So far this season there have been 14 weeks of the season, in 12 of those 14 weeks, the Rockies are 50-29. In the other two, the Rockies are 2-10.
Even this past week the Rockies went 4-3 at home, but finished on such a high note as Denver Native and one of four Rockies Rookies Pitchers Kyle Freeland stood on the hill at Coors field in the 9th inning doing something that no other Rockies pitcher has EVER done, and something only one other pitcher period has done, and that is to take a no-hitter into the 9th inning. Melky Cabrera hit a ball over Nolan Arenado's head with one out in the 9th to break it up, but the Rockies finished with their 3rd 1 hitter in their history to go along with Ubaldo Jimenez' No-Hitter in Atlanta in 2010. Tyler Chatwood and Gonzalez Germen combined on a one-hitter in June, 2016 at Dodger Stadium. Jason Jennings, Tom Martin and Brian Fuentes combined on the only other Rockies one-hitter at Coors Field in June, 2006. Freeland also had a career high 9 strikeouts, while walking 3 and hitting Jose Abreu.
On the other side of the ball, the offense for the second time this weekend scored double digit runs, and Pat Valaika knocked in 5 runs. Freeland even got into the mix by getting an RBI single to cap the scoring in the 7th inning.
After the dismal three weeks leading up to this game, the euphoria of this win could propel the Rockies into the 2nd half of the season starting Friday in New York.
BEST FIRST HALF EVER: The Rockies head into the All-Star Break with their best record ever at 52-39. In 2010, at the break 49-39, which was 2nd best.
STILL ON PACE FOR POSTSEASON: The Rockies go into the break with the 5th best record in MLB, but the 3rd best in the NL West. Although the Rockies are 9.5 games behind the Red-Hot Dodgers, the Rockies only trail the D-Backs for the Host Wild Card by 2 games and are ahead of the Cubs and Cardinals for the Visiting Wild Card team by 7.5 games. Contrast this to the AL where 4 games over .500 will get you into the Wild Card game, but 10 other teams are within 7.5 games of the Wild Card slots. (That's everyone in the league who's not winning their divison at the moment, folks).
OVERABUNDANCE OF PITCHING: It seems like a strange thing to say, but with Chad Bettis starting rehab in Hartford this week, and Tyler Anderson returning sometime in August, the Rockies will soon have 8 starting pitchers not counting Chris Rusin and Jordan Lyles who are converted starters in the bullpen. With everyone but Chatwood and Bettis having options, it will be interesting to see what five settle in for the home stretch rotation. It's clear all 8 will be on the roster in September, as part of this team barring any injuries.
INJURIES: All teams have injuries, so it's no excuse, but it seems like the injury that hurt the Rockies the most was Gerardo Parra. He went on the DL on June 7, but the fact that he could not make it back until this past Friday hurt a lot more when Carlos Gonzalez who hasn't been hitting, went out on June 21st and missed the entire 9 game road trip. Raimel Tapia has been great at the bat and on base, but sometimes was an adventure in the outfield.
SECOND HALF SCHEDULE: Rockies Home/Road split in the 2nd half is 36-35 in the 2nd half, while the Dodgers have 31-41 and D-Backs have 33-40 Starting in August, the Dodgers play 36 of their final 57 games on the road, including two road trips to three cities, both including East Coast and West Coast Teams. Incidentally, the Dodgers have not been on an airplane since Father's Day, when they flew back from Cincinnati. Their only five home games since then have been to Anaheim and San Diego on buses. Not surprising they've continued to stay hot. They are in the middle of streak where they are playing 41 of 64 at home. That's half their home schedule in that span vs. a little over a quarter of their road schedule.
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