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Valaika's 2 HRs help keep Rockies in first By Manny Randhawa and Owen Perkins / MLB.com | May 14th, 2017 DENVER -- The Rockies rode a pair of home runs from Pat Valaika and a season-long blast from Nolan Arenado to

defeat the Dodgers, 9-6, on Sunday at Coors Field. Colorado earned a series split and preserved sole possession of first

place in the National League West, now 1 1/2 games ahead of Los Angeles.

Rookie right-hander Antonio Senzatela got off to a rough start, surrendering a two-run homer to Corey Seager in the top

of the first, but a 1-2-5-6 double play got him out of a two-on, one-out jam later in the frame. Senzatela then gave up a

solo home run to Yasiel Puig in the second.

"Today was one of those days where we had a lot of opportunities and didn't capitalize," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts

said. "Against a good club like that, you keep them in the ballgame and they're going to crawl back. We had opportunities

to put them away early. We created traffic and baserunners and we were having good at-bats. But they made pitches

when they needed to."

Overall, Senzatela gave up four runs on seven hits over five innings, earning the win while snapping a streak of six

consecutive starts of at least six innings pitched. He was pitching on Mother's Day less than a year after his mother,

Nidya, died of cancer on Aug. 24, 2016.

"There are too many emotions in my heart right now," Senzatela said after the game. "But I feel good because the team

got the win. I didn't do a great job, but I just tried to keep the team in the game."

MEDIA CLIPS –May 15, 2017

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Dodgers starter Julio Urias gave up a career-high six runs on seven hits over four-plus innings. Urias hadn't surrendered

more than three runs in a start since July 4 of last season (a span of 10 starts).

"He was getting behind and really didn't have anything to go to or command of anything," Roberts said. "Today the

velocity was down a little bit, and the command, and the secondaries. Threw some good changeups, and he threw a

couple backfoot breaking balls to the right-hander. But overall, he just wasn't sharp."

Arenado's homer came off Dodgers reliever Sergio Romo in the fifth, and traveled 456 feet to left-center, his longest of

2017 and tied for his third-longest in the Statcast™ era (beginning in 2015).

The Dodgers rallied for two runs in the eighth before Rockies reliever Jake McGee got Yasmani Grandal to ground out to

second base with the tying run at third and two outs.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Viva Valaika: With the Rockies trailing, 4-3, in the fourth inning, Valaika launched his third career homer (second this

season) with a runner aboard to put Colorado ahead, 5-4. The 416-foot blast to center was the first homer surrendered by

Urias in 20 1/3 innings this season, and first since Carlos Gonzalez took him deep on Aug. 3, 2016.

"It was just a curveball that I left there," Urias said. "He hit it well. What else can I say?"

Valaika wasn't done, however. With Colorado clinging to a one-run advantage in the eighth, he belted his second homer

of the game over the wall in left field to pad the lead. It was the first multi-homer performance of his career. More >

Taylor-made double play: The Dodgers were in business in the first inning, having scored two runs off Senzatela and

putting two more runners on with one out for Chris Taylor. Taylor tried a squeeze bunt, but it went right back to the

mound. Senzatela went home with the ball and the Rockies had Justin Turner hung up. It turned into a 1-2-5-6 double

play after Turner was tagged out and Arenado threw to Valaika covering third to tag out Grandal, who tried to advance

while Turner was in the rundown.

"That was a safety squeeze," Roberts said. "If he gets a bunt to the right side, it's a run, and it's a potential first and

second base to get [Chase Utley] up there. Unfortunately, it went back to the pitcher. We've got to execute in certain

situations. You have a chance to pad on, add on, and it ends up being a double play. And in the bottom half, they go out

there and score three runs. You give these guys extra outs and don't capitalize situationally, it's going to be tough to win a

game."

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The Dodgers had another golden scoring opportunity in the third when, with runners at first and second with two outs,

Utley smashed a sharp grounder headed for right field. But Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu speared it with a full-

extension dive to his left, throwing Utley out to end the threat.

QUOTABLE

"I think today was an example of -- I don't want to say it was a must-win, because I don't know about must-wins at this

time, but it felt like it was. We don't want to lose three out of four to the Dodgers at home. That wouldn't have sat well with

us. It was really important for us to win and at least split [the series] like we did." -- Arenado, on the Rockies' 6-4

homestand

"I've been struggling to get into that rhythm and find that feeling where I can stay in that lane consistently. Not knowing

exactly what's going on, it is frustrating, but I'm a competitor, and I've always been tried one way or another in every facet

of life. At this point, it doesn't seem to be different than the things I've faced before. I just got to stay true to myself, have

faith, keep working. I've got good stuff, that's no doubt. It's a matter of just getting it done." -- Romo, on Arenado's homer

and his 8.03 ERA with his new team .

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Per the Elias Sports Bureau, prior to Sunday at Coors Field, the last time any team completed a 1-2-5-6 double play was

on Aug. 3, 1983, and it was also against the Dodgers. The Reds did so on a play from pitcher Tom Hume to catcher Dann

Bilardello to third baseman Nick Esasky to shortstop Dave Concepcion. More >

UNDER REVIEW

In the bottom of the eighth, with the Rockies leading 7-6, catcher Grandal made a pickoff throw to first baseman Utley on

a 2-1 count with Carlos Gonzalez hitting and Ian Desmond on first with nobody out. Desmond was initially called safe, but

Roberts asked for a replay review. After replay, it was determined that Desmond lost contact with the bag while Utley was

maintaining the tag. The call on the field was overturned and Desmond was called out. Gonzalez subsequently singled to

right and Valaika followed with his second homer of the day, a 386-foot blast to left to make it 9-6 Rockies.

WHAT'S NEXT

Dodgers: Brandon McCarthy comes off the 10-day disabled list to start the series in San Francisco on Monday at 7:15

p.m. PT. The right-hander dislocated his left shoulder in the weight room before his last scheduled start. He last pitched

April 29, giving up four runs on eight hits in five innings against Philadelphia.

Rockies: Colorado hits the road for a season-long 11-day/10-game trip, beginning on Tuesday at Minnesota. Left-

hander Kyle Freeland (3-2, 2.93 ERA) is scheduled to take the hill at 6:10 p.m. MT.

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Double take: Rox stop Dodgers with rare DP Colorado limits first-inning damage after first 1-2-5-6 twin-killing since 1983 By Manny Randhawa / MLB.com | May 14th, 2017

DENVER -- With one out in the top of the first inning at Coors Field during the Rockies' 9-6 win over the Dodgers on

Sunday, Colorado starter Antonio Senzatela was in a jam, having already given up two runs and facing a two-on

situation with Chris Taylor at the plate.

What transpired next was something that hadn't happened in the Major Leagues in nearly 34 years.

The Dodgers put the squeeze play on, and Taylor bunted the ball back to the mound. Senzatela gloved it and tossed

home to begin a 1-2-5-6 double play, the first to be completed since the Reds did so on Aug. 3, 1983.

Justin Turner broke for the plate from third base, but got caught in a rundown. As he was hung up between third and

home, Yasmani Grandal broke from second for third. Rockies catcher Dustin Garneau threw to third baseman Nolan

Arenado, who quickly tagged out Turner and threw back to third. Shortstop Pat Valaika was there to receive the throw

and put the tag on Grandal.

"It was funny, right before it happened, [Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu] told me, 'Hey, they might do something

crazy here," Valaika said.

The Dodgers executed a successful squeeze play in Saturday's game, when pitcher Alex Wood dropped down a bunt

that scored a run.

"We kind of knew that they liked to do that," Valaika said. "I initially went to second, [and when the rundown happened] I

went to third just in case the pitcher doesn't get there or something."

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that with Taylor not hitting well of late, he was hoping for a bunt down the first-base

line to score the runner from third.

"We've got to execute in certain situations," Roberts said. "Yeah, [that changed the momentum in the game]. You have a

chance to pad on, add on, and it ends up being a double play."

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The last team to ground into a 1-2-5-6 double play, back in August of 1983? The Dodgers.

In that game against the Reds, Bill Russell hit a pitch back to the mound with runners at first and second in the sixth

inning at Dodger Stadium. Reds pitcher Tom Hume fielded it and started the 1-2-5-6 twin-killing.

The other defensive players involved were catcher Dann Bilardello, third baseman Nick Esasky and shortstop Dave

Concepcion. The Dodgers' runners who were tagged out were Steve Sax and Pat Zachry.

"It was kind of crazy," Arenado said of Sunday's play. "Garneau did a good job coming all the way to me -- I hadn't called

for it yet. That was actually my game plan, to make sure he gets [Turner] back towards me and see if [Grandal] gets close.

So it worked out perfectly."

Now that the Rockies have pulled off the 1-2-5-6 double play, the four players involved become the newest answer to a

baseball trivia question.

"Really?" Garneau chuckled when learning of how long it had been since that play had been recorded in the score book.

"That's awesome, pretty cool."

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Viva Valaika: Shortstop slugging in fill-in role Seven of Rockies sub's 11 hits have gone for extra bases after 1st career multi-homer game By Manny Randhawa / MLB.com | May 14th, 2017

DENVER -- When everyday Rockies shortstop Trevor Story was placed on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to last

Wednesday, reserve infielder Pat Valaika got the nod to take his spot in the starting lineup. That didn't mean the Rockies

expected Story-like power production out of the 24-year-old, but they got it in Sunday's 9-6 win over the Dodgers.

Valaika turned in the first multi-homer performance of his career, going deep off Dodgers starter Julio Urias in the fourth,

and again off reliever Chris Hatcher in the eighth to provide some much-needed insurance runs.

Neither Valaika, nor his manager, Bud Black, appeared all that surprised at the 416-foot shot to center off Urias, who had

given up just five homers in 87 1/3 career innings pitched to that point.

"It was a ball up and out over the plate, and Pat squared it up," Black said. "[Urias] is a good pitcher, and has good stuff.

But when you throw the ball up in the strike zone, you're in peril."

"It was just a curveball that I left there," Urias said. "He hit it well. What else can I say?"

Seven of Valaika's 11 hits this season have been for extra bases, including that shot off Urias, which was the first homer

the left-hander had given up in 20 1/3 innings in 2017. But he's not trying to fill Story's shoes offensively, even if Story has

slumped to open the season.

"I just try to be myself, whatever situation comes up, I don't try to do anything different," Valaika said. "I just try to be the

same player every day."

The way he hit on Sunday, and with a .585 slugging percentage in his limited playing time this season, Valaika's

teammate-given nickname of "Patty Barrels" may be here to stay.

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Courage defines Rockies' Honorary Bat Girl Amelia Lehman in 2nd battle with cancer, celebrates Mother's Day with family at Coors Field By Manny Randhawa / MLB.com | May 14th, 2017

DENVER -- Amelia Lehman has been a Rockies fan since the club's inception in 1993, even though she grew up in

Tennessee.

On Sunday, she was celebrating Mother's Day with her husband and two boys at Coors Field. It was the first time she

had ever been to a Rockies game in person. But that's not the primary reason this day was so meaningful.

Lehman was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in 2009. She battled it, with two surgeries, eight rounds of intensive

chemotherapy and six weeks of daily radiation. The cancer was gone, and Lehman and her family rejoiced.

But five years later, the cancer returned, more aggressive than before, metastasizing to her bones. She has picked up the

fight, determined to be a strong and courageous role model for her sons.

Baseball has been an integral part of life for the Lehmans, and served as a welcome distraction from the day-to-day

cancer battle Amelia and her family have been waging. On Sunday, that battle came to Coors Field, where Lehman, one

of the winners of Major League Baseball's 2017 Honorary Bat Girl Contest, which recognizes fans who have been

affected by breast cancer and demonstrated a commitment to battling the disease, was honored.

The winners were selected by a panel of judges, including several MLB players, who chose the winning submissions

based on the quality of writing and description of personal connection to breast cancer, demonstration of commitment to

the battle against the disease and public appeal (as determined by online fan votes).

"It's an amazing opportunity. I'm humbled and honored that I was selected among the other completely wonderful

applicants," Lehman said. "I'm grateful that I'm able to share it with my two boys and my husband, which means more to

me than anything, especially on Mother's Day.

"There are days that I don't know if I would make it through if it wasn't for them."

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The Honorary Bat Girl Contest began in 2009 to raise additional awareness and support for MLB's annual "Going to Bat

Against Breast Cancer" initiative celebrated on Mother's Day. Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer is a Major League

Baseball initiative supported by MLB charitable partners, Stand Up To Cancer and Susan G. Komen.

"I think Major League Baseball is a wonderful platform to launch breast cancer awareness from," said Lehman. "I'm

grateful to MLB for giving us this opportunity. I think this is probably something we'll probably remember for a lifetime."

Though she's never had a favorite Rockies player among the many she's cheered on over the years, Lehman feels a

special connection with pitcher Chad Bettis, who has also been battling cancer.

"I kind of feel a little bit of a kindred spirit with Chad, with his cancer battle." she said.

As Bettis has done, Lehman is providing inspiration and hope for those battling cancer everywhere. You can read more

about her and the other winners of the Honorary Bat Girl Contest at HonoraryBatGirl.com.

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Rox open trip with 1st-place clash vs. Twins By William Kosileski / MLB.com | May 14th, 2017

It will be a battle of first-place teams Tuesday, when the Twins host the opener of a three-game series against the

Rockies. After a six-game road trip through Chicago and Cleveland, Minnesota will return home to Target Field for a six-

game homestand, while Colorado opens a season-long 11-day/10-game road trip following a 6-4 homestand against the

D-backs, Cubs and Dodgers.

"I don't know, what is the weather like?" Twins second baseman Brian Dozier joked when asked about the upcoming

homestand. "But yeah, I'm always looking to get back home. I know we have been doing pretty well on the road, but

everybody likes playing at home. A lot better than on the road."

Twins right-hander Phil Hughes will make his eighth start of the season on Tuesday, as he will look to bounce back after

he allowed four earned runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings in his last start. Although he was credited with a no-decision,

Hughes went 4-1 in his first six outings before he was roughed up by the White Sox on Thursday. In his only career start

against the Rockies, the right-hander picked up the win and struck out six despite allowing five runs on 10 hits.

Left-hander Kyle Freeland will pitch opposite of Hughes and will also make his eighth start of the season. The rookie

starter is coming off his second loss after he allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits and four walks against the Cubs.

In five of his seven starts, Freeland has held opposing teams to one run or fewer.

Three things to know about this game

• Rockies first baseman Mark Reynolds has faced Hughes more than any other hitter on the Rockies. In his career against

Hughes, Reynolds is 3-for-12 with two home runs, one double, one walk and five RBIs with an OPS of 1.119.

• Reynolds may have stepped in the batter's box against Hughes more than any other Rockies' hitter, but third baseman

Nolan Arenado has had the most success in his limited at-bats against the Twins' right-hander. Arenado is 3-for-3 vs.

Hughes with two doubles and one RBI, giving him a 1.667 slugging percentage and a 2.667 OPS.

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• Twins closer Brandon Kintzler pitched in three straight games from Thursday to Saturday, picking up three of his 10

saves in the process. However, the right-hander logged 3 2/3 total innings and threw 54 pitches in those three relief

appearances. He was not available to pitch in Sunday's game against the Indians, but with the off-day on Monday, Twins

manager Paul Molitor said that Kintzler will be ready to go on Tuesday.

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Rockies ratchet up an NL West race vs. Dodgers with homer surge from Pat Valaika and Nolan Arenado First-place Colorado stepped 1 1/2 games ahead in the division By Nick Groke / Denver Post | May 14th, 2017

The momentary madness that overtook the Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning Sunday contained,

perhaps, a hint of aspiration. They bunted like runs might be at a premium, desperately clawing toward first base, as if

tomorrow were in doubt. They played as though it were the playoffs.

“I was thinking about bunting too,” Rockies rookie shortstop Pat Valaika said. “You never know what the game will be

like.”

But there are countless paths to victory and the Rockies chose a well-worn route at Coors Field. Ignoring, for a minute, a

need to manufacture runs, they instead bashed their way to a 9-6 victory over the surging Dodgers behind Valaika’s two

two-run homers and another longball from Nolan Arenado.

And in the final game of a four-game series and a 10-game homestand, the Rockies (24-15) retained first place in a

blossoming battle in the National League West. The Dodgers (22-16) peered into view, but first-place Colorado stepped 1

1/2 games ahead in the division.

“We look at the standings. We know where we are,” Rockies reliever Jake McGee said. “It seems, right now, more than

likely, it will be us and the Dodgers neck and neck most of the season.”

The Dodgers, though, retain a divisional superiority, winners of four West titles in a row. Their awe is ably bolstered by

left-handers Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood, who dismantled the Rockies on Friday and Saturday, holding them to two

runs in two nights. Los Angeles seemed poised to wrest back the West lead and never give it up.

“We all know the Dodgers are going to be there in the end,” Arenado said. “We want to be there, too.”

For a mid-May matinee, the Rockies’ victory Sunday seemed a stern statement. After Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager

gave them an two-run lead with a home run to right-center off Antonio Senzatela, L.A. second baseman Chris Taylor

bunted with runners at first and third, a squeeze attempt that unraveled into a pitcher-to-catcher-to-third base-to-shortstop

double play at home and at third.

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The Rockies responded in kind. DJ LeMahieu bunted into a single. Arenado doubled in Charlie Blackmon. Mark

Reynolds blooped in two runs. In the fourth, Valaika hammered a two-run homer to the fountains in center field. One

inning later, Arenado banged a two-run shot to the meaty part of left field for a 7-4 lead.

Both teams abandoned the bunt. The offensive swell forced Colorado rookie Senzatela to grit out five hard-worn innings.

But with his pitch count climbing, he whipped through a 1-2-3 fourth inning on just 11 throws, then gutted out a fifth.

Colorado manager Bud Black let the 22-year-old dodge a fifth that had runners at first and second. But a fastball upstairs

to Taylor finagled a fly-out.

Senzatela was pitching on Mother’s Day less than a year after his mom, Nidya, passed away in Venezuela from cancer.

He was at her side when she died. On his way off the field, he pointed to the sky, then got a consolation hug from his

manager on the top step of the dugout.

“There are too many emotions in my heart right now,” Senzatela said. “But I feel good because the team got the win.”

After Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger lined RBI singles in the eighth to cut the Rockies’ lead to a worrisome 7-6

advantage, Valaika rainbowed another homer to left field in the bottom half off Chris Hatcher to score Carlos Gonzalez.

Greg Holland struck out the side in the ninth, including a whiff of Yasiel Puig, to earn his baseball-best 16th save.

A home run streak returned to Coors Field, just in time for the Rockies to secure a lead over the Dodgers and cap a long

run in LoDo — and just in time for a season-long 10-game road wing east starting Tuesday in Minnesota.

“This was a hard-fought series,” Black said. “We feel good about how we’re playing.”

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Rockies, for a change, had to survive a Coors Field homestand. They made it work with variety. The Rockies were stellar outside the square state, winning four of five roadies By Nick Groke / Denver Post | May 14th, 2017

In Rockies seasons past, a 10-game Coors Field homestand felt more like a pardon, a chance to wash away the stink of

some sour road trip or another.

But when Bud Black’s squad returned home last week, they did so almost reluctantly. The Rockies were stellar outside

the square state, winning four of five roadies around the National League, with a pitching prowess unseen in purple

pinstripes since 2010.

The problem was LoDo. But in quick order, with a hitting stroke that appeared from the void, the Rockies turned a near-

.500 record at 20th and Blake into a winning streak, with two series victories, including a thrashing of the World Series

champion Cubs. They were 7-6 at Coors Field before last week. They then went 5-2 against Arizona and Chicago.

A series-tying 9-6 victory Sunday over the Dodgers gave the Rockies a winning record over the past 10 days (6-4).

“It’s been a long homestand,” Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado said.

The Rockies survived the Denver swing every which way: They slugged to 9-6 and 10-7 wins over the Dodgers, slipped

by the Cubs 3-0, and routed Arizona 9-1 and Chicago 10-4. They outscored opponents 52-44 over 10 games, with four of

six victories behind rookie pitchers Antonio Senzatela (twice), German Marquez and Jeff Hoffman.

The kitchen sink approach on Sunday came from the unexpected power of rookie shortstop Pat Valaika, the utility infielder

who replaced the injured Trevor Story last week. Valaika hit two home runs, both two-run shots, to go with another from

Arenado.

“You never go into a game thinking you’ll hit two home runs,” Valaika said. “But it felt good.”

A winning homestand, too, came just in time for a season-long 10-game road trip through the midwest and east, at

Minnesota and Cincinnati for three games apiece, then at Philadelphia for four more. The Rockies are 11-5 this season

away from Denver. In the club’s 24 seasons, only once did they finish above even on the road, going 41-40 in 2009.

First, they are idle Monday and looking forward to the downtime.

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“Big time. We really need an off day,” Arenado said. “Nice recovery day. We’ll be ready to go. We know these days are

coming.”

Holland saves. Closer Greg Holland struck out the Dodgers side in the ninth Sunday for his baseball-best 16th save in 16

opportunities. He set a club record for converted saves to start a season, a record previously held by Jose Jimenez in

2002.

“You’re gonna struggle and you’re gonna succeed,” Holland said, “so I like to stay as even-keeled as I can.”

Injury updates. Catcher Tom Murphy is “closer than you think” to returning to the Rockies, manager Bud Black said. But

outfielder David Dahl? “Not so much.”

Murphy is returning from a fractured forearm. His arm brace is gone, but he is not yet catching bullpen sessions. Dahl,

with a stressed rib bone, suffered a setback two weeks ago and his recovery stalled.

Footnotes. The top of the Rockies order (Charlie Blackmon, DJ LeMahieu and Arenado) went 8-for-11 at the plate with

five runs scored Sunday. Arenado hit his 12th double, second-most in the NL. LeMahieu went 3-for-3, his 17th multi-hit

game, tied with Washington’s Ryan Zimmerman for most in the league.

Looking Ahead …

Monday: Off

Tuesday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (3-2, 2.93 ERA) at Twins RHP Phil Hughes (4-1, 4.74), 6:10 p.m., ROOT

Wednesday: Rockies RHP German Marquez (1-2, 4.88) at Twins RHP Ervin Santana (6-1, 1.50), 6:10 p.m., ROOT

Thursday: Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood (3-5, 5.25) at Twins RHP Jose Berrios (1-0, 1.17), 11:10 a.m., MLB

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The Colorado Rockies are winning but the offense is struggling Numbers on the early-season team offensive struggles. By Hayden Ringer / Purple Row | @hjrrockies | May 15, 2017

It’s a tad strange to write an article about what’s gone wrong during a season that’s going so well. As I type this,

the Rockies are nine games over .500, first in the division, and fresh off a four-game series that they split with

the Dodgers. Furthermore, the team unlocked the “Cheap Tacos” achievement on Sunday!

That said, the offense has had its fair share of struggles this season. After scoring 5.22 runs per game last season, the

Rockies are scoring just 4.74 runs per game in 2017 (i.e. about 70 runs fewer over a full season). Take a look at the

current rankings of team non-pitcher wRC+ (explained here):

Compare that to last year’s end-of-season rankings:

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I’ll note first that there are good reasons to think that wRC+ underestimates the talent level of Rockies hitters. While park

factors are useful (and essential) for comparing and adjusting for run environment (the overall rate of run scoring), they

don’t take into consideration the difficulty of adjusting to how pitches move differently at different altitudes. That being,

said, assuming the “Coors Hangover” hasn’t gotten worse in the past year, we can still fairly compare the Rockies to

themselves using wRC+. As you can see, the Rockies have dropped 10 points of wRC+, which is worth roughly 60* runs

scored over the course of a full season. Translate those to wins at the standard rate of 10 runs per win, and that amounts

to six games in the standings come seasons’ end.

(*using a ballpark figure of 10 points of wRC+ being worth .01 runs per plate appearance).

The questions on my mind:

1. What specifically has been different about the Rockies’ offense?

2. What should our expectations be, going forward?

Finding the culprits

The elephant in the room here is: injuries. Currently the Rockies lack their ostensible starter in left field (David

Dahl, assuming he wasn’t merely a figment of my imagination) and their top catching prospect (Tom Murphy); they

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just barely got Ian Desmond back and now have lost Trevor Story for a short while. As a result, the team is giving more

plate appearances than intended to Gerardo Parra, Alexi Amarista, and Dustin Garneau. On the flip side, Mark

Reynolds has been a revelation at first base, offsetting the drop in production to a degree. Furthermore, Story wasn’t

exactly hitting much this year. All-in-all, it’s hard to blame the drop in hitting entirely on the injury bug. So, we go a-hunting

for clues.

Here’s a rectangle full of numbers for us to look at:

2017 vs 2016 Rockies batting stats

Stat 2017 MLB Rank 2016 MLB Rank

K% 22.40% 22nd 20.70% 19th

BB% 7.50% 26th 8.10% 16th

BABIP 0.319 4th 0.332 1st

LD% 21.30% 5th 22.20% 2nd

Hard% 32.90% 12th 33.80% 5th

Fangraphs

The first thing that jumps out to me is that the Rockies have (so far) been worse in each of these categories compared to

last season. It’s important to note that the overall league stats have changed slightly: league-wide, batters are striking out

a half-percentage point more often, walking nearly a full percentage point more often, league BABIP has dropped by .08,

and line drive rate has dropped a point. Even considering these changes, the Rockies have performed worse relative to

the league than they did last season.

Perhaps most concerning is the drop in walk rate despite the league-wide increase in the free pass. Coupled with the

increase in strikeout rate, the Rockies are needing to do more damage on balls-in-play, which they aren’t, as the drop in

BABIP makes clear (partly, but not entirely, explained by a lower line drive rate and hard contact rate). What could be

driving the problems at the plate?

Rockies Plate Discipline Stats

Stat 2017 MLB Rank 2016 MLB Rank

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Stat 2017 MLB Rank 2016 MLB Rank

Swing% 47.3% 5th 47.9% 6th

O-Swing% 29.6% 13th 31.2% 9th

Zone% 46.9% 2nd 44.7% 8th

F-Strike% 58.9% 8th 59.1% 22nd

Contact% 76.1% 24th 78.6% 14th

SwStr% 11.0% 5th 10.2% 11th

Fangraphs

The Rockies aren’t swinging at more pitches than last year, and they’re actually chasing fewer pitches out of the zone

than last year. Normally, we would expect this to lead to an increase in walk rate. The real key here is the Zone%: the rate

at which opposing pitchers are throwing pitches in the zone. This season, the Rockies have been pitched more

aggressively. They rank second in zone rate.

I don’t have a complete explanation for this change. My suspicion is that it has something to do with the quality of pitching

that the Rockies have faced:

• Nine games against the Dodgers, first in fWAR for pitchers

• Six games against the Diamondbacks, fifth in fWAR

• Seven games against the Giants, ninth in fWAR

• Three games against the Cubs, 10th in fWAR

• Four games against the Brewers, 12th in fWAR

Indeed, 29 of the team’s 39 games have been against teams with an above-average pitching staff (thus far).

Over the full season, that will normalize, as the Rockies get to face teams with weaker pitching staffs. It might even

normalize this week: the Reds and Twins rank 24th and 28th, respectively, in pitching fWAR.

As far as results on balls-in-play, the story seems a bit different. We’re going to use a bit of Statcast data. Over

at Baseball Savant, they publish a metric called “xBA”, or “expected batting average.” It uses the launch angle and exit

velocity to estimate the probability of a given batted ball falling for a hit, and then adds up those hit probabilities (combined

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with actual strikeout rates) to estimate a what a player’s batting average “should” have been, given average luck. This is

not park adjusted, meaning a Rockies player will usually have a better real-life batting average than expected batting

average. However, as long as we compare apples-to-apples, meaning Rockies players to themselves, we avoid those

thorny issues for the most part. Here are the numbers to compare this season to last season, for Rockies hitters:

Rockies 2017 vs 2016 xBA

Name 2017 xBA 2016 xBA Change

Tony Wolters 0.274 0.216 0.058

Mark Reynolds 0.253 0.231 0.022

Gerardo Parra 0.257 0.249 0.008

Nolan Arenado 0.267 0.263 0.004

Charlie Blackmon 0.261 0.287 -0.026

DJ LeMahieu 0.297 0.334 -0.037

Carlos Gonzalez 0.212 0.273 -0.061

Trevor Story 0.173 0.252 -0.079

Statcast/Baseball Savant

While Tony Wolters and Mark Reynolds have seen upticks in their expected production (as has been mirrored on the

field), four of the major cogs of last season’s offense have experienced fairly steep declines. Carlos Gonzalez and Trevor

Story in particular have cratered relative to last season. Over at Fangraphs, Travis Sawchik hypothesized that Story’s

struggles stem in part from going from above-average to extreme in fly-ball rate. Hopefully upon return from the DL, Story

will be able to cut down on the popups and regain some of the line-drives that helped him post a strong rookie season.

Gonzalez, on the other hand, is a bit of a mystery. He’s striking out a tad more than last season, but not by much. His

walk rate has improved, up to just over league average. In the past series with the Dodgers, he seemed to break out a bit,

collecting six hits and reaching base eight times.

That being said, his relative lack of power output (just two home runs on the season) is concerning. Looking at Statcast

data, his exit velocity has declined by 1 mph relative to league average, and he’s lost nearly as much speed on his swing.

His average launch angle, which has typically been quite low for a power hitter already, has dropped from 8.5 degrees to

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just 5.7 degrees. As a result, his ground-ball rate is up to a career-worst 53.1 percent. Since he tends to pull his

grounders, he’s become an easy victim for defensive shifts.

Here’s chart of his rate of hard contact and rate of ground-balls:

Carlos experienced a similar dip in hard contact and increase in ground-ball rate early last season. As he made more hard

contact, he began to elevate the ball more often. This season, while he’s been hitting the ball much harder recently, his

ground-ball rate has spiked even higher. Due to the frequency of shifting, those hard-hit grounders aren’t doing as much

damage as their exit velocity would indicate.

Gonzalez is by no means an old player: he’s only 31 and a half. While we shouldn’t be expecting a steep decline in

production, it is difficult to predict which hitters have strong mid-30s performances and which players take steps

back. Going forward, he’ll likely need to do the opposite of what Trevor Story needs: elevate the ball.

So far, all of the stats referenced here have been exclusively for position players. However, as a National League team

typically gives around five percent of its plate appearances to pitchers, it’s worth seeing how the Rockies have stacked up

in that department. Last season, the Rockies had the second-worst group of hitting pitchers in the NL. Their -33 (!) wRC+

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mark beat only the Reds, and they compiled -1.0 WAR as hitters (remembering that replacement-level hitting for a pitcher

is a much lower standard already). This season, they are once again the second-worst unit in the NL, with a -60 wRC+

(head of the Braves’ -67 mark). They’ve already piled up -0.6 WAR in their 90 total plate appearances. Here’s a chart

comparing the difference between a team’s wRC+ with pitchers included versus without pitchers:

Without pitchers included in the data, the Rockies have an 89 wRC+. Include their pitchers, and that drops down to 80

wRC+, third-to-last in the league.

I don’t have good ideas for getting pitchers to hit better, especially with the three rookies on the staff (although Marquez

has shown off a sweet stroke). This is something the team will probably just have to live with.

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Rest-of-season outlook

With about 25 percent of the season complete, the Rockies’ corps of hitters has some work to do. Despite a much

improved pitching staff, the drop in offense has given a thinner margin for error than is normally desirable (especially with

three rookies in the starting rotation). That said, there are reasons to think that the remaining games will be a better

display of the lineup, as the Rockies are able to shift plate appearances to better hitters (*cough* bench Parra for Tapia

please *cough*), and experience the needed positive regression from Carlos Gonzalez and a healthy Trevor Story. Plus,

the Rockies still get to play the Padres a bunch more this season!

With the Rockies having their best-ever start through this many games, and more talent in the rotation and bullpen then

they’ve ever had, there’s real hope for the Rockies to contend for their first-ever division title. It will be critical that the bats

to step up (as they did in the series finale against the Dodgers) when the young starters experience growing pains. Just

as important, more offense means more chances to tweet about tacos and that one word conversation stopper: “Coors”

(even during road games, of course).

What else could you ask for?

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Three options for the Colorado Rockies when Jon Gray returns from injury The Rockies will have to make a decision when Jon Gray returns from the DL By Eric Garcia McKinley / Purple Row | @garcia_mckinley | May 15, 2017

The Rockies were a popular sleeper pick before the season began. It got to a point where they were so often picked as

the surprise team in the National League that they could hardly be considered sleepers. But then March happened. The

team suffered several injuries to some significant players—David Dahl, Ian Desmond—and they lost starting

pitcher Chad Bettis to cancer treatment. That dampened some spirits. And then it got worse when April happened. Jon

Gray, the Rockies’ best pitcher, broke his foot fielding a pitch early in his third start of the season. The Rockies were

faced with losing two-fifths of their rotation, and they had to turn to a cadre of rookies to fill in.

And then a bunch of winning happened. Analysts have asked the reasonable question, “how have they done it?” The

consensus answer is that the young squad is generating a huge amount of groundballs, and the infield defense has been

excellent in turning those into outs. The rotation of Tyler Anderson, Tyler Chatwood, Kyle Freeland, Antonio

Senzatela, and Germán Márquez has been solid so far, but something is going to have to give when Gray returns

sometime in June. Here are some possibilities.

Someone goes back to the minors

It wouldn’t be one of the Tylers, the relative veterans of the group, and it probably wouldn’t be Freeland. Freeland

currently leads all of baseball with a 65.9 percent groundball rate. He’s had some trouble with walks, and he’s been a bit

fortunate with suppressing home runs. Currently, just 4.3 percent of the fly balls Freeland has allowed have been home

runs. Last season, Johnny Cueto led all qualified pitchers in that category with an 8.4 percent mark. There has been only

pitcher since 2012 to post a lower HR/FB, Garrett Richards in 2014. While there are pretty obvious areas in which

Freeland will likely have trouble with going forward, he’s been as polished and mature as advertised. He’s unlikely to get

sent back down when Gray comes back.

That leaves Márquez and Senzatela. Going by the principle of last one up first one down, Márquez would be the one to be

sent down. He doesn’t have a lot of Triple-A experience, so it could make sense (he’s pitched 41 innings at that level in

his career). Much of it might depend on which Márquez shows up over the next two weeks. He’s had four starts so far, two

very bad and two very good. In his two bad starts, he’s given up 13 runs in 10 innings of work while striking out five. In his

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two good starts, he’s allowed 0 runs in 14 innings while striking out 16. Presumably, he’ll have some starts in the middle. If

Márquez finds a groove, there’s no way the Rockies can send him down.

Senzatela earned a rotation spot out of spring training. This was surprising since he hasn’t pitched at all in Triple-A, and

he has just 342⁄3 Double-A innings. He’s been walking the razor’s edge more than any other Rockies pitcher as well. While

he’s walked fewer batters than Freeland, he’s also struck out fewer, and he’s not generating groundballs anywhere near

the clip Freeland is. If he continues to post an ERA around 3.00, the Rockies wouldn’t think of making him the rotation

casualty. But he’s the most likely to falter, and if he does, it would make some sense to give him Triple-A innings if he

needs them and the Rockies need room in the rotation.

Six-man rotation

If everyone’s pitching well when Gray returns, why bump anyone? Why not just roll with a six-man rotation? This option

has some initial appeal. It would provide for additional rest for starters while also managing innings load for the rookies.

On the surface, this strategy would seem to help keep starters fresh. But there’s no evidence that it would come with

health or performance benefits unless at least one of the pitchers is rehabilitating from a serious arm injury. A six-

man rotation probably wouldn’t benefit the Rockies in any way. It would be more likely to hurt them.

If the Rockies wanted to deploy a six-man rotation in a strict sense—starters one through six start games one through six

this week and then do it again next week, in order—they should not do it. The reason is simple: it would mean Jon Gray

starts fewer games. Gray is the Rockies’ best pitcher, and any strategy that results in him pitching less is failed from the

start.

There’s an alternative method though. In 2015, Russell Carleton wrote a fantastic article for Fox Sports, wherein he

proposed an alternative six-man rotation. In order to ensure that the team’s best pitchers play as much as possible, he

proposes having the team’s top three starters pitch every fifth day instead of every fifth game. The remaining three

pitchers would then combine to be starters and swingmen for the other games. For example, assuming Gray returns right

on June 1, a six-man rotation might look like this:

June 1 (Thursday): Gray

June 2 (Friday): Anderson

June 3 (Saturday): Freeland

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June 4 (Sunday): Chatwood (Senzatela and Márquez in the bullpen)

June 5 (Monday): Off

June 6 (Tuesday): Gray

June 7 (Wednesday): Anderson

June 8 (Thursday): Freeland

June 9 (Friday): Chatwood

June 10 (Saturday): Senzatela/Márquez

June 11 (Sunday): Gray

Et cetera

But as Project 5,183 reminds us, these sorts of rotation experiments rely on the right personnel. The best argument

against this set-up for the Rockies is that Márquez is too good to hide in this role. If that’s the case, the Rockies would be

better served to simply go with a five-man rotation and move one of the starters to the bullpen to replace the pitcher we’ll

just refer to as Lordan Jyles.

Send someone to the bullpen

And in that case, the player to send to the bullpen is probably Senzatela. Gray, Anderson, and Chatwood won’t lose their

rotation spots unless there’s another injury or one of the Tylers becomes grossly ineffective. Freeland has been the best

of the three rookies in the rotation, and Márquez has the best raw stuff and the highest chance of going out and

dominating.

Senzatela has been good, although he’s been walking a tightrope. Not only that, but he might have the strictest innings

limit. Márquez pitched 1862⁄3 innings last year, so he shouldn’t run into one. Senzatela, on the other hand, threw just

342⁄3 innings in 2016, though he did pitch 154 the year before. This is not a judgment on Senzatela. He could prove to be

an immensely valuable asset out of the bullpen—a right-handed Chris Rusin.

★ ★ ★

We’re still at least couple of weeks away before it becomes an immediate question, but right now moving Senzatela to the

bullpen seems the most likely option when Gray returns. But if Senzatela continues to produce the same results he has so

far, and Márquez is still an all or nothing starter, Márquez could be optioned to make room for Gray. The only one of the

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scenarios that seems highly unlikely is the six-man rotation, unless the Rockies think limiting Gray’s starts will contribute

to his recovery. But if that’s the case, he should probably just stay sidelined until he’s fully ready to come back.

Of course, there’s another factor that would make the Rockies’ decision making smoother. It could sort itself out because

of injury or ineffectiveness. This is baseball, after all, and these tricky decisions might not seem so difficult later on (they

could also be more difficult, but that falls under the “good problem” area).

Finally, keep this article in mind if Chad Bettis returns this season (he might be ready in July), in which case the Rockies

will have to do it all over again.

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Rockies salvage split with 9-6 win over Dodgers Pat Valaika hit a pair of homers to lift the Rockies to an important victory. By Brian Kilpatrick / Purple Row | May 15, 2017

After what transpired the last couple of days, a series split with the Los Angeles Dodgers would’ve felt like a win for

the Colorado Rockies.

Fortunately, after breaking a long scoring slump early on Sunday, the Rockies were able to do just that.

Pat Valaika hit a pair of home runs, including a two-run shot in the eighth inning, to lift Colorado to a 9-6 victory over the

Dodgers in the series finale on Sunday. Valaika, starting at shortstop in place of the injured Trevor Story, went deep in

the fourth inning as well to give the Rockies the lead for good.

Nolan Arenado chipped in a two-run homer of his own to help back starter Antonio Senzatela, who had the worst start

of his young career. The Dodgers homered twice off of the rookie righty but Senzatela hung in there for five innings,

finishing with four earned runs allowed and five strikeouts. He was good enough on a high-scoring day at Coors to be

rewarded with his sixth win, keeping him in the same sentence as Dodgers star Clayton Kershaw.

Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu finished with three hits apiece and Greg Holland struck out the side in the ninth to

earn his league-leading 16th save.

The first-place Rockies finished a tough homestand 6-4 and are 24-15 on the season.

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Colorado Rockies: 4 things we learned during this homestand By Kevin Henry / Rox Pile | May 15, 2017

The Colorado Rockies concluded a 10-game homestand on Sunday with a 9-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Powered by Pat Valaika’s two homers, Sunday’s victory gives the Rockies a 1.5-game lead in the National League West

heading into an off day on Monday.

Colorado finished the homestand 6-4, taking two of three games from the Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs

before splitting a four-game series against the Dodgers. There were plenty of heroes during the 10 games in LoDo, from

Valaika’s Mother’s Day heroics to a surprise gem thrown by German Marquez against the defending World Champions.

Perhaps the biggest series of the entire homestand was the final one against Los Angeles. The Rockies and Dodgers

have already faced each other nine times in 2017, with Colorado now holding a 5-4 season lead over Los Angeles. The

two teams won’t see each other again until June 23 in Los Angeles. And don’t forget the season ends with the Dodgers at

Colorado for a three-game series.

But hey, that’s in the future. We have “now” to talk about. There is plenty for Colorado fans to love about their team,

logging a 24-15 mark before starting a 10-game road trip to Minnesota, Cincinnati and Philadelphia.

During the three series with the Diamondbacks, Cubs and Dodgers, there was plenty to see from the Rockies. Let’s take a

look at four things that stood out to us.

Carlos Gonzalez may have struggling at the plate earlier in the homestand, but he certainly could still make a difference

for the Rockies in the field.

CarGo showed off his Gold Glove skills in two separate games on consecutive days during Colorado’s time in LoDo this

week. On Tuesday, CarGo’s diving sixth-inning grab robbed Javier Baez of the Chicago Cubs of a hit. It also earned him

a stare from Baez at first base as he wondered exactly how CarGo got to that ball.

On Wednesday, with German Marquez working on a no-hitter, Gonzalez once again worked his magic in the sixth inning.

Diving to his left toward the foul line, CarGo snared a sinking line drive off the bat of Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks to keep

the no-hitter alive. The play earned a tip of the cap from Marquez.

Check out what Statcast has to say about both of the plays below…

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As we mentioned on the previous slide, Carlos Gonzalez was having trouble at the plate as the homestand began and it

didn’t get better as the 10-game stretch continued. On Wednesday against the Cubs, an 0-for-4 performance with two

strikeouts sunk his average to .188 for the season. Even though CarGo has started slow in the past and gone through his

share of funks at the plate, this was something that needed to be addressed by Colorado manager Bud Black.

Not long after Black hinted that CarGo may move out of the cleanup spot in the lineup, Gonzalez did just that. When the

Dodgers came into town on Thursday, CarGo was in the sixth spot in the lineup. The move paid off as Gonzalez posted a

2-for-4 night.

On Friday night, still in the sixth position, CarGo once again came through with a 2-for-4 performance. On Saturday, in the

fifth spot, Gonzalez went 1-for-4. All of those hits from lower in the order pushed CarGo’s average to .210 on the season.

It was a good sign to not only see CarGo getting some hits again, but also hitting with the power and force that Rockies

fans have seen from him in recent seasons. It also shows that CarGo is willing to do what is necessary to not only get on

back at the plate but help his team out as well.

There is a lot going on behind the plate right now for the Rockies, and a lot of it didn’t even happen on the Coors Field turf

during this homestand.

Tony Wolters hasn’t appeared in a game for the Rockies since being hit in the head by a bat on May 2. Going on the

disabled list with a concussion after that, Wolters was eligible to be back in Colorado’s lineup during the homestand.

However, Colorado management thought it best for him to head to Triple-A Albuquerque for some time behind the plate.

Tom Murphy hasn’t played for the Rockies all season. However, Black hinted during the Sunday pregame talk that

that could change soon.

With those two catchers making their way back from injury, the Rockies will have to do something with their roster.

Currently, Dustin Garneau and Ryan Hanigan are handling the duties. Colorado won’t be keeping four catchers on their

Major League roster, and probably won’t be keeping three on there either.

Garneau still has some options available so he could be heading back to Triple-A. Hanigan, a 36-year-old who is playing

in his 11th MLB season, has no options left and would have to be designated for assignment if the Rockies choose not to

keep him. However, his veteran presence for a young pitching staff and .304 overall batting average isn’t anything to scoff

at.

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Which of the four Colorado catchers will see playing time in the upcoming weeks? It depends on when Wolters and

Murphy return and how quickly they’re placed on the active roster.

Tyler Anderson and Tyler Chatwood are still struggling for the Colorado Rockies. Solid outings by Kyle

Freeland, Antonio Senzatela and German Marquez have helped mask some of the problems the Tylers have faced, but

there’s only so long the Rockies can go without their current two “most veteran” pitchers not performing well.

Anderson is 2-4 with a 6.43 ERA in eight starts. Opponents are hitting .289 against him and he’s given up 10 homers on

the season, including one in Saturday’s loss to the Dodgers.

Of Anderson’s eight starts this season, he has pitched six innings only one time. That came at the start of the homestand

against Arizona when Anderson had his best outing of the season by allowing just one earned run.

He’s been battling inflammation in his left knee so there may be concern about Anderson’s health in the coming days if

that doesn’t improve. It could also explain some of the issues the 27-year-old southpaw has had this season.

Chatwood hasn’t fared much better, going 3-5 with a 5.25 ERA in eight starts. He’s allowed five earned runs in three of his

last four starts, including Friday’s loss to the Dodgers. He’s allowed four or more earned runs in six of his eight starts this

season.

With Jon Gray still on the disabled list, Chatwood and Anderson are the veterans of the Rockies staff. As good as the

Senzatela and Freeland have been at times this season, Colorado needs their entire rotation to be strong as they head

into a long road trip and continue to battle for the lead in the National League West.

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Senzatela shows composure on emotional Mother’s Day By Ben Macaluso / Rox Pile | May 15, 2017

Bud Black’s mother never had a driver’s license. The Colorado Rockies’ manager had to get creative, growing up, on how

he would get to his baseball games. When you ask him how he got to the ballpark, his answer may remind you of the

answer your grandfather always gave.

“Walked uphill,” Black said with a sly smile.

Black’s dad was often working so he would get a ride with his sister or his teammates parents or ride his bike. While his

mother wasn’t able to make it to all of his games, it didn’t mean she didn’t care any less.

“In professional baseball where there are some focal points to what we do for a living, you know our moms always had a

special place in our hearts as we grew as young athletes into professional athletes,” Black said.

“For me I’m not different from any other person. My mom even if I gave up 10 runs, four homers and had a bad game, you

know what she would say? Buddy you did well, you’ll get them next time.”

Antonio Senzatela

Mother’s Day has a whole different meaning to the game’s starter Antonio Senzatela. Last year Senzatela lost his

mother to cancer in Venezuela. The rookie has rose to ever occasion in his young career with his task of facing the

Dodgers for the first time being the most emotional.

It wasn’t his best start but the righty did enough to get the win, pitching five innings and gave up four runs (a career high).

None of that matters when he improved his record to 6-1 tying Clayton Kershaw with the most wins in the National

League. Senzatela couldn’t have honored his mother any better on the diamond.

The Rockies earned the series split winning 9-6 and maintained a 1.5 game lead over the Dodgers. After the big win,

Senzatela kept the composure he had on the field.

“I feel good. Too many emotions,” Senzatela said describing the day. “I didn’t do a really good job but I just try to keep it in

the game there. We got the win. That’s the most important [thing].”

Senzatela said he felt that he’d be taken out in the fourth but he felt really strong when he got to the fifth an inning where

he didn’t give up any runs. After giving up runs in the first three innings, Senzatela gave his team a chance to win by

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shutting out the Dodgers in the next two innings. While his secondary pitches weren’t showing up today, Senzatela’s best

attribute was his composure.

“You could tell he was a little emotional before the game. This game means a little more to him than anyone in the

clubhouse,” Senzatela’s battery mate Dustin Garneau said. “I think he was a little jacked up early in the game (really

wasn’t hitting his spots and wasn’t keeping his command like he usually has) but after those first three innings he gave us

five. Which was huge which helped our bullpen out. He showed his maturity in those last two innings big time.”

The bullpen needed all the help it could get today as the Rockies used seven pitchers to secure the win. The team will get

a much needed day off before the longest road trip of the year. Even with a roller coaster day for the bullpen, Greg

Holland was the constant again in this game as he recorded 16 saves in as many opportunities which sets the Rockies

franchise record for converted saves to start a season. (The previous record was 15 held by Jose Jimenez in 2002).

“I try to stay pretty complacent, try to stay pretty even keel as I can,” Holland said describing how he feels after his record

breaking save. “I’m not concerned about what I was before my [Tommy John] surgery. I feel confident. Buddy has

confidence in any of us. Having that depth keeps guys fresh. You enjoy knowing you have a really good chance to pitch

today. Everybody is ready all the time. I’ve enjoyed [the fans support] and I want to keep the ball rolling, keep winning,

and keep filling the stadium up.”

Pat Valaika

The mood in a packed Coors Field dwindled in the eighth when the Dodgers scored two to cut the Rockies lead to one.

That didn’t phase Pat Valaika who hit his second home run of the game while filling in for Trevor Story, earning a career-

high four RBIs. The home run gave the Rockies some breathing room and made this park sound the loudest it has in

years.

Mark Reynolds may be shaping Valaika’s persona in the clubhouse, who gave him the nickname “Patty Barrels”, but his

mother has a different name for him.

“Not that my dad was hard on me but he wanted me to succeed in baseball and [my mom] was always a calming

presence. I could always go to her. She didn’t care if I was 0-4 or 4-4. I’m just Patrick to her.”

The way this team is playing with a next-player-up mentality, you might have to start calling the Rockies contenders.

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Rafterwatch 2017: Colorado Rockies By Casey Light / Mile High Sports | May 15, 2017

The sports world turned its eyes to New York on Sunday night to see one of the all-time great New York Yankees, Derek

Jeter, have his number retired by the iconic franchise. Jeter became the latest in a long line of Bronx heroes to have his

number put to rest – fitting for a player who averaged nearly 138 games per season over 20 years in Major League

Baseball.

Jeter’s accolades are too numerous to list for these purposes, but they include 14 All-Star appearances, five Gold Gloves,

five Silver Sluggers and five World Championships. He captained the Yankees through the great franchise’s turn-of-the-

century renaissance and will be a guaranteed first-ballot Hall of Famer. He is the class of sports over the past decade,

comparable only to names like Bryant, James and Manning over the past two decades.

Peyton Manning is perhaps the closest comparison that can be made during their era, as both men not only excelled on

the field, but also conducted themselves with class and as faces of their sport off it. Manning will eventually have his

number retired in Indianapolis, and he joined Frank Tripucka in Denver as the only two players to ever don the 18.

No player in Denver sports over the last 20 years even comes close to a comparison with Jeter and Manning, but that

doesn’t mean that there aren’t still some incredible athletes to have come through the Mile High City during that time –

many of which may be deserving of having their numbers permanently retired.

Here’s a look at which current or former Colorado athletes are the closest to having their jersey retired, and why they may

or may not see their numbers hanging in the rafters in the years to come.

Colorado Rockies

Todd Helton is the only Rockies player (not including MLB’s Jackie Robinson) to have his number retired, and rightfully

so. For a franchise that is only in its 25th season, an appropriate 17 of them belonged to number 17. He’s the franchise

leader in virtually every true offensive category (other than triples), and he’s atop most every Sabrmetric category as well.

Thus, in 2014 the Rockies made No. 17 permanently his.

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The only player that consistently tops Helton in any offensive category is Larry Walker. The sweet-swinging lefty played

9.5 seasons in Colorado before chasing a championship in St. Louis. Over that time he managed to establish franchise

marks in batting average (.334), on-base percentage (.426), slugging percentage (.618) and OPS (1.044). He ranks

second to Helton in games played and nearly every other meaningful offensive category. He also ranks second in

franchise history in triples and stolen bases.

He was a five-time All-Star and won seven Gold Glove awards. He’s the only player in franchise history to win a league

MVP. That fact alone should warrant his place alongside Helton, who never finished higher than fifth in MVP voting.

Had Walker played only three or four years in Colorado, you might be able to omit him, but the sum of nearly a decade as

one of the best players in baseball should equal a spot on the facade at Coors Field for No. 33.

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HIGHLIGHTS: Pat Valaika homers twice in big NL West matchup By MHS Staff / Mile High Sports | May 15, 2017

It’s only mid-May, but the four-game series between the Rockies and Dodgers at Coors Field sure seemed important. The

surprising Rockies entered the series leading the NL West, but the hard-charging and longtime class of the division

Dodgers could take the lead with a series victory. Entering Sunday’s finale, the winner would claim the top spot in the

West.

On a day that featured a pitching matchup of two of the most promising young arms in the National League,

Colorado’s Antonio Senzatela and LA’s Julio Urias, it was Rockies rookie shortstop Pat Valaika who played the hero.

Starting in place of Trevor Story, who is on the disabled list with a shoulder strain, Valaika hit a pair of home runs and

drove in four runs in a 9-6 Rockies victory. His two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth gave Colorado a chance to breathe

after allowing the Dodgers to creep within one run in the bottom of the inning.

Greg Holland secured a franchise-record-setting 16th consecutive save to open the season by striking out the side in the

top of the ninth inning. Now a perfect 16-for-16, Holland broke Jose Jimenez‘s mark of 15 straight conversions at the

beginning of the 2002 season. Charlie Blackmon was a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate and DJ LeMahieu had three hits on

the day as well. Nolan Arenado hit his ninth home run of the season and Senzatela picked up win No. 6 on the year, tying

him with LA’s Clayton Kershaw for the most in the National League.

With the win, the Rockies move 1.5 games ahead of Los Angeles for first place in the NL West. Colorado has an off day

Monday before embarking on a 10-game road trip. They will open with a three-game series against the Twins before

traveling to Cincinnati for a weekend series. They’ll wrap up the season-long roadie with four games against the Phillies.

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Don’t Let CarGo Go: Gonzalez deserves to be part of a Rockies run By Doug Ottewill / Mile High Sports | May 14, 2017 Don’t do it, Rockies. Now is not the time.

While rumors of the possibility of trading right fielder Carlos Gonzalez are a) rumors at most, b) murmurs at present, and

c) speculation most accurately, the “noise” surrounding one of the most beloved players in Rockies history will only get

louder.

Louder as the All-Star break approaches.

Louder as the team and others discover the depth within its roster (and there’s no doubt that the Rockies have

respectable depth this season).

Louder as the opportunity to bolster a much-improved pitching staff may or may not present itself.

Louder as the final $10-or-so-million the Rockies officially owe Gonzalez comes due, completing the entirety of his current

7-year, $80 million contract – if he finishes the season in Colorado.

Yes, there are reasons to consider trading Gonzalez. He’s at the end of a big deal and he’s still going to command some

significant market value on his next contract. If what many believe – that the Rockies won’t want to compete with teams

willing to throw big bucks at CarGo as he enters free agency – is true, trading him now, rather than letting his contract

expire, would at least yield the Rockies something.

But at 31 years old, he’s anything but “old.” He’s still got one of the sweetest swings in baseball. He’s still got a cannon for

an arm. He still makes those game-saving catches in right. He’s indisputably still a five-tool player, and those don’t come

around too often.

He’s also a great Rockie, a clubhouse favorite who rarely gripes or grumbles. Despite the team’s poor play for most of his

tenure in Colorado – since 2008 when he arrived, the Rockies have only posted two winning seasons, making the playoffs

just once – he’s never been a problem. He’s never been a distraction, like, say, Troy Tulowitzki was prior to being

surprisingly traded to Toronto.

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And you know what? If, sometime in September, the Rockies need a home run in the bottom of the ninth to tie or win a

game that puts them in the playoffs, I want one player at the plate: CarGo.

That’s the thing – that day in September could be coming this season.

This team is good. Very good. They’ve won four of their last five division series, and split the most recent one with the

Dodgers. They took two out of three from the NL Central leading (and World Series defending champion) Cubs. They

stumbled against the Washington Nationals, losing three of four at home, but they bounced right back, showing a

resilience not too familiar in these parts. Best of all, they’re doing all of this with very good pitching, both from starters and

relievers. Something about this season feels different, that’s for sure.

Throughout all of it, ironically, Gonzalez hasn’t batted particularly well, further raising the question, “Should the Rockies

consider trading Gonzalez?”

Don’t be fooled. As goes the weather, so goes Cargo. Throughout his career, his monthly batting averages look like this:

March/April – .271; May – .288; June – .299; July – .311; August – .272; September/October – .292. A cool start is nothing

new, although he’s been a bit below his career averages this season – .216 in April and .205 thus far in May. He has,

however, hit safely in four consecutive games, and five out of the last six.

But forget about Gonzalez’s trade value on July 31. It shouldn’t matter. What should matter is what his value to the

Rockies will be down the stretch.

For the first time in a long time, fans of the Colorado Rockies are seriously talking playoffs. Sure, it’s still early, but this

team has all the makings of a playoff team. And if you think you’ve got a shot, you should give that shot everything you’ve

got.

Trading Gonzalez, unless it’s for a top-flight pitcher who can help win “right now,” won’t make the Rockies immediately

better; it won’t make them a better team as they approach the postseason. Most likely, CarGo would fetch young pitching

prospects.

And while there’s nothing wrong with that in a season that fizzles through summer, making that move in a year filled with

hope would send a terrible message – to fans, to current Rockies players and to future Rockies players.

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If Gonzalez walks next season because he’s simply too expensive for the Rockies, so be it. Jeff Bridich has built a roster

loaded with outfield depth, one that could ultimately survive the loss of CarGo. The economics of baseball don’t allow

teams to stockpile the best talent forever, especially mid- to small-market franchises. The Rockies and Gonzalez will both

be forgiven if they never strike a deal for next season and beyond.

Besides, at this moment, who cares about next season? In what feels rare and exciting, the Rockies are in the thick of

things right now. And there’s no question that the Rockies are better with Gonzalez than without him. Right now, he’s with

them. As the wins pile up, and as Cargo’s bat inevitably heats up, why rock the boat??

Carlos Gonzalez has seen some tough times in a Colorado Rockies uniform. He deserves to be here when the playoffs

are on the line. And the Rockies, as a franchise, owe it to themselves and their fans to bring the best roster possible into

August and September.

And CarGo is on that roster.

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Greg Holland looking like his All-Star self By Andrew Dill / BSN Denver | May 15, 2017 The Colorado Rockies bullpen was a major question mark heading into the offseason after suffering yet another losing

season at 20th and Blake. The Rockies, after blowing 28 saves in 2016 (tied for third worst), needed to find an impact arm

at the end of the pen and quick.

They took a gamble on Greg Holland who was a year removed from undergoing Tommy John surgery. And so far, it has

paid off.

Holland, 31, is performing at an All-Star caliber level. The veteran reliever is a perfect 16-of-16 in save opportunities,

sporting an ERA of 1.08 in 17 innings pitched. Holland has given up just two runs on nine hits over that span, walking five

and striking out 23. He is holding the opposition to a .158 batting average with a WHIP of 0.82.

Talk about battled tested.

“I try to stay pretty complacent. You’re going to struggle, you’re going to succeed.” Holland said. “I try to stay as even-

keeled as I can because this game will chew you up just about the time you think you’ve got it figured out. I’m very

confident every time I’m out there just like everyone in this room is. As soon as you do your job and it’s over with, it’s on to

the next one.”

While Holland has been automatic in the closers role for the Rockies. the rest of the bullpen has held their own so far. The

team is currently second in the league with 28 holds, trailing Brewers by just one. Colorado’s bullpen currently features an

8-1 record with an ERA of 4.03.

“I think the biggest thing has been the fact that we’ve got everyone down there can pitch.” Holland said. “Buddy has

confidence in going to any of us. Being able to do that and have that depth, it keeps guys fresh especially down the

stretch.”

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Colorado perhaps has the steal of the offseason by signing Holland to anchor the backend of the bullpen. With his

success early on, everyone wants to know where he is at in terms of his recovery and how comparable it is from his days

in Kansas City.

“Completely different state.” Holland joked. “For me, I feel good. I’ve recovered well. I’m not really concerned about where

I was before my surgery or what I am after. I have my job to do and that’s to hold leads, keep guys from scoring and help

us win ball games. I’m just worried about doing what I’m called upon to do.”

With wins comes more fan support. Colorado usually draws well regardless of their win/loss record, but the team is

currently 9th in the league averaging 33,366 in 23 games. Colorado ranked 11th in the league last season averaging

roughly 32,129.

“One of the reasons I signed here was because I said the fan base is so great. That’s what you want as a player.” Holland

said. “Coming out and supporting us has been incredible. I’ve enjoyed it. I hope we keep the ball rolling, keep playing well.

Keep feeling the stadium up because that’s so exciting. It helps you play better.”

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Senza’s special day salvages Rockies series split By Jake Shapiro / BSN Denver | May 14, 2017 DENVER – “I can only imagine,” manager Bud Black said before Antonio Senzatela took the mound on Mother’s Day,

less than a year after losing his own mom to cancer.

“His relationship with his mother was a close one. Antonio this last year, it’s something for him that he will continue to

show emotion in his own way and remember her. I know that each day that he starts there is something he does

personally with his mom. I think every player out here has a way to honor their mom, especially today and Antonio

probably more than most.”

In a nowhere near as important note Senzatela was pitching a first place hindering game for the Colorado Rockies against

the Los Angeles Dodgers. Senzatela was solid enough to keep the Rockies up and in the inning, he came out, Nolan

Arenado powered a two-run blast that would be the insurance necessary to keep the Rockies in first and Senzatela tied

atop MLB’s wins list with Clayton Kershaw.

Senzatela appeared perfectly calm but walked the Joc Pederson to begin the game after the Dodgers outfielder fouled

off several pitches. Corey Seager then jumped on a fastball, hammering a moonshot 427 feet and over the right field

fence to put L.A. up 2-0 early.

The Rockies came right back, though, taking the lead in the bottom of the first. Charlie Blackmon started things, as he so

often does, with a single to center on a 1-2 changeup. DJ LeMahieu followed that with a perfect bunt, putting a pair on for

Arenado who smashed a double down the left field line to make it 2-1.

Mark Reynolds continued his near-MVP caliber play by fighting through a tough at-bat and delivering a bloop single to

center, scoring a pair and putting the Rockies up 3-2. Arenado showcased some excellent baserunning, seeing from the

start that the ball would be dropped, not falling for the deke, making sure he scored the go-ahead run. It ended up

mattering as well because Ian Desmond then grounded into an inning-ending double play.

The lead was short-lived for Colorado. Yasiel Puig caught Senzatela again, this time on a hanging slider, and shot a laser

beam to left that just cleared the fence to tie the game. The home run came off the bat at nearly 111 mph.

The Rockies rookie pitcher got into some trouble in the third, issuing a lead-off walk followed by a double to Cody

Bellinger and a single to Yasmani Grandal to put the Dodgers back on top at 4-3. The inning might have gotten out of

hand but Senzatela struck out Chris Taylor with a 99 mph fastball, the hardest he has thrown in MLB, and then got some

help on a spectacular defensive play from LeMahieu.

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It looked like the do-si-do would continue in the bottom of the third with Blackmon and LeMahieu leading things off with a

pair of singles. But Arenado popped out and LeMahieu ran into an out trying to steal, but there was a miscommunication

and Blackmon was still standing on second. Reynolds grounded out to end the inning without a score.

The Rockies did take the lead back in the very next inning though. Carlos Gonzalez drew a walk and moved to third on a

failed pickoff attempt. The Dodgers brought the infield in (in just the fourth inning) but it mattered not as Pat

Valaika (Valatenight) blasted his second home run if the season 427 feet to center field.

The Rockies tagged back with some insurance one inning later taking advantage of a hit batsman by Julio Urias that

knocked him out of the game. Sergio Romo entered and his struggles continued against Arenado, this time resulting in a

two-run shot that was the Colorado sluggers third longest homer in the Statcast era.

Black played the bullpen game against Dave Roberts with the Rockies off day tomorrow, using 5 bullpen pitchers. Most

notably Chris Rusin working out of a one-out two men on jam in the sixth. Adam Ottavino left a two runner, no outs

mess to Jake McGee which he got out of with the lead still intact but lessened to one after two RBI singles one to Justin

Turner and Bellinger.

The Rockies returned the favor in the bottom of the eighth getting two singles ahead for the sizzling Valaika. One guy was

picked off but Valaika’s damage was still more than enough, blasting the Rockies third two-run shot of the game, giving

them a 9-6 lead.

Greg Holland remained a perfect 16-16 in save opportunities and won 9-6.

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Pat “Valatenight” has been a revelation for the Rockies reserves By Drew Creasman / BSN Denver | May 14, 2017 DENVER – Coming into this season, even before the injuries occurred in spring training and even before the opening day

roster was announced, we at BSN Denver were looking to the Colorado Rockies bench as the biggest weakness on the

team.

It was unclear where they are going to get their quality at-bats off the bench late in games or the guy who could play to

give Nolan Arenado of DJ LeMahieu the occasional day off without it also meaning an automatic loss for the

club. Cristhian Adames came into the year with a ton of skepticism aimed his way and has done nothing to dissuade

that. Alexi Amarista was never here for his bat, Mark Reynolds played himself into a starting role and Stephen

Cardullo proved to be an unexciting option.

But in the midst of all that, the Rockies quietly added a player to the 25-man roster who has been an absolute godsend to

the part of the team that most desperately needed improvement; Pat Valaika.

The utility infielder actually made his season debut in left field and whatever role he has been asked to fulfill so far, he has

done so with success. As a pinch hitter, he has slashed .300/.300/.500 which is three hits, two doubles, in ten at-bats.

Overall (he has started two games) he is getting on base at a .314 clip with four doubles. His success coming through as

a part of some pivotal innings in close Rockies wins, provoked BSN Denver Vice President Ryan Koenigsberg to dub him

“Pat Valatenight.”

BSN Denver talked to Valaika after his spot start at third base where he smashed his first home run of the season and

second of his career, filling in for Nolan Arenado for a night. He also made a great defensively stop on the very first play of

the game. “Ball always finds you, it’s kind funny, it was good to get in the game early,” Valaika said.

For him, the key will continue to be staying within himself and making sure he is ready whenever his name is called “I’ve

got to help my team out any way I get a chance,” he says. “I’m just trying to put the barrel on the ball. I just try to do

whatever Bud asks. ”

With Trevor Story going to the 10-day disabled list, Black has turned to Valaika to play every day at shortstop. His play

has merited such a move.

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If the Colorado Rockies are going to surprise the national audience and make themselves true contenders in 2017, they

are going to need all hands on deck, they are going to need some great performances in individual games from guys the

other team didn’t necessarily come into the game fearing. They are going to need Pat Valatenight.

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Rockies' Antonio Senzatela, who lost mom to cancer, gets heartfelt win By Associated Press / ESPN.com | May 14, 2017 DENVER -- Colorado's Antonio Senzatela emphatically pointed to the sky as he closed out the fifth inning on Sunday.

It had been an emotional Mother's Day for the 22-year-old rookie.

Pat Valaika homered twice and drove in four runs, Senzatela got the win and the Rockies beat the Los Angeles

Dodgers 9-6.

Senzatela (6-1) was pitching on Mother's Day for the first time since his mom died of breast cancer last July. Like many

around the league, Senzatela used a pink bat to raise awareness about the disease. He also wrote his mother's name,

"Nidya," on his pink and white cleats.

"I feel good," Senzatela said. "Too many emotions in my heart now."

The rookie right-hander is tied for the majors' lead in wins. He allowed four runs in five innings, his shortest outing since

his first career start at Milwaukee on April 6.

Nolan Arenado also went deep as the Rockies hit their first homers of the series to salvage a four-game split. Their lead in

the NL West is back up to 1 1/2 games.

Los Angeles led 4-3 before Valaika hit a two-run homer in the fourth off starter Julio Urias (0-1). Arenado, who also had an

RBI double, added to Colorado's lead in the fifth with a two-run shot off veteran reliever Sergio Romo.

Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger each drove in a run in the eighth to cut the lead to 7-6 before Valaika hit another two-run

blast.

The 24-year-old Valaika has seen an increase in playing time since Trevor Story went on the disabled list with a shoulder

injury earlier in the week.

Greg Holland struck out the side in the ninth for his majors' best 16th save. Holland has converted his first 16 save

opportunities for the Rockies, a franchise-best mark to start a season.

Senzatela dealt with traffic on base in every inning except the fourth, but got help from his defense to limit the damage. He

gave up seven hits, three walks and two homers while striking out five.

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The 22-year-old got out of the first with runners on the corners thanks to a fielder's choice double play, and he was bailed

out of the third by second baseman DJ LeMahieu, who laid out on a sharp grounder and threw out Chase Utley at first to

save a run.

With two outs in the fifth, Senzatela was struck in the back of the leg by a liner from Yasmani Grandal. He stayed in the

game and forced a flyout to end the inning.

"Without having his best control and command, he was able to navigate through a really good lineup," Colorado manager

Bud Black said.

Corey Seager and Yasiel Puig homered for the Dodgers, who couldn't protect two early leads. Seager hit a two-run blast

in the first and Puig hit a laser to left in the second.

"Today's one of those days we had a lot of situational opportunities and didn't capitalize," Los Angeles manager Dave

Roberts said. "Obviously a good club like that, you keep them in a ball game, they're going to crawl back."

ROUGH OUTING

Urias allowed six runs and seven hits in four innings for the Dodgers. The left-handed pitcher had allowed one hit in 6 1/3

innings in his last start against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday.

He had a 1.06 ERA in his first three starts of the year.

"I felt good," he said. "Unfortunately it was just a bad outing."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: 2B Logan Forsythe, sidelined since April 19 with a fractured right toe, is expected to start in a rehabilitation

game as a designated hitter on Tuesday. ... LHP Rich Hill, who's been limited to just eight innings this season because of

blisters on his throwing hand, will start Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants.

Rockies: C Tony Wolters, who was put on the 7-day DL with a concussion on May 3, was behind the plate for Triple-A

Albuquerque on Sunday. "I talked to (Isotopes manager) Glenallen Hill this morning about a number of things and he said

Tony looked good the last couple days, both behind the plate and at the plate," Black said. "So Tony's in a good spot."

UP NEXT

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Dodgers: RHP Brandon McCarthy (3-0, 3.10 ERA) will make his first start since he was placed on the 10-day DL,

retroactive to May 5, with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. San Francisco's Matt Cain will oppose him as the

Dodgers begin a three-game set at AT&T Park on Monday.

Rockies: Rookie LHP Kyle Freeland (3-2, 2.93) will pitch at an American League ballpark for the first time in his career as

the Rockies open up a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. In his last start, the Denver native

tossed six innings and gave up five runs -- all in the second inning -- in an 8-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.