METS FANS' GUIDE TO THE 2017 PLAYOFFS: COLORADO ROCKIES
This series takes a look at all 10 MLB teams to qualify for the postseason. We'll give them a ranking on a scale of 1-to-10 (1 being the Yankees, 10 being the Mets) to determine who best deserves Mets fans' casual support in the playoffs this year.
The Team:
The Case: Who believed in the Rockies at the beginning of this season? Okay, I did. I picked them to win the West, which they didn’t, but still, give me some credit for identifying them as a dark horse.
Look up and down this roster, though, and it’s not hard to see why they’re playing October baseball.
Charlie Blackmon (.331, 37 HR, 104 RBI, .399 OBP, 6.0 WAR) has been one of the most overlooked talents in the game, and this year, made sure that he got his due credit. Can you believe that, with that offensive line, he still wasn’t even the best player on his team.
That distinction belongs to Nolan Arenado, a guy you probably have to see every day to truly appreciate his brilliance. Every time he makes a ridiculous defensive play look incredibly easy, I just sit there in awe. Check this fan-made highlight reel out:
Is he joking? Arenado is 26-years-old, and locked up through the 2020 season.
Also, kudos to Jeff Bridich for opening up the wallet for Greg Holland, who I really wanted the Mets to sign last offseason.
Holland was coming off Tommy John surgery, but was one of the best closers in the game with the Royals before he went down. Bridick bet on Holland regaining his form to the tune of a two-year deal packed with incentives that could make Holland $35 million over the life of the contract. Holland responded with an All Star this season, coverting 41-of-his 45 save opportunities along the way.
Why to Hate Them: Did you know they played a part in the collapse of the 2007 Mets? Because they absolutely did.
Some fans forget that not only did the Mets cough up the NL East that season, but they also so spectacularly shat the bed that the Wild Card wasn’t even an option. While the Mets 5-12 on the final 17 games of the season, the Rockies caught fire and went by them like they were standing still. Colorado won 14 of their final 15 games to finish with 89 wins, tied with the Padres (who had a perfectly-timed seven-game winning streak down the stretch themselves), who they defeated in dramatic fashion in a one-game playoff at Coors Field.
They did do us a solid by sweeping the Phillies in the NLDS, then continued this unbelievable role by sweeping the Diamondbacks (their Wild Card Game opponent this season) in the NLCS, before fading and being swept themselves by the Red Sox in the ’07 Series.
But man, I was jealous of that run, especially since the Mets had gone in the tank, and their emergence really complicated the NL playoff field that year. If the Rockies never get hot, who knows how the Pads play down the stretch? Maybe the Mets would have had a Wild Card berth to fall back on, and, “seven with 17 to play” wouldn’t hurt so much.
Mets Connections: None to speak of, so here’s a picture of Dinger with a water gun:
Rating: 6/10. The Rockies have a lot going for them. They’ve never won a World Series (or a World Series game, for that matter), and their players are fun and likable, but there’s not a lot for Mets fans to latch on to in terms of ex-players. Now, if they get to the NLDS and break up a double play at second base against the Dodgers, that’s another story…
PREVIOUSLY: ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS, BOSTON RED SOX, CLEVELAND INDIANS, WASHINGTON NATIONALS, LA DODGERS, HOUSTON ASTROS
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Brian Erni
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