Rockie Road

So the Rockies and Dodgers are currently caught in a dead heat in the NL Wild Card race. As LA has lost momentum, Colorado has gained a ton. Which...of all times to get good, now is one of the best times.

I'll go so far as to say that while the pitching is a TON BETTER than last year, the lineup and bench have been slightly disappointing. A lot of surefires, like Ian Desmond and Chris Iannetta, have disappointed this year, and the rookie trio of Tapia, Cuevas and Valaika have all been ineffective this year. There have been a ton of home runs around, especially from core guys like Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon, and perennial homer guy Carlos Gonzalez has embraced a more average-friendly year, which is shocking but definitely helps.

And might I mention...Matt Holliday's return to Denver is one of the most satisfying stories of the year. I'm glad it's happening, and I'm glad he's hitting so well.

But yeah, the pitching has improved greatly. Jon Gray's numbers have gone up since the break, Freeland and Marquez have been on fire, Tyler Anderson is having his most consistent year yet, and Chad Bettis is a decent fifth man. Wade Davis, ERA issues aside, has been great in the ninth, and Adam Ottavino and Scott Oberg have been trying to hold up the bullpen.

This team has come a long way, and even though it's got some definite problems, they are chasing the shit out of the Dodgers, and may end up blocking them from October. The WC race is still very much live, and will be for the next month. The Cardinals and Brewers may have the spots now, but Colorado could be a major spoiler.

Coming Tomorrow- A catcher playing for a fourth place team who's trying to find some optimism.