The Colorado Rockies may still be sitting below the 40-win mark, but their bats have been doing plenty to change the conversation.
Heading into Thursday evening’s series with the San Francisco Giants in the Bay, Colorado is 5-3 in the month and has put up six or more runs in five of those games. That stretch includes a pair of blowout wins in which the Rockies scored 14 and 15 runs, a sign that this lineup has been far more dangerous than its overall record suggests.
What makes the recent surge stand out is how complete it has been. Over the last 30 days across baseball, the Rockies’ offense has climbed into a different class, with production coming from top to bottom. The club has managed to keep rolling even without a league-average starting rotation, and the lineup has been carrying plenty of the load.
It’s not easy to pin this stretch on just one hitter, because several Rockies have been producing at a level that would stand out on almost any roster. Still, Hunter Goodman has made a strong case as one of the biggest reasons for the run. He has delivered multi-home run games and has 9 home runs and 18 RBI over his last 25 games.
Then there’s rookie center fielder Cole Carrigg, who has looked anything but inexperienced since his debut on June 9. He has brought a steady, confident presence to the lineup and has been one of the team’s most reliable hitters over the last month.
Cole Carrigg's first 30 days in the Majors...105 PA.307 AVG.385 OBP.580 SLG23 Runs13 XBH4 HR21 RBI2 SB11.4% BB19.0% K142 wRC+#Rockiespic.twitter.com/RZISB2N0Af
Carrigg is hitting better than .300 in the last month, but the bigger number is the .965 OPS that comes with it. For a team that has needed a jolt, he has provided exactly that.
It’s not often a team gets praised for its play while still losing games, but the Rockies have clearly turned a corner offensively. In one offseason, they’ve gone from the bottom of the barrel to a group worth paying attention to, and they are no longer the worst team in baseball.
In Other News...
Rockies Bring Back John Brebbia As Bullpen Questions Keep Growing
With the Rockies bullpen questions still piling up, the club has brought John Brebbia back into the organization on a minor league deal and sent him to Triple-A Albuquerque. It is another familiar stop for the veteran right-hander, who has already spent much of the season shuttling between Triple-A affiliates while trying to work his way back into the picture.
Brebbia had elected free agency after being outrighted off Colorados roster, and his brief big league look this year included three appearances for the Rockies. For now, the assignment gives Colorado another experienced arm to keep tabs on, even if the path back to Denver will depend on whether he can sharpen things in Albuquerque. [Read more 🡒]
Rockies Fans Have Every Right To Feel Snubbed Over Hunter Goodman
Hunter Goodman has given the Rockies exactly the kind of power season that should make him part of the Home Run Derby conversation. The Colorado slugger has climbed to second in the National League in home runs, and his recent surge has only strengthened the case that he belongs on the midsummer stage with the games biggest boppers.
Still, the Derby picture is not fully set, and Goodman remains on the outside looking in as the invitation list takes shape. With several spots already spoken for and a couple still open, the Rockies are left waiting to see whether one of their most productive bats gets the nod he has earned. [Read more 🡒]