Colorado Rockies news and links for Thursday, August 8, 2024
The Colorado Rockies’ 2024 season has been a slog from the start. The team holds a 42-73 record and a .365 W-L% – highlighted by horrendous results in April and June where they combined to go 13-39 with a negative-123 run differential in those 52 games.
It was a bad first half. Losing 65% of the time bad. But the second half has been measurably better. Playing near-.500 ball in 18 games, Colorado is looking much more like a fairly respectable club as the season ticks into the dog days of August.
A large part of that resurgence can be attributed to the advancement of a few emerging core pieces. Brenton Doyle took home National League Player of the Month honors for his performance in July – the first Rockies hitter to do so since C.J. Cron in August of 2021. Since the calendar flipped to June, Doyle has posted a robust .297/.355/.703 slash line with 19 extra base hits and an eye-popping 172 wRC+ heading into Wednesday.
The honor is certainly deserved, and it could be the jumping-off point of Doyle evolving into full-blown superstar status. But he is not the only young Colorado prospect who has flashed brilliantly during that time. SS Ezequiel Tovar had a frigid first week of July, going 0-for-30 during his first seven games. Since then, he has been scorching hot with a .967 OPS and 148 wRC+ in his last 101 plate appearances.
Add on Michael Toglia, who has bopped 10 homers and a 113 wRC+ since July and you don’t have to squint to see how the Rockies have clawed back to mediocrity. But that still hasn’t been enough to swing this team into any real form of contention.
While some of the bats have trended upwards of late, the lineup as a whole has flopped this season. There are still 48 games left, so improvements can still occur, but the 2024 Colorado offense has produced some of the worst figures in franchise history so far.
Nolan Jones has suffered arguably the worst “sophomore slump” in team history after his torrid 2023 second-half. Brendan Rodgers has missed little time, but largely performed as little more than an average MLB hitter. Kris Bryant…has played in 34 of the possible 114 games with two home runs and a .651 OPS to his name.
And that’s where the void exists in the front office’s logic. It is okay to place belief in improvements and reinforcement from the youth movement the organization is currently undergoing. But it is still in need of a nucleus, a stability in the center of it all that keeps the lows from cratering.
That is what Bryant was supposed to be – the “aircraft carrier” of the offense. He clearly has not and, three disappointing years into his seven-year deal, it is foolish to believe he’ll ever be. The Rockies will have to sleep in the $108MM bed they’ve made for themselves over the next four seasons, but it is still within their control on just how dependent they are on that investment.
There have been some encouraging developments with the ballclub of late, and there is still reason to believe more will be on the way. But until this team finds an identity – especially offensively – the more lost the team will be. Maybe that could be Doyle. Or Jones can resurrect his former glory. Possibly there is more to Tovar or Ryan McMahon. Or a catalyst could emerge from the group of prospects including Adael Amador, Jordan Beck, Charlie Condon, Yanquiel Fernandez or Zac Veen.
Or maybe the Rockies are in need of adding more to what they already have on hand. Because wanting the best possible outcome is not a bad thing; but expecting it can lead to disastrous results. After all, that’s the kind of thinking that’s led them to arguably the worst offense in franchise history thus far.
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Bud Black discusses the Rockies’ 5-3 loss | mlb.com
Bud Black’s post-game interview after Wednesday’s 5-3 loss to the New York Mets.
Vodnik learns high-leverage lesson: ‘Nobody’s invicible’ | mlb.com
After Victor Vodnik’s tough outing in the loss to New York, Manny Randhawa spotlights the young relievers journey into maturing as a late inning reliever through experience this season.
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On the farm
Triple-A: Sacramento River Cats 8, Albuquerque Isotopes 4
Jordan Beck had two hits including his 8th Triple-A homer of the season in Albuquerque’s loss on Wednesday and is riding a five-game hit streak. Jaden Hill made his second appearance for the Isotopes, allowing three runs on three hits with three strikeouts in his lone inning.
Double-A: Richmond Flying Squirrels 5, Hartford Yard Goats 2
Bradley Blalock had a fine game going until the wheels came off in the seventh, when three Richmond runs crossed the plate. Blalock finished with eight strikeouts and five runs allowed in 6 1⁄3 IP. Braiden Ward continued his impressive 2024 season despite going hitless, swiping his 20th bag of the year.
High-A: Spokane Indians 7, Tri-City Dust Devils 0
The news around Rockies land on Wednesday Charlie Condon show starting in his second professional game. Condon went 4-for-5 scoring two runs and driving in one on his first home run of the year. Not to be forgotten was Blake Adams, who delivered six shutout innings with 10 strikeouts to just two walks and five hits.
Low-A: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 4, Fresno Grizzlies 2
The Fresno offense was mostly quiet against the Quakes, producing just five hits in the game. Felix Tena had two of them, including his fifth triple of the year. Brayan Perez was tagged for the loss, surrendering four runs on seven hits over six innings while striking out five and walking three.
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