A sampling of the greatest Rockies teams in franchise history supports one of baseball’s great clichés: It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Except, of course, for 2020.
If ever there was a season for an average Rockies team to sneak into the playoffs and make some noise, this one would be it.
Looking back at each of the franchise’s 60-game starts in its 27-year history, it becomes clear it doesn’t take a great team to get off to a great start. Heck, even last year’s 91-loss mess started the year 31-29.
Consider this: Of the five Rockies teams to reach the postseason, just three began the season with an above-.500 record in their first 60 games. The one team to reach the World Series? Those Rockies stumbled to a 29-31 start in 2007.
On the flip side, of the nine Rockies clubs to put up a winning record in their first 60 games, four finished below .500. And of those with the top three 60-game starts to a season, just one (2017, 37-23) qualified for the playoffs.
Here’s a look at the entire franchise history:
| Year | First 60 | Run Diff. | Record | Playoffs (NL West) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 31-29 | 10 | 71-91 | No (4th) |
| 2018 | 31-29 | -28 | 91-72 | Wild card (2nd) |
| 2017 | 37-23 | 52 | 87-75 | Wild card (3rd) |
| 2016 | 28-32 | -8 | 75-87 | No (3rd) |
| 2015 | 27-33 | -35 | 68-94 | No (5th) |
| 2014 | 28-32 | 11 | 66-96 | No (4th) |
| 2013 | 32-28 | 37 | 74-88 | No (5th) |
| 2012 | 24-36 | -36 | 64-98 | No (5th) |
| 2011 | 28-32 | 7 | 73-89 | No (4th) |
| 2010 | 30-30 | 37 | 83-79 | No (3rd) |
| 2009 | 28-32 | 12 | 92-70 | Wild card (2nd) |
| 2008 | 22-38 | -76 | 74-88 | No (3rd) |
| 2007 | 29-31 | -43 | 90-73 | NL Pennant (2nd) |
| 2006 | 29-31 | -30 | 76-86 | No (4th) |
| 2005 | 20-40 | -76 | 67-95 | No (5th) |
| 2004 | 21-39 | -64 | 68-94 | No (4th) |
| 2003 | 30-30 | 16 | 74-88 | No (4th) |
| 2002 | 31-29 | 12 | 73-89 | No (4th) |
| 2001 | 31-29 | 71 | 73-89 | No (5th) |
| 2000 | 34-26 | 37 | 82-80 | No (4th) |
| 1999 | 29-31 | -37 | 72-90 | No (5th) |
| 1998 | 26-34 | -47 | 77-85 | No (4th) |
| 1997 | 33-27 | 32 | 83-79 | No (3rd) |
| 1996 | 29-31 | -37 | 83-79 | No (3rd) |
| 1995 | 32-28 | -4 | 77-67 | Wild card (2nd) |
| 1994 | 27-33 | -47 | 53-64 | No (3rd) |
| 1993 | 19-41 | -124 | 67-95 | No (6th) |
— Matt Schubert, The Denver Post
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