The Never Ending Story

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Since their inception in 1993, the Colorado Rockies franchise has been known for its offense. There were the “Blake Street Bombers” which consisted of Ellis Burks, Dante Bichette, Vinny Castilla, and Andres Galarraga that propelled the Rockies to their first playoff appearance in 1995. Then there were the bats of Matt Holliday, Troy Tulowitzki, and Todd Helton that helped the Rockies win their only National League Pennant in 2007. The thin Rocky Mountain air has hurt the Rockies chances of obtaining quality pitching as even with the baseballs being put in a humidor, the team’s all-time leader in earned run average is Ubaldo Jimenez at 3.66. So the Rockies continue to slug it out in order to win games and there is youngster in Denver that is added to that legacy this spring.

In 2011, the Rockies made shorstop Trevor Story the 45th overall pick of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft.  Story began the process of developing in the Rockies minor-league system, but Colorado still had Tulowitzki as their everyday shortstop. However last July, the Rockies would send Tulowitzki to the Toronto Blue Jays in a six-player trade. As a part of the deal, the Rockies would receive shortstop Jose Reyes who’s skills are beginning to diminish as he appeared to be keeping the seat warm for Story in Denver. Unfortunately for Reyes, he was involved in a domestic violence incident during the off-season which has resulted in him being suspended by Major League Baseball. And whereas Reyes is seeking to get his life back together, Story is making the most of his opportunity as the Rockies starting shortstop.

Trevor Story

In Story’s first Major League game, he hit a pair of home runs in the Rockies 10-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. And by the time that Story had four games under his belt, he had gone yard 6 times. Story finished the month of April with 10 home runs and 20 runs batted in as he was named as the National League Rookie of the Month.

Story’s home run production has dipped here in May with just one dinger to his credit, but he does have 8 runs batted in while he does have at least one hit in all but three games since May 1. For the month Story in batting .299, while his overall batting average is at .277. Obviously pitchers have adjusted to Story at the plate as you can’t expect him to continue the torrid pace that he was on it April, but since he is still getting quality at-bats, he shouldn’t be looked at as a one-trick pony.

The odds are in Story’s favor to have a solid 2016 season, and become the first Rockies player since Jason Jennings to be named as the National League’s Rookie of the Year. Story also finds himself in a very potent lineup which includes third baseman Nolan Arenado and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez who each hit 40 home runs last year. These first six weeks of the 2016 Major League Baseball season have been unseasonably cold, but once it does warm up, the ball should be jumping out of Coors Field in Denver. And for Story so far, only 4 of his 11 homers have been hit at home which should change in the summer months.

Story’s arrival could signal the end of Reyes’ brief run with the Rockies. Reyes still has two years, and nearly $60 million left on his six-year, $106 million deal that he originally signed with the Miami Marlins following the 2011 Major League Baseball season. But domestic violence is an issue that is a public relations nightmare for a sports franchise which makes Reyes expendable. And once you factor in Reyes’ diminishing skills defensively, along with at the plate, it isn’t out of the realm of possibilities for the Rockies to simply buy him out if they are unable to find a trade partner.

But either way for Story, he knows that he is the guy at shortstop in Denver for now and the years to come as it didn’t take him that long to make himself a household name in the Rocky Mountains. Through 39 games the Rockies find themselves right in the mix in the National League West as they are just 2.5 games behind the first place San Francisco Giants. However with no team expected to run away with the NL West, the Rockies find themselves with a puncher’s chance to win the division title. And if the Rockies are able to make the postseason for the first time since 2009, Mr. Story will probably be part of the reason.

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By | 2016-05-19T10:10:41+00:00 May 19th, 2016|Categories: Major League Baseball|Tags: , , |0 Comments

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