Rockies minor league affiliate gets more ESPN time than big club

The Colorado Rockies do not play on ESPN this year, and why would anyone want to watch one of the worst Major League Baseball clubs of all time?

Coming off back-to-back 100-loss seasons, it’s not as if there was hype for this campaign in Denver. Nobody was upset with the lack of Rockies TV appearances this summer, which amounted to one game on FS1 and another on MLB Network. It meant no ESPN or Sunday Night Baseball games for Colorado.

The Rockies have proved with their play that the broadcast stations were right to avoid the team. Now at 15-57, the club has already fired its manager and is pacing for the worst season in modern history.

What about the players who aren’t even good enough to play for the Rockies? Well, they’re in Triple-A on the Albuquerque Isotopes.

The ‘Topes are 30-38, holding down last place in the Pacific Coast League’s East division in the first half’s standings. ABQ, which has hosted some good baseball in the past in the form of the Dukes and the early days of the Isotopes, hasn’t had a good baseball club in over a decade. The Rockies took over as the Triple-A affiliate in 2015 from the Los Angeles Dodgers and since then, New Mexico’s team has not once finished at .500 or better.

Still, like Coors Field and Dinger, it’s a fun time to go to Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park and see Orbit get up to stuff.

That’s what ESPN will be doing on July 2, when The SportsCenter: 50 States in 50 Days tour will cover the Isotopes’ 12:05 pm home game against El Paso, per an announcement from the club and broadcaster on Monday.

While perhaps not a traditional reason for a game broadcast in this era, as SportsCenter fills summer content by telling stories about America, across America, it still means airtime for the Isotopes.

“From iconic athletic venues to hometown hidden gems, each stop will spotlight local rivalries, community traditions and the many ways sports unite fans across the country,” ESPN shared.

It’s a big deal for the ‘Topes to get the spotlight and funny enough, it means they’ll get a bigger spotlight this season than their parent affiliate in Colorado.

If you’re wondering what Colorado event will be highlighted, that will come on Aug. 9 when ESPN covers the Savannah Bananas at Coors Field. Meaning all of the Isotopes, Bananas and Coors Field will be on ESPN more than the Rockies this summer, pretty on brand for the listless club.

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