playoff team and can do some damage this postseason.
There’s a saying in baseball that you don’t watch the standings until Memorial Day. Well, we are just about one week away from that point on the calendar and the Rockies are right where they need to be, hovering around .500. I think Rockies fans should feel encouraged right now and be looking forward to June and July baseball.
This team is going to get much better. And when they do, they can definitely make up some ground.
Who knows? Not trying to give anyone 2007 flashbacks, but maybe they’ll be playing baseball at Fenway once again in October.
