Monday night, in a 12-3 loss to the Dodgers at Coors Field, they stumbled over some familiar obstacles. Namely, ineffective starting pitching, sloppy defense, and a lack of clutch hits.

Plus, Los Angeles third baseman Max Muncy punished Rockies pitching, as he did throughout the series, by hitting two home runs in a 4-for-4 performance.

All of that cost the Rockies a chance to win their first series from the Dodgers since June 27-29, 2022. Instead, they had to settle for a split of the four-game set.

“It wasn’t the cleanest game, and we didn’t play great defense, which was uncharacteristic for us,” manager Warren Schaeffer said. “It was one to forget.”

Colorado, fueled by two straight wins over Los Angeles, came out of the gate hot. Jordan Beck led off with a double off lefty Justin Wrobleski, and Brenton Doyle immediately drove Beck home with a double of his own.

Beck, who’s received irregular playing time this season, made the most of his opportunity, hitting 3 for 4 and boosting his average from .122 to .178.

But the first inning was the Rockies’ high-water mark. They could never really solve Wrobleski, who bobbed and weaved his way through seven innings. Wrobleski gave up eight hits and struck out only three, but didn’t walk any and was never stressed.

Wrobleski became the first Dodgers starter to go at least seven innings and allow one or fewer runs with no walks in back-to-back starts since Max Scherzer in 2021.

“He was just attacking the strike zone,” Schaeffer said. “But I don’t think we took bad at-bats tonight. According to my calculations, we hit 15 balls hard tonight, which is a lot of hard-hit balls. I thought we pushed our offensive approach forward again tonight, we just didn’t get the results.”

Colorado did get a big fly in the eighth when rookie first baseman TJ Rumfield hit a 440-foot solo homer into the second deck in right field off of reliever Edgardo Henriquez. It was Rumfield’s third homer of the season.

In the second inning, Muncy and Miguel Rojas launched back-to-back solo home runs off Rockies starter Jose Quintana, who was making his first start at Coors since Aug. 10, 2022, when he pitched for St. Louis. The best that can be said of Quintana’s performance on Monday night was that he saved the bullpen some gas by pitching five-plus innings.

The veteran lefty gave up six runs (four earned) on eight hits. He struck out one and walked one. He also committed a fielding error and balked in a run in the fourth while pitching to Shohei Ohtani.

“It felt better today … and my mechanics were better. If I keep throwing that way, it will give us a better chance to win,” said Quintana, now 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA after three starts. He missed time because of a hamstring strain early in the season.

Added Schaeffer: “I thought he battled, but he got hurt when he got behind in counts.”

Colorado was charged with three errors. In addition to Quintana’s error (he failed to catch the ball when covering first base), third baseman Eric Karros misplayed Will Smith’s slow grounder in the third, allowing Ohtani to score from second base, and reliever Tanner Gordon muffed Rojas’ bunt in the sixth, allowing Andy Pages to score.

Gordon, working in long relief, pitched four innings and was blasted for six runs on seven hits, including giving up a solo home run to Dalton Rushing in Los Angeles’ two-run eighth, then a solo home run to Muncy, as well as a two-run homer to Rushing in the ninth. Muncy batted .588 (10 for 17) with one double, four home runs, and five RBIs during the four-game series.

Pitching probables

Tuesday: Padres RHP Randy Vasquez (1-0, 2.49 ERA) at Rockies TBD (opener), 6:40 p.m.

Wednesday: Padres RHP Walker Buehler (1-1-, 4.58) at Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (1-1, 3.92), 6:40 p.m.

Thursday: Padres RHP Matt Waldron (0-1, 14.73) at Rockies TBD, 1:10 p.m.

TV: Rockies.TV

Radio: 850 AM & 94.1 FM

The Rockies wasted an early 3-0 lead and a two-homer performance by Hunter Goodman in a 7-6 loss to the Astros. Colorado, swept in four games in San Diego, has lost five consecutive games.

Credit Colorado for battling back. Down 7-3 at one point, Troy Johnston’s pinch-hit, RBI single scored a run in the eighth, cutting Houston’s lead to 7-6.

The Astros, swept in Colorado last week, snapped an eight-game losing streak.

Key moments: The Rockies had a chance to win the game in the ninth when TJ Rumfield and Ezequiel Tovar hit back-to-back, two-out, two-strike singles. However, Houston reliever Enyel De Los Santos struck out Jordan Beck looking to end the game.

The killer blow for the Rockies was the third, when Houston scored six runs on four hits, two errors by second baseman Willi Castro, and a balk by starter Michael Lorenezen.

Who’s hot: Goodman blasted two solo home runs, a solo blast in the first and another solo shot in the fifth. The catcher, Colorado’s lone All-Star last season, has four home runs this season. Dating back to last season, 21 of his 35 home runs have been hit on the road.

Starter-turn-reliever Antonio Senzatela pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings and has not been scored upon in five outings. He allowed two hits, walked none, and struck out three.

Who’s not: Lorenzen’s struggles continued. He pitched just 2 2/3 innings, and although he was only charged with two earned runs, the Astros plated seven runs against him, including a solo home run by Christian Walker in the second. Lorenzen, who has an 8.10 ERA, was called for a balk in the Astros’ six-run third inning.

Castro not only committed two costly errors in Houston’s big inning and also went 0 for 4 at the plate with three strikeouts. Castro’s strikeout rate is 41.4%.

Worth noting: Left-hander Kyle Freeland, who was a late scratch on Sunday because of a sore shoulder, continues to be evaluated. Manager Warren Scheaffer told reporters in Houston that the club hopes to have an update on Freeland on Wednesday.

Pitching probables

Wednesday: Rockies LHP Jose Quintana (0-0, 4.15 ERA) at Astros TBD, 6:10 p.m.

Thursday: Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (1-0, 2.16) at Astros RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (1-0, 5.87), 6:10 p.m.

Friday: Dodgers RHP Tyler Glasnow (1-0, 4.00) at Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (1-1, 7:30), 6:40 p.m.

TV: Rockies.TV

Radio: KOA NewsRadio 850 AM & 94.1 FM;

Colorado (6-9) wasted an early 4-0 lead, walked seven Padres batters, and lost, 9-5, at Petco Park. Four of the seven walks turned into runs.

Three consecutive losses to the Padres have erased the feel-good vibes from Colorado’s four-game winning streak.

Key moments: The Rockies led 4-3 in the fourth when starter Ryan Feltner gave up a one-out double to Miguel Andujar, a walk to Freddy Fermin, and a two-out, three-run home run to Ramon Laureano.

Colorado loaded the bases in the ninth, but San Diego super closer Jason Adam got Ezequiel Tovar to pop out to second, ending the game. Adam has yet to give up a run this season.

Who’s hot: Mickey Moniak, who started in right field and hit third, hit a two-run homer in the first and a solo homer in the third. He also drove in Ezequiel Tovar with a single in the eighth for his fourth home run of the night. Moniak has a team-leading four home runs.

Leadoff hitter and second baseman Edouard Julien is hitting .344 after a 2-for-3 night that included a solo home run and two walks.

Jordan Beck continues struggling at the plate (0 for 3, his average down to .103), but he made a sensational, running, leaping catch in left field to rob the Padres’ Nick Castellanos of a three-run homer in the first inning.

Who’s not: Starting pitcher Ryan Feltner was not sharp. He fell behind in counts, and it cost him, especially in the third inning when Manny Machado ambushed Feltner’s 3-0 fastball for a two-run homer. Feltner gave up seven hits and six runs over four innings as his ERA rose to 7.30.

Right-handed reliever Zach Agnos walked three straight batters — and walked in a run — in the sixth. He was charged with three runs (two earned) in 1 1/3 innings. His ERA rose to 7.56.

Worth noting: Right-hander German Marquez, the former Rockies All-Star, started for San Diego. The Rockies beat him up pretty good, hitting three homers, but he hung around for five innings and picked up the win.

Pitching probables

Sunday: LHP Kyle Freeland (1-1, 2.30 ERA) at Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (1-2, 5.54), 2:10 p.m.

Monday: Off day

Tuesday: Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (1-1, 9.00) at Astros TBD, 6:10 p.m.

TV: Rockies.TV

Radio: KOA NewsRadio 850 AM & 94.1 FM

It happened again Friday night in a 5-2 walk-off loss to the Padres. Gavin Sheets ripped a three-run home run to deep center off reliever Juan Mejia in the ninth.

On Thursday, Colorado lost 7-3 in 12 innings when Xander Bogaerts hit a walk-off grand slam off right-hander Valente Bellozo. The Rockies’ second straight gut-punch loss in San Diego took considerable shine off their recent four-game winning streak.

Key moments: Mejia entered the ninth with the game tied 2-2, but he gave up a leadoff single to Jackson Merrill and walked Manny Machado to put himself in deep trouble. Bogaerts flew out to deep right field for the first out, but Sheets destroyed Mejia’s 1-0 fastball to win the game.

Colorado tied the game, 2-2, in the eighth on a redemption hit by Jordan Beck. After getting picked off second base in the seventh, Beck came back to deliver. Still, he’s in a deep early-season slump, is hitting just .115.

Who’s hot:  Starter Tomoyuki Sugano pitched six innings, allowing just four hits and no walks. However, he did give up solo home runs to Sheets and Luis Campusano in the fifth when the Padres took a 2-0 lead. After three starts, the veteran right-hander owns a 2.16 ERA.

Who’s not: Third baseman Kyle Karros continues to scuffle at the plate. He went 0 for 3, dipping his average to .205.

Worth noting: Catcher Hunter Goodman, whose right middle finger was lacerated by a hit by pitch on Thursday night, did not start Friday. However, he came through with a pinch-hit single in the eighth to push across Colorado’s first run.

Pitching probables

Saturday: Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (1-0, 4.32 ERA) at Padres RHP German Marquez (1-1, 4.50), 6:40 p.m.

Sunday: Sunday: LHP Kyle Freeland (1-1, 2.30) at Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (1-2, 5.54), 2:10 p.m.

Monday: Off day

Pose a Rockies- or MLB-related question for the Rockies Mailbag.

Where did T.J. feltner Rumfield come from? This guy seemed like he came out of nowhere.

— Mark, Arvada

Mark, let me start by saying that Rumfield has been Colorado’s best offensive player in the early going. As I write this, he’s slashing .364/.417/.636 (1.053 OPS), with two homers and seven RBIs. Plus, he’s played superb defense at first base.

But he didn’t come out of nowhere. He came from the Bronx. This is what I wrote early in spring training:

“T.J. Rumfield was a big-league first baseman trapped in Triple-A limbo. At least, that¶¶Òõap how he saw things. So did the Rockies.

“Which is why they acquired the Yankees’ minor leaguer in exchange for talented but mercurial right-handed reliever Angel Chivilli in a trade in late January. Now it¶¶Òõap Rumfield’s job to bust open the door of opportunity.”

He’s done exactly that, winning the job in spring training and coming out of the gate hot.

Interesting fact: T.J.’s father, Toby, was the Reds’ 1991 second-round pick and spent 14 years in the minor leagues as a catcher, playing for the Braves, White Sox, Marlins, and Cardinals systems. Toby made it as high as Triple-A but never made the majors.

The steals have been fun, but besides that, the Rockies’ approach has been miserable: heavy on strikeouts, low on walks, and non-existent in the clutch. They seem like a young team trying too hard, but is it an overall lack of talent, or can this group improve? And why is Warren Schaeffer only starting Jordan Beck (a supposed cornerstone) half the time when Jake McCarthy starts every day and has been even worse?

— Isaac Bowen, Fort Collins

Isaac, not to make excuses for the Rockies (who are 4-6 as I write this), but it’s very early. Still, outside of two games, the offense has been awful.

Colorado’s 6.0 walk percentage is the lowest in the majors, while its 29.5% strikeout rate is the second highest. The Rockies’ .241 average with runners in scoring position ranks 19th.

The Rockies’ 10 steals are tied for third-most.

So, while I’m on board with Schaeffer’s plan to turn his team into the “Go Go Rox,” the Rockies can’t put pressure on the opposition if they don’t get on base more.

Is it a lack of talent? That’s part of the problem. Let’s face it, the Rockies aren’t fielding very many All-Star Game candidates. Plus, some of the players Colorado is counting on to be cornerstones are off to terrible starts. Brenton Doyle is hitting .129 with a 35.3% K rate, and Beck is hitting .091 with a 25.0% K rate.

Are they trying too hard? Are they pressing? Perhaps, but they have been in the league long enough to have gotten over that and produce.

As for McCarthy getting playing time over Beck, I don’t have the answer for that right now, other than to say that Schaeffer has been mixing and matching his lineup a lot in the early going. I think he’s searching for combinations. Let’s face it, this is an experimental season for the Rockies.

The St. Louis Browns are widely considered the worst franchise over a sustained period of 50-plus years. In their 52 years of existence, they recorded 3,414 wins and 4,465 losses for a winning percentage of .433. The Rockies currently have a winning percentage of .456. To drop from .456 to below .433 by their 52nd year, the Rockies would need to average roughly 68 wins per season (a .420 winning percentage) for the next 18 years. What do you think the odds are that the Rockies get to the .433 mark? Maybe when the Baltimore Orioles play at Coors Field someday, they can wear Browns throwback jerseys and we can wear Denver Bears strikezone jerseys.

— Ned Ryerson, Greeley

OK, “Ned Ryerson,” are you going to try to sell me some insurance? “Whoa-ho-ho! Watch out for that first step! It’s a doozy!”

Anyway, I don’t think the Rockies are ever going to experience a St. Louis Browns’ Groundhog Day.

By the way, The St. Louis Browns are perhaps history’s worst Major League franchise. The Browns played in the American League from 1902 to 1953 and managed just 11 winning seasons over that span.

They lost more than 100 games eight times, finishing dead last in the AL 10 times. They finished as high as second in the AL standings just three times. The Browns won just one pennant, in 1944, when the majors were not at full strength due to World War II. In 1954, following eight straight losing seasons, the Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Baltimore Orioles.

Are you a fan of the ABS system? And might the Rockies fanbase turn its back on the team with another lousy year?

— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.

Ed, first of all, thanks for your continued participation in my Rockies Mailbag. You picked two hot topics this week.

Regarding ABS (Automated Ball-Strike system), I do like it. It’s much more seamless than I anticipated. Fans seem to love it, and it keeps them engaged. Some umpires love it (those who get the calls right), but I’m sure some don’t. We are just 10 games into the season, so let’s see how this all plays out.

As for the fans, when the weather warms up, and the Cubs, Red Sox and Dodgers come to town, Coors Field is going to be pretty full. But I do sense that the Rockies fan base is worn out from all the losing. The people I talk to are definitely in “prove-it-to-me” mode, even with the front-office changes in place.

Monday night, the announced crowd at Coors was 16,301, marking the lowest home attendance in franchise history, excluding pandemic-affected seasons. It’s something to keep an eye on if the Rockies keep losing.

Is this just normal springtime when the starters can only pick 70 or so pitches per game? It seems like the Rox are overtaxing the bullpen already. When can we expect the rotation to go later into ball games? Thanks!

— Murphy, Akron

Murphy, part of the low pitch count from Rockies starters has to do with it being early in the season, but part of it has to do with ineffectiveness.

And part of it has to do with the Rockies’ game plan, which is still a work in progress. The team has a few pitchers in the bullpen — Antonio Senzatela, Chase Dollander, and Jimmy Herget — who are capable of throwing multiple innings. I think Warren Schaeffer is going to use long relievers a lot this season.

But if a pitcher is going well, Schaeffer will give them a reasonably long leash. In Colorado’s win over the Phillies, new right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano pitched six innings and threw 78 pitches (51 strikes). It was a strong, efficient start. In the Rockies’ win over the Astros on Monday night, Ryan Feltner pitched 5 1/3 innings, throwing 70 pitches (43 strikes). I’m sure the Rockies wanted him to go deeper into the game.

Patrick, as a Rockies fan from the beginning, I’ve been wanting to ask what all these acronyms are that are being used these days, such as WAR, and others that I can’t think of at this moment. Thanks for all of your reporting and suffering during the last years of mismanagement of the team.

— Phil Donahue, Chico, Calif.

Phil, it’s easy to drown in baseball’s alphabet soup. Some fans — and reporters — are heavy into stats and analytics. I’m more of a storyteller, so perhaps a dinosaur.

However, many statistics can be useful and illuminating. If you watch Rockies games on TV, analysts Ryan Spilborghs, Cory Sullivan and Jeff Huson do a nice job of using more advanced stats.

You ask specifically about WAR. Here is the definition from Major League Baseball: WAR measures a player’s value across all facets of the game by quantifying how many more wins he’s worth than a replacement-level player at his position (e.g., a Minor League replacement or a readily available fill-in free agent).

If you want a deeper dive into the stats, I suggest you visit .

Looking at the starting rotation, I struggle to find a reason for Ryan Feltner to be there. What is Warren Schaeffer and Company’s rationale for Feltner as the fifth starter rather than Chase Dollander or Tanner Gordon, both of whom seem to be better options? Happy Opening Day, Patrick!

— Jack, Centennial

Jack, you’re preaching to the wrong choir here. I’ve been a big proponent of Feltner’s, as you can tell from my Rockies Journal from last Sunday. I think he has really good stuff, though not as dynamic as Dollander’s. Feltner just needs to harness his talent and attack the strike zone.

I’m predicting that both Feltner and Dollander will be in the rotation before the All-Star break. Gordon could be in the rotation, too, in the second half of the season if the Rockies trade any of their veteran starters who are on one-year deals.

It’s a very small sample size, but I’ve been impressed by Tomoyuki Sugano so far. Do you think he’ll re-sign after this season or is this just a one-off?

— Ryan, Wheat Ridge

Ryan, I’ve also been impressed with Sugano. He’s a crafty pitcher. He signed a one-year deal for $5.1 million, and I think he’ll be one-and-done in Colorado. He’s 36, and I don’t see the rebuilding Rockies re-signing him at age 37. If he continues to impress, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Rockies move him at the trade deadline. That’s what they should do.

It was absent again on Saturday night in a 2-1 loss to the Phillies at Coors Field. Philly stuck it to Colorado for the ninth straight game.

The Rockies (2-6) managed just six hits, struck out 13 times, and were 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position. They have scored three runs or fewer in seven of the first eight games. Colorado is slashing .217/.263/.319, and its five home runs are the third-fewest in the majors. The Rockies are batting .197 (13-for-66) with runners in scoring position.

Philly starter Jesus Luzardo confounded Colorado for 6 2/3 innings, striking out 11 and walking none. He gave up one run in the third on a leadoff single by Troy Johnston, who took second on Luzardo’s wild pitch and then scored on catcher Brett Sullivan’s single to center.

Who’s hot: Right-hander Chase Dollander, Colorado’s hopeful ace of the future,  made a strong relief appearance, pitching 4 1/3 innings and striking out six. He was charged with one run on four hits and a walk. Dollander entered the game in the third inning and promptly struck out dangerous hitters Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber. He got Bryce Harper to fly out to deep center to end the inning.

The Phillies nicked Dollander for a run in the fifth, utilizing a leadoff single by Brandon Marsh, who scored on Turner’s double to right.

The Rockies’ bullpen, as a whole, continued its solid start to the season. A quartet of relievers limited the Phillies to one run on six hits over 8 1/3 innings.

Who’s not:  Almost the entire Rockies lineup, but most especially center fielder Brenton Doyle, who went 0 for 3 and struck out twice as his average dipped to .148. Jordan Beck, who started in left field, is also off to a slow start. He was 0 for 3 with one strikeout and is hitting .105.

Worth noting: Colorado relievers have already thrown 40 1/3 innings, the second-most in the majors, but they hold a spiffy 3.12 ERA.

During their nine-game winning streak against the Rockies, the Phillies hold a 53-17 scoring edge.

Quotable: “I think the big thing (tonight) with the strikeout is we missed too many pitches in the zone early in the count. You can’t miss pitches in the zone early and then chase late. It’s a bad combo.” — Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer

Pitching probables

Sunday: Phillies RHP Taijuan Walker (0-1, 11.57) at Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (0-0, 1.93 ERA), 1:10 p.m.

Monday: Astros RHP Hunter Brown (1-0, 0.84 ERA) at Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (0-0, 0.00), 6:40 p.m.

TV: Rockies.TV

Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

Owen Caissie hit a changeup from Victor Vodnik, sending it 394 feet and over the right-center field wall for a two-run dagger to the Rockies’ heart.

Actually, would’ve, could’ve, should’ve was the theme of the Rockies’ failures throughout the season’s opening series at Miami’s loanDepot Park. Colorado lost every game by one run (2-1, 4-3, 4-3) en route to being swept in the opening series of the season for just the second time in franchise history. The last time? That would be 1994, when the Phillies came into Denver and won the first three games of the season at the old Mile High Stadium.

But manager Warren Schaeffer, as is his wont, refused to go down a gloomy path, choosing a positive spin instead.

Rockies predictions: 103 losses, joining Washington Senators in MLB infamy | Journal

"Listen, I think the boys are playing good," Schaeffer told reporters in Miami. "We were right in these ballgames. We could have won all three of these ballgames. We have, what, 159 left to go? If we keep playing like that, we are going to win a lot of ballgames this year."

However, until the Rockies start winning these types of games, the specter of last season's 119-loss debacle will remain.

Here are the details of Sunday's loss.

• The Rockies took a 3-0 lead in the first on Jordan Beck's three-run double off right-hander Max Meyer. The Marlins blanked the Rockies after that.

• Colorado's Miami vice? It hit 1 for 12 with runners in scoring position on Sunday and 3 for 20 (.150) for the series. The Rockies also struck out 11 times on Sunday.

• The Rockies entered the ninth leading 3-2. When Miami's Liam Hicks lined out to first baseman Troy Johnson for a double play, Colorado's victory looked secure, and Vodnik was eyeing his first save.

Not so fast. Javier Sanoja lined a double over the head of left fielder Jake McCarthy, who missed making the grab by inches. Up stepped Caissie, who clobbered Vodnik's 0-1 pitch for the walk-off.

"'Vic' throws a swing-and-miss changeup, so you live and die by that," Schaeffer said. "The guy just hit one out of the park."

The biggest takeaway from the opening series is that the rebuilt Rockies need to hit better in the clutch. Going 3 for 20 with runners in scoring position is not going to cut it, especially on the road, where Schaeffer pledges that the Rockies are going to be a running team. Last season, the Rockies hit .211 with RISP on the road en route to an 18-63 record.

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On the plus side, the Rockies stole five bases and were caught only once during the three-game set.

And, despite the sweep and despite Vodnik serving up the game-winner in the ninth on Sunday, the Rockies' pitching was, overall, solid. The starters posted a 4.85 ERA, just so-so in pitcher-friendly loanDepot Park. The bullpen, however, was excellent, posting a 2.31 ERA and a .233 average against over 11 2/3 innings.

On Sunday, deposed starter Antonio Senzatela looked reborn as a long reliever. With his fastball humming at 98 mph and his new sweeper confounding hitters, he pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out three.

"That was fantastic," Schaeffer said. "To have him show up in his first outing this year and give us almost three innings of pitching like that? That was exceptional. I'm extremely happy for him. But we are definitely going to need our starting pitching to go (deeper) in the game."

The road only gets steeper and deeper for the Rockies, who open a three-game series in Toronto on Monday night against the Blue Jays, who came tantalizingly close to beating the Dodgers in last year's World Series.

Pitching probables

• Monday: Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (10-10, 4.64 with Orioles in 2025) at Blue Jays RHP Cody Ponce (0-6, 7.04 ERA with Pirates in 2021), 5:07 p.m.
• Tuesday: Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (0-2, 4.75 in 2025) at RHP Max Scherzer (5-5, 5.19 in 2025), 5:07 p.m.
• Wednesday: Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (0-1, 4.15) at Blue Jays RHP Kevin Gausman Kevin Gausman (0-0, 1.50), 11 a.m.
• Thursday: Off day

TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: 850 AM, 94.1 FM

They lost 2-1 to the Marlins at loanDepot Park, failing to get the big hit in the big moment. Déjà vu anyone?

Case in point: In the eighth, with Kyle Karros at third and Hunter Goodman at first, new second baseman Willi Castro whiffed on reliever Anthony Bender’s 3-2 sweeper. Castro went 0 for 4 with two Ks in his Rockies’ debut.

Shades of 2025’s road woes lingered against veteran right-hander Sandy Alcantara. He pitched seven effective innings and needed only 73 pitches (49 strikes) to muffle the Rockies’ bats. Alcantra gave up one unearned run on seven hits, struck out five, and walked two.

“He was good, he was putting pitches where he wanted to, down in the zone,”  Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer told reporters in Miami. “I think we came out aggressive. In that fourth inning, when we had him on the ropes a little bit, we took some pitches, got deeper into the count, and made him work a little bit. But he ended up wiggling out of it. He’s good. He was good tonight.”

During spring training, Schaeffer promised that the Rockies would run — and play small ball on the road — whenever the offense needed a jumpstart. Colorado did that with mixed results in the opener. Jordan Beck was thrown out trying to steal in the seventh, and Jake McCarthy was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second in the fourth.

Veteran left-hander Kyle Freeland, beginning his 10th season and making his fifth opening day start, gave the Rockies 4 1/3 serviceable innings. Bottom line: he kept Colorado in the game. Miami rapped him for two runs on five hits, taking advantage of two missed curveballs. Freeland walked two and struck out two.

“I thought ‘Free’ pitched very well, especially on opening night,” Schaeffer said. “I thought he attacked the strike zone and got ahead. Fastballs, curveballs, but just two mistakes over the plate that he would like to have back.”

Freeland weathered a rocky second inning when the Marlins took a 2-0 lead. Xavier Edwards’ one-out single, followed by an RBI double by Owen Caissie, and an RBI single by Javier Sanoja did the damage.

Colorado cobbled together its run in the fourth to cut Miami’s lead to 2-1. It could have been a bigger inning, but it fizzled with two missed opportunities. McCarthy, the new left fielder, led off with a bunt single and stole second. Hunter Goodman singled to right, and McCarthy, one of the fastest players in baseball, attempted to score from second. But McCarthy was erased at the plate on a perfect throw to the plate from Austin Slater.

“I’m never going to question Andy on that play over there, at all, ” Schaeffer said, referring to third-base coach Andy González, who sent McCarthy without hesitation. “You have Jake McCarthy’s speed, you try to score a lot on that ball.”

Still, the Rockies rallied to load the bases, and Beck’s two-out, infield single to short scored Castro. But, with the bases still loaded, Alcantara struck out Brenton Doyle to end the inning. Doyle was 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.

Colorado’s bullpen, which on paper is the team’s strength, blanked Miami for 3 2/3 innings. Right-hander Juan Mejia pitched two impressive innings.

“I thought the pen was fantastic,” Schaeffer said. “We are stressing multiple innings with these guys, and to get 11 outs on 42 pitches from Juan and Jimmy (Herget), that’s very special. That’s very, very good.”

Pitching probables

Saturday: Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (7-11, 4.64 ERA with Royals in 2025) at Marlins RHP Eury Pérez (7-6, 4.25 in 2025), 2:10 p.m.
Sunday: Rockies LHP Jose Quintana (11-7, 3.96 with Brewers in 2026) at Marlins RHP Max Meyer (3-5, 4.73 in 2026) , 11:40 a.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: 850 AM, 94.1 FM

Every hire an indictment of last season. Or the last seven.

Admit it, you grew disgusted with the Rockies. Might have stopped going to games, leaving great seats for opposing team’s fans. Maybe you gave up on them entirely.

Hard to blame you. The product the past three years has been major league baseball in name only.

A decade too late, the Rockies abandoned their insular thinking, fired dead weight president Greg Feasel and general manager Bill Schmidt. They ditched their AOL account. Exchanged their flip phones. And turned on Bluetooth.

The Rockies are connected to reality, harsh as it is. They are no longer in a state of denial.

With Walker Monfort in charge, president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and GM Josh Byrnes have been entrusted to excavate the Rockies from the ruins.

The first step on a 1,000-mile journey begins Friday in the season opener at Miami.

Could it be possible that arguably the worst team in baseball history won’t even be the worst team in baseball this season?

There is a plan. So, there is a chance. “We’re Here For The Climb” is the team’s marketing slogan. It is catchier than “Now We Suck Less Than Ever.”

The Rockies are asking for patience, recognizing this is likely a three-year project to return to relevance.

They will be bad. But they will not be boring.

The days of enjoyment will outnumber the days of embarrassment.

There are a few reasons why. DePodesta has infused analytics into a Rockies organization that had been living in the Stone Age. And manager Warren Schaeffer hired coaches who understand the information and can deliver it to players in a snackable fashion.

“The magic isn’t in the word analytics. It has been around 25 years with Paul,” Schaeffer said. “He’s not some nerd who lives in the stratosphere. He’s a great baseball guy. It is going to make us more efficient.”

DePodesta and Byrnes reconfigured the rotation around veterans with a plethora of pitches. Nothing is more demoralizing for a team trying to regain its balance than having its outcome determined by the third inning.

“How many sports in the world when you have the ball in your hand are you not on offense? Our pitchers have to adopt that mentality. Yeah we are going to give up some hits and we are going to give up some homers. That happens (at Coors Field),” DePodesta said. “We can’t back down. We are going to relentlessly attack. Look, it might be a 15-round heavyweight fight. We might get bloodied. But we’ve got to knock the other guy out.”

It is a change in mindset bordering on a lobotomy.

The Rockies want to be on offense. Especially when they are on offense.

Anyone familiar with baseball at altitude knows pitching remains a problem. It will always be difficult. But the fact that the Rockies could not hit the past two seasons was absurd.

No stadium awards contact like Coors Field. And the Rockies, instead, became human windmills, a trait amplified on the road where they averaged an MLB-worst 10.4 strikeouts per game over the past two years.

This must change, starting at LoanDepot Park on Friday night. There is no excuse for chasing and swinging and missing at this rate.

“There is no doubt we have to get more guys on base. We have to have more balls in play,” DePodesta said.

The additions of super utilityman Willi Castro and TJ Rumfield provide a lens into how the Rockies’ brass wants to reshape and improve.

Castro brings lineup and positional versatility. He was an All-Star in 2024, delivering 48 extra-base hits. Even in a disappointing 2025 season, he struck out 24.4% of the time. Ryan McMahon, by comparison, whiffed in 32.2% of his plate appearances.

Rumfield, the projected starting first baseman, struck out 18.3% in Triple-A. Michael Toglia, ditched by new management, posted a 39.1% K rate last season.

The best Rockies lineups have always offered a blend of characteristics.

“We need to be able to look at an individual, at his strengths, and determine how that puzzle piece fits. It is hard to find a guy who hits for average, gets on base, has power and is a great defender. Those are Hall of Famers,” said DePodesta. “But if we can find guys who have elements of those and put the pieces together in just the right way, then as a team we can do all those things and cover for individual weaknesses. I do think we are going to be developing hitters who fit as winning pieces that ultimately will be part of a larger puzzle.”

Ambush in hitter’s counts. Run a little bit, forever a foreign concept. Put pressure on the defense. Schaeffer is poised to be more aggressive. It won’t translate in the standings, but the offense will have a few electrified strings on the acoustic guitar.

The Rockies are more equipped to do damage with shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, who has legit pop, and a healthy Brenton Doyle. Mickey Moniak brings 25-home-run potential as the primary DH, and Jordan Beck and Jake McCarthy should combine for 25 dingers.  Catcher Hunter Goodman returns as a slugging All-Star and, in an ideal world, top prospect Charlie Condon is hitting No. 2 in the lineup by July.

It is fine if you don’t give the Rockies the benefit of the doubt. They betrayed fans’ trust and loyalty for far too long.

They will have to improve by 20 wins to avoid becoming only the second team to lose 100 games in four straight seasons, joining the Washington Senators (1961-64).

The starting pitching and the hitting have not been the only problems since 2023. It has been everything.

There are times this season they are going to stink.

But they are going to compete.

Nobody is going to make any kind of promise. But, there will be progress, if not twinkles of excitement.

Pose a Rockies- or MLB-related question for the Rockies Mailbag.

Is Zac Veen going to make the team? If so, will he play?

— Chris Haag, Cincinnati

Chris, you are not the only one asking about Veen. He’s an intriguing player because he was a first-round draft choice (No. 9 overall in 2020), and because he has prodigious power potential.

But Veen, 24, did not make the Opening Day roster for Friday’s game at Miami because he’s dealing with a knee injury that slowed him for much of spring training. Even if Veen had been healthy, I doubt he would have made the team. He has a lot of work to do to become a better outfielder, and he needs work as a hitter, too. There are a lot of holes in his swing. The hope is that he doesn’t turn into a strikeout machine like the departed Michael Toglia.

Like a lot of people, I’m rooting for Veen, who’s had to deal with a lot in his young life, including substance abuse issues.

I have been following the Rockies since their 2007 run to the World Series. What a ride that was. My younger stepson learned baseball at Coors Field. He saw Chris Iannetta hit a ninth-inning grand slam against the Houston Astros and has gone with me since. My question is this: What in the world does everyone see in Jordan Beck? I see a lot of strikeouts. I see an impossibly uncontrollable swing. His head turns completely on his shoulders. He cannot possibly see the ball after he swings. Yes, he has gotten better in the outfield on defense and has a really good, accurate arm. But at the plate? Please help me out here.

— Ari Nixon, Brush

Ari, I think the best word to describe Beck is “streaky.” But when he’s hot, he’s a force, so I understand why so many fans and members of the front office and coaching staff believe he has All-Star potential. Plus, you have to remember that Beck is only 24.

Consider this little statistical nugget: per OptaSTATS, Beck became the second player in major league history to have his first five home runs of a season all come in two days (April 24-25), joining Ty Cobb on May 5-6, 1925. Beck was also the first Rockie in history to have five home runs in any two-day span.

But also consider this: He opened the 2025 season with the Rockies but was quickly optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque on April 7 after starting the season 3 for 20 (.150) over nine games.

And then there are his dramatic home/road splits. He slashed .303/.348/.466 with 18 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, and 36 RBIs in 76 games at home, while slashing .204/.280/.355 with nine doubles, three triples, eight home
runs and 17 RBIs in 72 road games.

Finally, Beck needs to cut down on the K’s. He struck out 80 times in 251 plate appearances in the second half last season, a 31.9 strikeout percentage that was the eighth highest in the majors post All-Star break.

I’m not as critical of Beck’s plate approach as you are. He wouldn’t have gotten this far without a decent approach. He still has a solid chance to be a very good big-league player.

For the first time in years, the Rockies have changed their front office personnel and incorporated new ways to play baseball and win games. Even if the new regime is successful (75-80 wins) and analytics take hold, how many years can we wait to consistently get .500 baseball? How far is the Rockies’ analytics department behind the league? I predict 75-87 (maybe my last prognostication). Cheers!

— Robert Emmerling, Limon

Robert, I salute your optimism. But 75-87 this season?! In the name of the late Harry Caray, “Holy Cow!” I don’t see it.

Like you, I applaud the Rockies’ willingness to change their process. It’s way past time. As far as consistent, .500 baseball? I would think 2028 would be reasonable.

Hi Patrick, I have enjoyed your insights for a long time for both baseball and football. I also enjoyed reading your dad’s articles for many years. The Rockies have historically done well developing Latin American players (Ubaldo Jimenez, German Marquez, Ezequiel Tovar, etc.). Are there any young Latin American players we should be looking for in the near future to make an impact? Why don’t I ever see the Rockies being named as a possible suitor in the Asian market? Both Japan and Korea have produced many quality MLB players in the last few years, but I never see the Rockies as a possible landing spot. Thanks.

— Gene Ryan, Green Valley, Ariz.

Ryan, thanks so much for the compliment and for remembering my dad, Dusty Saunders.

A quick, bittersweet anecdote about my dad, who was a big baseball fan. My dad died at age 90, almost four years ago. I was with him on the day he died, and I was watching a Rockies road game when he passed. In his eulogy, I joked that my dad woke up briefly, saw that the Rockies were getting rocked again, and said, “I can’t take it anymore.” Then he passed away.

OK, on to your question. The Rockies’ best Latin players right now are outfielder/second baseman Roldy Brito (Dominican Republic), outfielder Robert Calaz (Dominican), and third baseman/shortstop Wilder Dalis (Venezuela).  I think 2028 would be the earliest we see any of them in the big leagues.

As for the Rockies’ presence in Asia, they used to simply punt, believing they couldn’t compete. But Paul DePodesta, the new president of baseball operations, plans to change that.

“I absolutely think it’s important,” DePodesta said during baseball’s winter meetings in December. “We’ve talked about a necessity for us to be sort of active in every possible avenue to acquire talent. So whether it’s Latin America, whether it’s Asia, whether it’s the waiver wire, you have Major League free agent [and] trades. I mean all of it. I think we have to be actively involved in all of those to try to find some potential solutions for us. And so I do think that’s an area where we’ll probably ramp up our efforts to some degree.”

At this point, it is pretty obvious to everyone, including Kris Bryant and the bat boy, that he will never play baseball again. With the highest annual player salary on the team, you would think he would be inclined to initiate a contract renegotiation to provide some relief to our current payroll. Seems like I remember Todd Helton doing this, which was a pretty stand-up and classy move to help the team.

Do you think these discussions may be possible at all?

Looking forward to all your 2026 Rockies articles!

— Troy, the biggest Rockies fan in Virginia

Troy, thanks for reading. It’s very much appreciated.

You’re correct, Helton did defer part of his contract. In March 2010, Helton signed a two-year extension ($9.9 million 2012–13) that also reworked his 2011 salary and 2012 buyout, totaling $13.1 million in deferred money.

However, the Bryant situation is much different. Helton was still playing, and he was a Rockies icon, with deep ties to ownership. Bryant is not playing and is still owed $81 million over the next three seasons. Plus, Bryant’s agent is Scott Boras, one of the most powerful men in sports, and he’s going to get all of that money for his client.

At some point, a deal will likely be worked out. This is what I wrote last November:

“Retirement, with a financial agreement worked out with the Rockies, seems like the sensible course of action. It¶¶Òõap what former Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg eventually did when he finally retired in April 2024. Strasburg, who had not pitched since June 9, 2022, is receiving all the remaining $105 million owed from his original seven-year, $245 million contract.

“His original contract was heavily deferred — $11.4 million annually, according to USA Today — with Strasburg scheduled to receive $26.5 million in 2027, ’28 and ’29. When Strasburg retired, the contract was restructured to spread out the deferrals further into the future.”

Who will be doing the Rockies radio broadcasts in 2026? On the spring training simulcasts, I thought I understood they were auditioning three possible partners with Jack Corrigan. Who employs them? Are the TV broadcasters the same as before? Thank you.

— Steve, Aurora

Steve, funny you should ask. I had just reached out to David Tepper, the program director at 850 KOA. He told me that it has not yet been decided who will work with Corrigan in the radio booth. For now, Corrigan will team with longtime producer Jesse Thomas when the Rockies open their season on Friday in Miami.

During spring training, the Rockies auditioned Zach Goodman (announcer for the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles and son of Drew Goodman, the Rockies’ longtime TV play-by-play man), Albuquerque Isotopes announcer Josh Suchon, and Hartford Yard Goats announcer Jeff Dooley. I believe one of those three will join Corrigan.

KOA is looking to replace Jerry Schemmel, the longtime Colorado broadcaster, who was laid off for the second time by iHeartMedia last October. Schemmel now works as an ambassador and chief fundraiser for Best Day Ministries in downtown Longmont.

Do the Rockies have enough to win 50 or 60 games this season?

— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.

Ed, you’re not a glass-half-full kind of guy, are you? At least not when it comes to the Rockies. They will be improved, so yes, they can win 60 games. In fact, my preseason prediction is a 60-102 record.