We knew what type of season this would be when Nolan Arenado was traded to the Saint Louis Cardinals back in January. We knew after that the Rockies’ other superstar, shortstop Trevor Story, would likely be headed out of Colorado as well and 34-year-old Charlie Blackmon would not be around much longer either. As the season has gone on, there has not been just changes on the players side of thing, but in the Rockies’ front office too. Ex-GM Jeff Bridich (thankfully) resigned back in April and with his departure came the exodus of many more front office officials. All of this to say, the 2021 season has never been about winning for the Rockies, it is about identity and rediscovering who they are as a team. It is also about the “changing of the guard” so to speak as one era ends a new one begins, and enjoying what is left of the current regime while we still have it.
The Rockies’ current regime (now currently Charlie Blackmon and Trevor Story) needs to pass the baton to the new regime, so they can carry on to the next era of Rockies baseball. So, who is the new regime/core one might ask? They are three players consisting of Ryan McMahon, Raimel Tapia, and Brendan Rodgers. Ryan McMahon (.256/.308/.508) is having the best season out of any Rockies player so far when he was a major question mark going into the season as he struggled mightily in 2020 and in 2019, but he has been able to turn the corner and become a, if not the, cornerstone that the Rockies will so desperately need.
Raimel Tapia (.302/.351/.421) was a little similar to McMahon where back in 2020 he was more of a question mark, and he struggled early in that season, until manager Bud Black (who was looking for a leadoff man) decided to put Tapia in the leadoff spot where he took it and never looked back. In 2021 he has performed at an All-Star caliber level offensively and defensively recently having a 17-game hitting streak.
Brendan Rodgers (.261/.333/455) is really still in the developmental stage as a player. To top prospect in the Rockies’ entire organization made his MLB debut back in 2019, but unfortunately injuries have plagued him the past few of seasons so we really have not seen what Rodgers is capable of until recently. Rodgers has returned to the field of play since pulling his hamstring in spring training (where he looked fantastic) and he looks every bit as advertised, flashing everything from power to stunning defense, and looks primed to take over shortstop (his natural position) once Story leaves either via trade or through free agency at season’s end.
The Rockies have the players to carry them into the next era of Rockies baseball, but the question still remains if owner Dick Monfort and choose the right people in the front office in order to guide the Rockies into a winning baseball team. Again, this season was never about winning it is about identity and with future looking bright ( I have not even mentioned the Rockies new #1 prospect OF Zac Veen), this group of players can get us there. I, for one, cannot wait too see what they blossom into.
