Well where was that all season, Rockies!? I mean: come on! Did you really have to wait until the last home series of the season to show us what utterly freaking awesome baseball looked like? Geeze. Look guys, I’m not actually complaining. I’ll take it. But as many super cool things happened the last few games – and believe me, there were many - the thought that kept coming back into my head was this: how much better would all this be if the games actually mattered, if the Rockies were actually in contention. Sigh…
One of the super cool things that happened in this game was a three-homer inning, courtesy of Charlie Blackmon, Carlos Gonzalez, and Corey Dickerson. I love all the little things about baseball. Pitchers’ duels, suicide squeezes, and double switches in the 8th are all good fun. Bludgeoning your opponent to death with dingers is also good fun.
The other super cool thing that happened in this game was this:
Whoa. I mean, that’s just… whoa.
David Hale pitched a pretty strong five innings. Christian Friedrich and Brooks Brown tried to give the lead away after that. But in the end, allz the homerz and Nolan Arenado’s glove were enough to win.
The super cool thing that happened in this game was even cooler than anything that happened in Game 1, but I’m going to start at the bottom and work my way up this time. Your Game 2 Super Cool Thing countdown:
- Justin Morneau went a perfect 4-4 at the plate in this one, and while he isn’t showing a lot of power, he’s looking productive and, more importantly, healthy since his return. I’d be surprised if he’s still a Rockie in 2016, but he’s earned himself a job somewhere next year, and I’m rooting for this class act to go out on his own terms whenever and wherever that might be. So this made me happy.
- Corey Dickerson had two hits, including a double, after stroking three hits, including that aforementioned homer, in Game 1. He’s missed a ton of time with injury in 2015, but on a rate basis, he’s been just about as good this season (.896 OPS), as last (.931 OPS). He’s a keeper.
- This:
Watching a bunch of grown men act like kids after a walk-off is just great. There isn’t much that happens on a baseball field I get a bigger kick out of than that. The fact that baseball players do this even in a meaningless game at the end of a lost season shows you that none of these games are truly meaningless to them.
Also, there were over 40,000 fans at this game. Yeah, it’s a beautiful Saturday night in a beautiful stadium during the last home series of the year, so maybe it makes sense. But whatever the reason, there were a lot of folks in that building who, despite the home team’s place in the standings, got a terrific show. And that matters too.
This game was close until the fourth inning, when Nolan Arenado did this:
Arenado had five RBIs in this game, bringing his MLB-leading total to 126. Yeah, yeah, yeah, RBI is a silly stat, but still… And what isn’t in any way silly is Arenado’s NL-leading 41 home runs (tied with Bryce Harper). That homer total is not a Coors mirage (he’s hit more on the road than at home). And it’s sort of a big deal, because hitting for power wasn’t something that Arenado was supposed to do a lot of. His prospect stature came from his expected ability to make contact and hit for average, which has indeed come to pass. Now, apparently, he can lead the league in home runs, too. And there’s the thing about winning a Gold Glove (rightfully) every year, of course. Man, this guy is good. Already one of the best. If he can figure out some way to address his most glaring remaining weakness, plate discipline, he can honestly become Mike Trout good. And while addressing that weakness may be unlikely, remember: the dude is still only 24 years old.
The Dodgers came to Denver in first place, and they’ll leave Denver in first place. But the Rockies managed to deny them the pleasure of clinching a playoff berth at Coors, and I can’t help but feel happy about that, despite the fact that sweeping this series might cost the Rockies a slot or three in the draft next year. Giving the Pirates that honor last series was enough for me.
Status Check
Record: 66-90
Weak Sauce Ranking: Now only 5th behind even bigger losers Philadelphia, Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Milwaukie (and tied with Oakland). I’m not one to watch the so-called “Reverse Standings” that closely (while the difference between draft positions at the very top can actually matter quite a lot, it’s still a crap shoot overall), but if you’re so inclined, you can track the Rockies’ race to the bottom here.
Up Next: On the Road to Arizona
Tue, Sep 29: Christian Bergman (105 DRA-) vs. Robbie Ray (93 DRA-)
Wed, Sep 30: Chad Bettis (88 DRA-) vs. Chase Anderson (100 DRA-)
Thurs, Oct 1: David Hale (120 DRA-) vs. Patrick Corbin (99 DRA-)
Note: “DRA” stands for Deserved Run Average. The “-“ means it’s centered around 100, which is league average, and that lower numbers are better. It’s my favorite pitching statistic and should be yours, too. Please read a full description of DRA at Baseball Prospectus, and/or a piece I wrote about DRA (and the equally awesome cFIP) for Rockies Zingers earlier in the season.
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