With seemingly every loss this season, the make headlines for a new level of futility: They have already set the modern mark for fewest wins (eight) in the first 50 games of a season and lost a record 22 consecutive series before the this week.
But unlike most teams marching toward baseball infamy, Colorado’s roster isn’t made up of rookies and journeymen. Instead, it consists of some of the key players from the franchise’s last glory days.
They remember the good times. When Coors Field was packed, players were flying around the bases and the Rockies had just enough pitching to catapult them into the postseason.
It might seem like forever ago as Colorado barrels toward its third straight 100-loss season, but current pitchers , , and infielder were all part of the organization’s last playoff teams, in 2017 and 2018. Colorado won a combined 178 games over those two seasons.
Few could have imagined what would come seven years later: The Rockies are on pace to shatter the modern record for losses, set last year by the . They’re on pace to lose 130 games, which would be nine more than Chicago.
“You ask me back in 2017 or 2018, I would have said there is no chance that is happening,” Freeland told ESPN recently. “You realize how special those seasons are.”
Despite their record, the vibe in their clubhouse doesn’t feel all that different than any other team’s midway through the grind of a 162-game season. According to Rockies players, there is too much baseball left to give in to the negativity that surrounds all the losing. They also point to their increased competitiveness since making a managerial change early last month.
“The start of the year was tough, if we’re being honest about it,” injured reliever said. “We weren’t very competitive. Since [interim manager Warren Schaeffer] has taken over we’re pretty much in every game. But it’s not going our way. It’s easier to keep the attitude positive. I know we’re competing every night. At the beginning of the year, that wasn’t the case.”
Freeland added: “You can’t be mailing it in right now or closing up shop. We have a lot of learning to do as a team, with a lot of young guys doing that learning. Us veterans have to keep the attitude of the team in the right spot.”
The Rockies’ struggles come down to this: They have given up the most runs per game while scoring the least. That latter is stunning, considering the hitting advantage they’ve enjoyed over the years playing at the big leagues’ highest elevation in Denver. Going into this season, the lowest the team ranked in scoring was 22nd, achieved last season.
The lack of production on either side of the ball has led to blowouts (they’ve lost 16 games by at least five runs) and heartbreaking losses (they’re just 6-11 in one-run games). “Some stick with you,” McMahon said. “We have guys that care and when you care, you carry it longer. But if you keep holding on to the night before, it’s not going to help today and it’s going to be a long season. You have to flush it.”
“You have to flush it” might become the team’s slogan as the organization is attempting to turn the page on its horrendous start, pointing to some improvements since the 40 year-old Schaeffer took over for 67-year-old Bud Black. After Black’s eight years and about six weeks at the helm in Colorado, the Rockies decided a change was needed.
“Buddy Black is a real good baseball guy,” general manager Bill Schmidt said. “It was probably time for a different voice.”
Schmidt was asked what gives him hope during such a wretched time for the franchise.
“We’ve been way more competitive lately,” he said. “We’re going to turn it around. I’m embarrassed by what’s transpired.”
After their numbers were boosted by the sweep of the Marlins, the team can point to a per-game run differential of minus 2.41 since Schaeffer took over, compared to minus 3.2 under Black — though their winning percentages are similar (.175 under Black to .227 since the change).
Black turned down an interview request for this story.
Like the White Sox last year, the Rockies aren’t focusing on the record for losses as they believe it’ll be a self-fulfilling prophecy if they do.
“If not being the worst team in baseball is our main focus, then we’re going to be the worst team in baseball,” Freeland said. “Our focus is ‘Let’s get better every day.’ That’s the lens. We have a new manager, new coaches, a lot of moving parts. But let’s focus on ourselves.”
Schaeffer, a career minor leaguer as a player, is learning on the job but has brought new energy to the dugout. He says he wants what every other manager desires from his players: accountability and the ability to master the fundamentals. Does he see improvement?
“I do,” he stated. “For sure. I feel like the competitive nature is there. Little by little we’re learning how to be in games and win. Not there yet. We have to execute late in games. That’s the next step.”
The past several weeks illustrate how both close and far the Rockies are from being respectable. Inability to execute — especially late in games — led to eight losses by two runs or fewer in a span of 12 games. It’s the kind of thing that will keep them on their record pace. That is, along with the blowouts, which still happen about once a week.
“We have like 100 games left,” Gomber said. “We can throw that record off by just a good two-week stretch. I’m confident that we’ll turn it around from that standpoint because just watching, I’ve seen us much more competitive every night. It’s going to turn.”
There’s some concern about the team’s young players learning in such a losing environment. They point to those veterans — particularly the players who were in Colorado during better times — as the reason the team is sticking together.
“We treat every day as a new day,” 26-year-old utilityman said. “It’s tough to look at the record right now. But everyone is working hard. We come in looking to win. The results haven’t shown, but we have to stay patient.
“If we take a look at the beginning of the year to now, it’s way different. I think we’ve turned a corner.”
Residing in the toughest division in baseball will only make it harder to avoid losing 120 games this season. Colorado is just 3-13 against the National League West with 36 games remaining against those opponents.
Amazingly, the Rockies are still drawing more than 26,000 fans per game — a testament to their loyalty and the fan experience at Coors Field. But what will the stands look like come September as the team winds down a potentially record-breaking season? One thing the clubhouse is unified on is how much the team has let those fans down. The Rockies have traveled a long way — in the wrong direction — since those back-to-back postseason appearances last decade.
“A lot of things have happened since then,” Senzatela said as he shook his head. “We have to stick together. Hopefully we’ll get back there.”
