People were already throwing dirt on the grave. The Rockies were 0-3 with a pending trip to Toronto on deck. Another long season incoming. Well, nine games later, the Rockies are 6-6 coming off a 4-2 homestand with a sweep of the Houston Astros. Their second series win of the season. Last year, they didn’t win their sixth game until May 1 and didn’t win their second series until mid-June. However, both of those series wins came on the road. The Rockies didn’t win their first home series until July 18-20, when they took two out of three against the Minnesota Twins to begin the second half.
Rockies Avoid Repeat of Historic First-Half Home Woes
Yes, you read that right. The Rockies failed to win consecutive games and a series at home in the first half of last season. Resulting in a franchise-worst 25-56 record at home last season. Arguably, the most important aspect of the Rockies that would have to be improved if they had any hope of significant progress this season. It would be easy to assume another long season at Coors was coming after the 10-1 shellacking the Philadelphia Phillies put on the Rockies in their home opener.
But the Rockies looked much better the next game, losing 2-1. Before they rattled off four straight wins to close out the homestand, outscoring their opponents 27-10. In three of those four games, the Rockies held their opponent to one run. At Coors Field! The starting rotation and bullpen have been stellar so far, and the offense finally picked them up. A Rockies starting pitcher picked up the win in each of those four games. In April last season, the only Rockies starting pitchers to pick up wins were Chase Dollander (2-3) and Antonio Senzatela (1-4).
The Rockies are getting great length and consistent quality outings from their starting rotation right now. Only using four pitchers in the final two games of the Houston series—a remarkable feat at Coors. Especially considering the series finale was Michael Lorenzen effectively bouncing back from the worst outing of his career in the home opener. It’s so early still, but the rotation sets the tone for the rest of the club. If they pitch like this, the Rockies will be in every game and win a decent number of them. But they can not be expected to pitch at that level all season.
Home/Road Splits
The home/road splits perhaps mean more in Colorado than anywhere else. It is very difficult to adjust to the differing ball movement from home games to the road due to the altitude effect. The first major test of the season comes tonight as the Rockies embark on a seven-game road trip following their successful homestand. Too often in the Rockies’ history, solid home stands have been squandered with winless road trips. Then, the next home stand, the Rockies have to make up ground instead of building on the momentum they had already made.
There is no better example of this than in 2021. When the Rockies were one of the best in the league at home, going 48-33. But still managed to miss the postseason by a significant margin due to their putrid 26-54 record on the road. The Rockies are not expected to replicate that 48-33 home record this year. Especially coming off the disaster of last year. But the formula to aim for is there. The last time the Rockies made the postseason was 2018, marking consecutive seasons making the postseason for the first time in franchise history.
Both years, the Rockies were 10+ games above .500 at home and stayed above water on the road. They did more than stay above water in 2018, finishing 44-38 on the road. The best road record in franchise history. Followed closely by their 41-40 road record in 2017.
The next two best? Not coincidentally, the Rockies’ other two most recent postseason appearances. In 2009 (41-40) and 2007 (39-42). If the Rockies manage to be within even three games of .500 on the road, it has resulted in a postseason appearance. But they have only managed that four times in the history of their franchise, showing the immense difficulty in doing so. Which is why being at least 10+ games above .500 at home is so essential for the Rockies. With their usual struggles on the road, if they struggle at home too, the bottom can fall out quickly in a season, as it did last year.
Above .500 Rockies Playing at Home
12 games in, the goal is still alive! Rockies fans have still not seen an above .500 Rockies team play at Coors since 2022. Exemplifying how tough these past couple of seasons have been. But just like when they were 0-0, the Rockies have an extended road trip in front of them before they return home. The San Diego Padres are tied with the Rockies in the NL West at 6-6. As for the Astros, they are mired in a slump and just got swept by the Rockies.
The Rockies’ road history notwithstanding, this is a winnable road trip, and the Rockies are playing well right now. If their trademark road struggles do arrive and they go 2-5 or 1-6 on the road trip, Rockies fans might be waiting a while still to see that above .500 Rockies team at home. Because the team greeting them back in Colorado on April 17 will be the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, who are currently 9-3. Or the Rockies continue their surprising start, have a winning road trip, and set up one of the most highly anticipated home matchups in years with the Dodgers- the much more preferable outcome.
Main Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
