Rockies still a team on rise despite hitting playoff valley

DENVER — The immediate picture for the Colorado Rockies looks grim: a slumping offence that couldn’t support solid pitching led to a quick end to Rocktober.

The larger view — now that’s one third baseman Nolan Arenado prefers to take into the off-season.

Although the season ended in a three-game sweep by Milwaukee in the NL Division Series, the Rockies took a step forward in 2018. A year ago, they were eliminated in the NL wild-card game. This season, they beat Chicago in the wild-card contest to make it to the division series, only to run into the Brewers and their dominant arms.

Colorado (91-72) won the second-most games in franchise history and came one victory short of its first NL West title. The bats simply went silent at the wrong time.

“It’s on the offence,” said Arenado, whose team hit a franchiseworst .256 in the regular season. “We couldn’t get anything going. But it was a solid year. We played really well.”

The Rockies hit .146 against Milwaukee and scored in one of 28 innings.

“It’s October. You’ve got to do something,” said Arenado, who was kept in the park after hitting an NL-leading 38 homers in the regular season. “I wasn’t able to.”

Big decisions loom for general manager Jeff Bridich, possibly including a long-term deal with Arenado, who is eligible to become a free agent after the 2019 season. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu, outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and 38-year-old Matt Holliday, who was recalled by the team Aug. 23 and hit .283 down the stretch, all can go free in a few weeks.

“Last year we got a little taste of the post-season with the wild card and this year we got into the NLDS and kind of showed the world what this team is capable of,” pitcher Kyle Freeland said. “It’s very exciting to see what can come.”