Are the Rockies looking to sell off some outfield/corner infield prospects for MLB-ready pitching?

— Andrew, Fort Lupton

Andrew, greetings from the MLB winter meetings from the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center in Nashville. If you’ve never been here, it’s a pretty amazing place: an indoor tourist city under a steel-and-glass roof with a fake river and Christmas lights. Think of the movie “The Truman Show.”

But I digress.

General manager Bill Schmidt told me Monday that he’s open to trading both established players and prospects in exchange for pitching. Whether that happens or not remains a huge question mark. As far as corner players go, the club could dangle outfielders Sean Bouchard and Hunter Goodman, and perhaps DH/first baseman Elehuris Montero. The problem is, to get an MLB-ready pitcher, the Rockies would have to create a package or part with a more established player such as third baseman Ryan McMahon or some of their best young prospects that aren’t on the 40-man roster yet. I don’t know if the Rockies are willing to part with their youngsters because I think they know that team knows it won’t be a contender until 2025, at the earliest.

I still maintain that second baseman Brendan Rodgers is Colorado’s most likely trade chip, in part because he still has two years of arbitration left and also because he has untapped potential.

I just wanted to say thanks for continuing to cover this team despite the front office’s lackluster approach to fielding competitive baseball. I imagine it can be frustrating to deal with an onslaught of fan negativity whilst trying to remain unbiased in your reporting. Here’s to hoping a solid team comes together in the next couple of years and we can relive the joy and excitement of “this-game-matters” baseball past July.

— Chris Boothroy, Parker

Chris, thanks for that.

I admit that it’s discouraging covering a team that has been so bad for five straight seasons. Interest in the Rockies has dwindled dramatically in recent years, which is a shame because I think Colorado loves baseball and it would be great to see LoDo come alive again in September and October. (Sigh)

When the dog days of summer arrive, I have to remind myself that writing about a big-league team is still a pretty good gig, even if the Rockies are way down the Colorado sports totem pole in terms of popularity.

Hey Patrick, what do you think the odds are of us landing Shohei Ohtani? I can’t imagine it’s very good, but let’s say we land him: How much would he help this team and would they ever let him pitch in Coors Field or would they just have him be on the mound on the road? Thanks!

— Quinn, Highlands Ranch

Quinn, you sort of answered your question. The Rockies’ chances of landing Ohtani are zero — with a capital Z and a capital O.

First of all, Ohtani is projected to sign a contract worth more than $500 million over 10 to 12 years. There is no way the Rockies can pay him that much. Plus, even when he returns to the mound after elbow surgery — he won’t pitch in 2024 — there is no way he would consider pitching at Coors Field. Plus, he’s a big-market star. The Rockies are not a big-market team.

Looking at the Rockies and their roster right now, what letter grade would you give them? What areas are deficient and need to be addressed?

— Ed Helinski, Auburn, N.Y.

Ed, you don’t mess around with your questions.

Right now, I’d give the roster a D. Coming off a 103-loss season, and the state of the Rockies’ injured rotation, might prompt an F, but the young position talent has the Rockies projecting upward.

Pitching, both starting and relieving, remains the team’s weakest link. The addition of right-hander Cal Quantrill has given the rotation a boost, but we don’t know for sure when right-handers German Marquez and Antonio Senzatela will return from Tommy John surgery. Nor do we know how they will perform.

The emergence of rookie shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, along with rookie outfielders Brenton Doyle and Nolan Jones, forms the nucleus of the team going forward. I still believe that third baseman Ryan McMahon has not reached his full potential as a hitter, but I’ve said that many times over, so now’s the time for him to take the next step. I’m sure there is more in the tank for second baseman Brendan Rodgers.

So there is potential in the day-to-day lineup. Now those players have to perform.

Do you think the Rox will make a run for any starting pitching or catcher and will they re-sign Brent Suter, who was very reliable last year?

— Allan Fredericks, Louisville

Allan, I’ve already discussed the starting pitching situation a number of times. I believe the Rockies will look for a veteran catcher to back up Elias Diaz. The catcher would likely be signed to a minor-league deal with a chance to make the team in spring training. Those types of deals often happen in January and February. While the Rockies liked backup catcher Austin Wynn’s defense last season, general manager Bill Schmidt said Monday that he’s seeking a catcher with more pop in his bat. Wynn’s hit .214 with one home run and eight RBIs in 177 at-bats.

As for Suter, who’s a free agent, the Rockies certainly showed some interest in re-signing the lefty before the end of the season, but the two sides never came together. Here is what Schmidt said Monday about the Rockies’ left-handed relievers: “We will wait and see what happens with Suter. Right now we have (Jalen) Beeks. We still have (Evan) Justice, and I don’t think he really showed what he’s capable of doing. He’s still going to be a good pitcher. And we have Lucas (Gilbreath) coming back from Tommy John.”

Beeks was claimed off of waivers from the Rays last month.

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Who’s on your All-Rockies team — one player per position — using the criteria of your choice?

— Greg, Estes Park

Wow, Greg, that’s not an easy assignment and I’m sure my choices will tick off some people. But I’ll give it my best shot. And I’m so sorry, CarGo, but you didn’t make the cut. It’s Greg’s fault.

• Right-hander starter: Ubaldo Jimenez. He burned out quickly, but from 2007-10 he was sensational, especially by Rockies standards.

• Left-handed starter: Kyle Freeland. His 2018 season (17-7, 2.85 ERA), capped off by his gem in the wild-card game at Wrigley Field against the Cubs, was magical. He’s remained a team leader and a tough-as-nails pitcher even though he’s never come close to matching his ’18 season.

• Closer: Brian Fuentes. Coors Field tends to chew up relievers but the lefty was good for a number of years. He’s Colorado’s career leader in saves (115), was a three-time All-Star with the Rockies and was the primary closer on the 2007 World Series team.

• Catcher: Yorvit Torrealba. I’m going to get pushback on this choice, I’m sure. Torrealba only hit 23 homers in 373 games with the Rockies. But his presence behind the plate in 2007 and ’09 was a key to two of the best teams in franchise history. Plus, he delivered in the postseason. He was the ultimate boss on the field.

• First base: Todd Helton. Next stop Cooperstown, N.Y., summer 2024. All things considered, the best player in Rockies history.

• Second base: DJ LeMahieu. Range, toughness, beloved teammate, Gold Glove, smart hitter, decent power. Why, oh why, did the Rockies let him go?

• Third base: Nolan Arenado. The best defensive player in franchise history who also happened to slash .293/.349/.541 with 235 homers in eight seasons with the Rockies. A human highlight reel at the hot corner and destined for the Hall of Fame.

• Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki. Sometimes I think we tend to forget just how good Tulo was before injuries sabotaged his career. He was a five-time All-Star, should have been the NL rookie-of-the-year in 2007, and set a high bar for everyone who played with him. Tulo had a .885 OPS during his nine-plus season in Colorado.

• Left field: Matt Holliday. Lots of competition here, but my vote goes to Holliday, who might have touched home plate in Game 163 vs. the Padres. Before he became a star in St. Louis, Holliday was a stud in Colorado with a .319/.387/.550 slash line, 131 OPS+, and 18.5 WAR in six seasons.

• Center field: Charlie Blackmon. We now tend to think of Blackmon as a right fielder, but during his best seasons, he played center. He has to be on my team in center because there is another guy starting in right field on my team.

Blackmon wasn’t a great fielder in center but was solid. His 2017 season was one of the best in Rockies history. He set career highs in batting average (.331), games (159), runs, hits, triples (14), home runs (37), total bases, RBI (104), walks (65), on-base percentage (.399) and slugging percentage (.601).

Plus, he set a major league record with 103 RBI from the leadoff position, surpassing Darin Erstad’s previous mark of 100 set with the Angels in 2000. His 86 extra-base hits were the third-most by a leadoff hitter in major league history and the highest ever by a National League leadoff hitter.

• Right field: Larry Walker. The Rockies’ only league MVP when, in 1997, he slashed .366/.452/.720 with 49 homers, 130 RBIs and 409 total bases. That’s right 409. He’s already in Cooperstown, waiting for Helton.

I heard a rumor that Major League Baseball might pressure the Monforts into selling the team. I recognize this is crazy, but it holds some logic. Colorado has a great fan base and (the Monforts) aren’t willing to field a competitive team. MLB doesn’t want to lose the fan base. Thoughts?

— Eric Swanson, Aurora

Eric, I’m not sure where you heard that rumor, but if it’s true you’ve got yourself quite a scoop.

I can’t imagine that Dick Monfort would sell the team. For one thing, despite the heat he’s been feeling for the Rockies’ losing ways, he still loves being an owner. As one agent told me this summer: “The Rockies are his baby.”

For another, the expectation is that he is going to pass on the team to his sons, Walker and Sterling.

Walker is the vice president of corporate partnerships and is responsible for the oversight and management of the club’s revenue generated through sponsorships. He works on the business side.

Sterling works on the baseball side as the director of professional scouting.

Your contention that MLB believes that the Rockies are in danger of losing their fan base is way off base. Commissioner Rob Manfred, as well as a number of other owners, admire the Rockies’ ability to keep fans coming to Coors Field. By all accounts, Manfred and Monfort have grown pretty tight, especially since the Rockies took over the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta on short notice.

Also, Monfort was the chairman of the labor policy committee for MLB in 2021-22 during the lockout prior to the new CBA being signed.

Finally, the Rockies’ value in May  2023, according to Forbes, was $1.475 billion. The Rockies don’t win on the baseball diamond but the team’s value has soared.

Clearly, this “draft-and-develop” mentality that the Rockies have just isn’t cutting it. I am well aware that the Rockies’ track record with free-agent signings hasn’t fared much better in recent years but I blame that more on the lack of competency in the front office. The front office has a tendency to sign players (especially pitchers) who don’t have the necessary tools to pitch at altitude. While I’m beginning to feel more optimistic about our young hitters, where do the Rockies go from here, especially considering we have a front office and owner that refuses to leave its comfort zone?

— Leo, Boulder

Leo, you and I disagree. I think a mid-market team like the Rockies should be a draft-and-develop team — with some smart trades and free-agent acquisitions in the mix. There’s nothing wrong with the philosophy. The Diamondbacks and Orioles made it work this past season.

The problem is, the Rockies just haven’t done it very well. I believe we made that clear in our end-of-the-season “Rockie Way” project.

Outside of the signing of Kris Bryant — a move that was steered by owner Dick Monfort — I think general manager Bill Schmidt has done some smart things, chief among them acquiring outfielder Nolan Jones in a trade from the Guardians. That said, some of the draft picks that he helped make when he was scouting director have busted.

I’ll be curious to see if Schmidt can make any deals this offseason to improve Colorado’s pitching.

Hey Patrick, I was reminiscing about the time we won the NL pennant and then I realized it was 16 years ago. Do you see the team moving in a direction that could get us our first NL West pennant in the next few years? I like that Nolan Jones and Brenton Doyle look like fixtures in the outfield. But we need a lot more to be a .500 team, let alone a contender. What would you do this offseason if you had the GM hat?

— Marvin, Wheat Ridge

Marvin, first, I’d ask for a big raise. Then I would have a sit-down with owner Dick Monfort and make it clear that some things need to be shaken up, even if it means trading homegrown players such as Brendan Rodgers or Ryan McMahon.

I would attempt to trade established position players, such as Rodgers or McMahon, in an attempt to land a pitching prospect who would be ready to make an impact by 2025, when I think the offense has a chance to be better.

I would convince Monfort to spend money on a free-agent slugger because the Rockies need a dangerous power hitter and they don’t really have one.

Then I’d go out to the pitching mound at Coors Field and make an offering to the baseball gods asking for the Rockies’ rash of pitching injuries to end.

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With Adael Amador, Sterlin Thompson, Ryan Ritter, Dyan Jorge, etc. coming up the pipeline, what is the situation with Brendan Rodgers? Will he get traded for arms? Will some of the prospects get traded? What other clogged positions could be alleviated through trade?

— Jackson Esplin, Westminster

Jackson, I touched on this topic in a previous mailbag, but I’ll revisit it here.

Rodgers, the 2022 National League Gold Glove second baseman, was the subject of serious trade discussions last winter when the Rockies negotiated with the Marlins and Mariners. The Rockies targeted Edward Cabrera, the Marlins’ 25-year-old right-hander. They liked his skill set and the ability to control him through the 2028 season. But in the end, the deal fizzled.

Make no mistake, the Rockies like Rodgers. He’s popular in the clubhouse and the club is eager to see what he can do if he’s healthy for a full season. But given that he’s still under club control and has untapped talent, he’s probably the Rockies’ best trading chip.

That said, the team could veer from its usual course and trade Amador or one of its other top prospects instead. One way or another, general manager Bill Schmidt will be hunting for pitching this offseason.

As for other positions, the Rockies have a lot of talented outfield prospects, and with Kris Bryant scheduled to become a full-time first baseman, Michael Togila or Elehuris Montero could be in the trade mix, too.

Greetings, Patrick. What resources do the Rockies commit to scouting and developing pitching prospects compared to other teams? Knowing top free-agent pitchers won’t sign to pitch at altitude, development has to be the key. Why hasn’t this approach worked so far — management or poor draft choices? Thank you. Enjoy covering the preps.

— Robert Emmerling, Limon

Robert, while the Rockies have a relatively sparse analytics department, they have a full scouting department and plenty of pitching coaches and coordinators. The club’s lack of success on the mound is not because of a lack of staffing.

Injuries decimated not only the big-league rotation but also the Rockies’ top pitching prospects. Right-hander Gabriel Hughes, Jackson Cox and Jordy Vargas all underwent Tommy John surgery this summer. There was a chance that Hughes would have made his big-league debut this season had he not injured his elbow.

Left-handers Ryan Rolison and Helcris Olivarez are trying to work their way back from shoulder surgery. Both should be ready for spring training, so there is some hope there.

Clearly, the Rockies are doing everything they can to build organizational pitching depth. They selected 30 pitchers (28 of them college arms) across the last two drafts, plus they made a flurry of trade-deadline moves, flipping five veterans for seven pitching prospects.

I think it’s worth noting that the Rockies have once again revamped their pitching philosophy, as my colleague, Kyle Newman, pointed out in our end-of-season “Rockie Way” project: The club’s pitching strategy was once defined by experimentation (Mike Hampton free-agent mega-deal in 2001), then morphed into a sinker-slider focus. But recently, Colorado decided that stockpiling a variety of arms is better than hoarding one specific subset.

“We’re trying to develop more of a contrast approach than five, 10, 12 years ago in this organization, when it was (a lot of) sinker-slider,” farm director Chris Forbes said. “We have to recognize who can pitch at the top of the zone and who has to stay at the corners and the bottom, but ultimately, we’re letting these guys be themselves.”

We all know that (owner) Dick Monfort wants to win. We also know that he is respected by other owners across Major League Baseball. But in one of your articles, some owners said that Monfort is too insular and needs to get outside voices. My question is, does Monfort listen to these owners who know a thing or two about winning? Or does he think his way of keeping everything inside and crossing his fingers and hoping it works is the best way to go? Does he watch what other teams in similar markets do? Does he pick those owners’ brains? Or is he just all about the experience of attending the ballgame and not worried about the product on the field?

— Del, Lamar

Del, I never wrote that other owners believe Monfort is too insular. I did not speak to other owners, but I did talk to agents, rival front-office executives and players. That said, I’m sure that Monfort does speak with all of the owners, not just owners of mid-market teams that face challenges similar to the Rockies.

It’s not correct or fair to say that Monfort “is all about the experience of attending the ballgame and not worried about the product on the field.” He’s very involved in the construction of the team, at least when it comes to major decisions such as signing Kris Bryant to a free-agent deal or trading stars such as Nolan Arenado or Troy Tulowitzki.

“Dick is in charge, it’s his team, and he doesn’t really care what people outside the organization think,” one agent told me for The Post’s  “Rockie Way” project. “Say what you want about Dick, he’s been unbelievably consistent. He’s never wavered. He’s going to follow the same path every time. That’s his team, that’s his baby and those are his guys. He doesn’t like to be criticized but he hasn’t really wavered from his path.”

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Do you think the Rockies attempt to sign any big-name pitchers like Jack Flaherty? If not, who do they go after?

— James Weber, Denver

James, the answer to your first question is no.

Your second question is the question facing the Rockies as they head into the offseason. Colorado’s starting pitchers posted a 5.91 ERA, the worst in the majors and the second-highest in franchise history (6.19 in 1999 is the highest). Right-handers German Marquez and Antonio Senzatela underwent Tommy John surgery this past season, leaving the rotation incredibly thin.

While the Rockies won’t sign any high-profile starting pitchers — Sonny Gray, Blake Snell, Julio Urias, etc. — they might pick up a pitcher or two on a minor-league deal and bring them to spring training. The most productive way to bolster the rotation would be to engineer smart trades for Double-A or Triple-A pitchers ready to debut. That brings us to our next question.

With the need for good major league starting pitching and the inability to sign notable free agents to pitch at Coors Field, what players could be used as trade chips to acquire pitching? Could we see a rumored trade like last offseason’s “Brendan Rodgers to Marlins” come to fruition? Or will it be more of the same bargain bin-hunting and low-risk/low-reward waiver claims etc? Appreciate all the work you do covering the team.

— Skyler Timmins, Alamosa

Skyler, you laid out the scenario well. The Rockies did explore a Rodgers trade with the Marlins last winter and also explored a deal with the Mariners. Neither trade panned out but it showed that general manager Bill Schmidt is willing to explore all avenues to acquire pitching.

Rodgers, who’s never fulfilled his promise because of injuries, might be a trade candidate again this offseason. Don’t get me wrong, the Rockies like Rodgers, but he might be their best trade chip.

But finding a trade partner willing to give up starting pitching — even prospects — is never easy. Ideally, the Rockies would like to pull off a trade like a January 2016 deal in which former GM Jeff Bridich moved outfielder Corey Dickerson and prospect Kevin Padlo to Tampa in return for German Marquez and reliever Jake McGee.

Schmidt said recently that the Rockies are open to all options to improve their pitching. However, whether they would be willing to part with a top prospect such as infielder Adael Amador or outfielder Zac Veen remains to be seen. The Rockies have traditionally been reluctant to part with their best minor leaguers, but now might be the time to make that kind of move.

Schmidt did a good job acquiring Nolan Jones last fall and did a solid job trading away veterans for pitching at the trade deadline. I’m curious to see what he can do this winter.

How realistic is it to think that the Rockies are going to find someone to broadcast their games outside of MLB? Do you think losing that revenue stream will hurt the on-field product or light a fire under them to fix the team?

— Paula, Boulder

Paula, I assume you’re asking whether Altitude TV or another company outside of Major League Baseball will televise Rockies games in 2024. At this point, I don’t know. I’ve checked in with those close to the situation and they don’t know either.

As The Post reported in early September, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain notified its employees that the regional sports network is shutting down. The last day of work for full-time employees at the network was Oct. 6, although the network will continue running through at least the end of the year.

I’ve been told that the Rockies anticipate that a new TV setup will provide the club with revenue similar to what they were receiving through their partnership with AT&T SportsNet. This past season, the Rockies took in about $57 million as part of a multi-year deal with ATTRM that started in 2019.

But there are no guarantees that a new TV deal will net the Rockies that much money going forward. When Diamond Sports Group, which operated under the name Bally Sports, cut ties with the Diamondbacks in July, MLB stepped up to televise games. The league guaranteed that the D-backs would make 80% of what they were owed in 2023. According to ESPN, the average annual value of Arizona’s deal with Diamond was somewhere in the neighborhood of $75 million.

As to your question about “lighting fire to fix the team,” I don’t believe a new TV contract will spark the Rockies to change their team-building blueprint.

Hi Patrick, really enjoyed all the Rockie Way stuff y’all did. A couple of questions for you after a long season.

Will Colorado really be an organization to lose 100-plus games and not fire anyone? And why did they sign Charlie Blackmon for another year? I get a veteran presence, but isn’t that what Kris “$182 million man” Bryant is for?

— Rip, Aurora

Rip, there’s a lot of chew on here. Let’s take it point-by-point:

• I don’t anticipate that the Rockies will fire any high-profile members of the front office and I’m sure manager Bud Black is coming back. But it would not surprise me to see some changes made on the coaching staff.

Although the Rockies didn’t anticipate they would lose 103 games, they knew it was a rebuilding year, even if they didn’t say so publically.

• Blackmon was signed for a few reasons. First, he’s still a good hitter, especially on this team, even though he now lacks power. I was surprised, however, that the Rockies gave Blackmon $13 million. I get that it’s about respect for a franchise icon, but I believe $13 million is too much for a 37-year-old designated hitter and part-time right fielder. Next season, he’ll have the third-highest salary on the team, behind Bryant ($28 million) and lefty Kyle Freeland ($15 million).

• Make no mistake, Blackmon is an important part of the clubhouse and well-respected, although younger players such as Nolan Jones are changing the clubhouse dynamic. Nevertheless, Blackmon’s leadership role is real.

• When the Rockies signed Bryant to his seven-year mega-deal, they hoped he would become a leader. It’s been hard for Bryant to fill that role because he’s missed so much playing time with injuries, but Bryant has made an effort to be a mentor to a number of players, including Jones.

The Rockies need pitching, not Charlie Blackmon on a one-year contract for $13 million. Is this what you would call the Rockie Way?

— Brandon, Denver

Brandon, the $13 million the Rockies spent on Blackmon would not have fixed their starting pitching woes, but it could have been money spent on a reliever or some position players. As to your reference to the “Rockie Way,” I had people within the baseball industry tell me that the Rockies’ “sentimentality” sometimes precludes smart business decisions. Certainly, some of that was at play with Blackmon, especially when you consider that Blackmon remains the Rockies’ most popular player.

Why in the name of all things holy has Rockies management continued hiring Dud Black when he clearly is not of manager quality? Worse, he has mishandled every pitcher we’ve had — an area that was supposed to be his specialty. He may be a nice guy, but he’s a proven abysmal manager, demonstrated yet again in this 100-loss embarrassment of a season.

— Bill Floor, Centennial

Bill, first of all, to refer to a class act like Bud Black as “Dud Black,” is pretty juvenile, don’t you think?

It’s fair to question why the Rockies should keep Black after five consecutive losing campaigns, including this year’s 103-loss season. Perhaps it is time for the Rockies to make a change.

But to say that Black “mishandled every pitcher,” is ridiculous. He did a masterful job in 2017-18. I’ve talked with a number of players, including many of the pitchers, and no one has ever taken a shot at the manager. Black’s not perfect, but he hasn’t lost the team. And given all of the injuries and the club’s decision to go with a youth movement for the last two months of the season, no other manager would have produced a substantially better record this season.

I’ve seen plenty of talk online that with the good 2023 performances by some young position players the Rockies could potentially be competitive in 2025 — if they can get some decent pitching. That’s a big if. How optimistic should I be that that’s possible?

— Nick, Denver

Nick, if the Rockies can acquire some pitching, they can be a .500 team in 2025 and possibly a playoff team by 2026. But, as you said, that’s a big if. Colorado’s current pitching stable lacks both proven talent and quality depth.

However, both the Orioles and Diamondbacks made the playoffs just two years after losing 110 games, so it can be done.

Patrick, back in January you wrote an article quoting Rockies owner Dick Monfort’s outlook for the upcoming season, “I think we can play .500 ball.” Was his wishful thinking just a year too soon? It will require 20-plus more wins for the Rockies in 2024 and I think the roster will have the talented position players to do it. But what about the starting rotation and a proven closer?

— Dom, Longmont

Dom, I would be shocked if the Rockies can play .500 baseball in 2024. They just have too many holes to fill and their young players still face growing pains.

I’m not sure why Monfort said what he said because many in the organization knew that 2023 was going to be a tough year, even before all of the injuries.

Patrick, one of the things that perplexed me entering this season was that we decided to get rid of so much speed in our lineup entering the year. Given how much more abundant stolen bases were this season with the pitch clock, do you think that’s a priority for this team in the offseason?

— Roger, Lakewood

Roger, I’m not sure what players you’re referring to because the Rockies were slow as molasses last season, finishing with just 45 stolen bases. Led by Brenton Doyle and Nolan Jones, the Rockies stole 76 bases this season, which was quite an improvement but still ranked 28th in the majors.

I do think that the Rockies understand that they need to get faster on the bases. We’ll see if they can do that.

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What is going on with the Rockies hitters and the strikeouts? They already don’t hit for power, but don’t make contact either. I understand having young guys, but other teams do too, and don’t seem to swing and miss at the rate the Rockies do. Wasn’t Hensley Meulens brought in to address this?

— Jason, Tulare, Calif.

Jason, you’re correct, the strikeouts are through the roof, especially on the road. We saw that last weekend at Dodger Stadium, which is a graveyard for Rockies hitters. I received numerous emails and several Rockies Mailbag questions about the topic.

The Rockies struck out 49 times while being swept by the Dodgers in a four-game series. That was the third-most Ks in club history for a four-game series. They walked just twice, their second-fewest in a four-game set. The Rockies’ most strikeouts in a four-game set? Fifty-four, in 2015. The fewest walks? One, in 2020. The site? Dodger Stadium.

This season, the Rockies’ strikeout rate is 25.5%, the third highest in the majors behind the Twins (27%) and the Mariners (26.1%). On the road, the Rockies have fanned 639 times, and only the Twins (655) have more.

And to your point, Colorado had hit 118 home runs entering Tuesday’s play, the seventh-fewest in the majors. The Twins, however, had hit 164, the seventh-most, while the Mariners had hit 142, the 13th-most. In other words, the Rockies aren’t getting much bang for their big swings and misses.

Meulens was brought in to make the team better offensively, but he’s battling a long tradition of road futility. I’m not making excuses for the Rockies but the disparity between hitting at Coors Field vs. on the road is always going to be an issue.  In 2021, Colorado hit .217 on the road, .225 in 2022, and this season the road average is .231.

Playing so many young players is part of the reason for the high strikeout rate. Manager Bud Black calls it “growing pains” or “baptism by fire.” Maybe youth is the main reason for the high Ks, but Colorado’s strikeout rates are alarming and it makes you wonder if some of these “kids” will ever figure it out.

Here are the strikeout rates for some of the Rockies’ young players: Elehuris Montero (40.5%), Brenton Doyle (36.7%), Michael Toglia (35.5%) and Nolan Jones (34.6%). And veteran third baseman Ryan McMahon’s K-rate is 30.7%.

For the record, the league average is 22.6%.

Would the Rockies ever trade Kyle Freeland? I think Kyle could be a great starter for a good team. Would he ever ask for a trade?

— Dorothy Star, Frisco

Dorthy, I have never asked Freeland this question, so this is just my opinion. I know he’s frustrated by the constant losing but I don’t think he would ask for a trade out of his native Colorado. He wants to win here, which is part of the reason why he signed a five-year, $64.5 million contract in April of 2022.

And, truthfully, I’m not sure another team would pick up Freeland’s contract in a trade. Let’s face it, as much as we all admire Freeland’s gutzy presence on the mound, he has a 4.94 ERA with 1.460 WHIP this season.

How hard is it emotionally and mentally for a competitor like Bud Black not to have winning as his No. 1 priority? The last game in Milwaukee was a good example. If (the Rockies) are in the playoff chase, Chris Flexen doesn’t come out for the fifth inning. He was OK through four but gave up the two runs on solid hits. Out of contention and needing to find out what he can do, you have to send him back out in the fifth and let him work his way out of it even after giving up the first home run.

— John Axtell, Chadron, Neb.

John, a couple of points.

One, I’m glad you recognize Black’s competitiveness. A lot of fans don’t see that, or sense that, because of his positive personality in front of the TV cameras.

Two, I’ve asked Black, a number of times, how he’s dealing with all of the losses. He’s frustrated, for sure, but he’s keeping an even keel. He realizes that he can only work with the talent he’s got, and he understands that his role during the second half of the season is to give this roster a test drive and see if he can help develop some young players.

Hi Patrick, I’m looking back at our recent history and it feels like after the 2018 season, our team just crumbled. How different do you think we would be today if we had re-signed DJ LeMahieu, Gerardo Parra and Carlos Gonzalez? I know CarGo’s numbers were falling, but it feels like losing some of those key guys in the clubhouse set in motion the eventual departures of Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story. Hey, if we kept the momentum going for a little longer, anything could’ve happened in that abbreviated 2020 season.

— Mark, Arvada

Mark, I agree with you — sort of.

I definitely believe that the Rockies made a huge mistake by not re-signing LeMahieu. I don’t believe trying to hang on to CarGo or Para would have been wise because both players were fading veterans.

But given the nucleus of that 2018 team, if owner Dick Monfort had given the green light for general manager Jeff Bridich to be aggressive and acquire some high-end talent, the Rockies could have won in 2019-20. Arenado signed his eight-year, $260 million contract in February 2019 but the Rockies did not add any free-agent talent to the team the next offseason.

With that, Colorado’s window to win slammed shut. So here we are, five losing seasons later, with no playoff shot on the horizon.

Patrick, it was great to see the Rockies finally do something at the deadline and I know I’m not the only one wondering why even more wasn’t done for such a mediocre team. Do you have any insight as to why we didn’t move Brent Suter and Elias Diaz, arguably two of the more valuable pieces on the team this year? Also, is it a coincidence that our trades were with the same two teams? And lastly, do teams low-ball the Rockies or do you think our moves were good market return moves? Thank you as always!

— Gideon G., Denver

Gideon, from what I have been told, there were no legitimate offers for either Diaz or Suter. The Rockies did come close to trading outfielder Jurickson Profar.

I don’t think the Rockies were “low-balled” in these trades. Also, it’s not unusual for certain teams to make deals with certain other teams. Relationships between front offices and general managers determine a lot of moves.

In regard to the trades, time will tell if the moves work out for the Angels, Braves or Rockies.

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Hello from the Pacific NW! Lots of decisions to be made soon with Rockies. Have you heard anything regarding German Marquez? It would be a tough end to his Rockies tenure if he’s not re-signed. Is there chatter about a multi-year extension to allow German to rehab with the team next year with an eye to having him at the top of the rotation in ’25 and maybe beyond?

Also, a couple of Kris Bryant questions, if you’ll indulge me. In nearly every interview I’ve seen “KB” do, he says something along the lines that because he was elite early in his career for minimal pay, he deserves every penny of his current contract. That only works if the Cubs are paying him! Does he really not feel any pressure to be on the field and producing at a level befitting his salary? Secondly, do you think the Rockies would pull the trigger on a bad-contract swap (ideally for a starting pitcher)? Or are they committed to KB hitting singles in the handful of games he plays?

— Theron, Eugene, Ore.

Theron, I believe that the Rockies will offer Marquez some sort of deal. There is a club option for $16 million next year, but with Marquez coming back from Tommy John surgery, there is no way Colorado will pick up that option. But could they offer him a two- or three-year deal for decent money? Maybe $10 million a year?

But the bigger question is: Will Marquez want to stay? He’s only 28 and he might want to see if the grass is greener at another ballpark.

As for Bryant, in the interviews I’ve had with him, he’s never come across as “entitled.” However, I do believe that he thinks he’s earned his big contract (seven years, $182 million) based on his baseball resume. That’s fine, but to your point, he certainly hasn’t played like the cornerstone of a franchise, or as the team’s “aircraft carrier,” as general manager Bill Schmidt referred to him.

So far, I haven’t seen much fire or drive from Bryant.

Given Kris Bryant’s excellent performance since joining the Rockies, is this the worst contract in franchise history? Monfort must think we’re all stupid to try to convince us to believe he couldn’t pay Nolan Arenado, a likely HOF player in my book, but magically had a similarly-sized Brinks truck ready for Bryant.

— James Williams, Lakewood

James, you have your facts wrong. Monfort never said he couldn’t pay Arenado. If you recall, the Rockies signed Arenado to an eight-year, $255 million extension. It was Arenado who forced his way out of Colorado, essentially demanding to be traded. I don’t blame him. In the three years leading up to the Feb. 1, 2021 trade, Colorado signed one major league free agent: an over-the-hill Daniel Murphy. Arenado wanted out because he saw the direction the franchise was headed.

Monfort gave Bryant big money because Monfort wanted a marquee position player to replace Arenado. And make no mistake, it was Monfort who was the driving force behind bringing Bryant to Colorado.

What are the expectations for the second half of the year and do you expect the Rockies to trade away some veterans?

— Tyler, Kearney, Neb.

Tyler, I do think the Rockies will make some trades. I’m not alone on that. Manager Bud Black told MLB Network Radio on Tuesday that he thinks the Rockies will be more active than in the past.

As Schmidt told me earlier this month, he’s been contracted by teams, mostly regarding relievers. I’ve been told that lefty Brent Suter has garnered the most interest, but there is trade interest in right-hander Pierce Johnson and lefty Brad Hand as well.

The Rockies also need to move veteran outfielders Jurickson Profar and Randal Grichuk, not just to acquire pitching prospects but to provide more playing time to rookies Nolan Jones and Brenton Doyle. First baseman C.J. Cron could be traded, too, opening the door for Michael Toglia and Elehuris Montero.

The caveat to all trades, of course, is finding a dance partner and getting a decent return.

Colorado’s best trade chip is All-Star catcher Elias Diaz, who was named All-Star Game MVP for his go-ahead, two-run homer. A smart baseball guy who keeps a close eye on the Rockies told me he thinks the Rockies should pair Suter and Diaz in a package for high-end pitching prospects.

However, when I asked a big-league baseball executive if he thought the Rockies would trade Diaz, he said no.

“When Diaz won the MVP, I think that convinced (owner) Dick Monfort to hold onto him,” he said.

If true, that’s the kind of short-sighted thinking that has hurt Colorado so often in the past.

As for expectations, I would hope the Rockies would go for an all-out youth movement because, with the poor starting pitching they have, a 100-loss season looks likely. And really, what’s the difference between 96 losses and 103?

Over the past 10 years, the Rockies seem to be at the very low end of buyers/sellers at the deadline. I view this as one of the top reasons for their lack of long-term success. Are there any reasons why they stand pat so often?

— Kent F., Greeley

Kent, by nature, the Rockies, led by Monfort, are one of the most conservative franchises in the majors. They love to hold on to what they have.

Both Schmidt and manager Bud Black insist that the Rockies did not move shortstop Trevor Story and pitcher Jon Gray in at the deadline in 2021 because they didn’t get legitimate offers in return. But I have also been told by numerous people in the industry that Monfort wanted to hold on to Story for the rest of the season in 2021, even though it was clear Story was never going to re-sign with Colorado. That thinking did not sit well with Story.

Will Bud Black survive this season? And do you expect Vinny Castilla to take over for Black in 2023? If Buddy makes it through the season, will we have a new manager, bench coach, hitting coach and pitching coach come spring training 2024?

— Daniel Miller, Denver

Daniel, yes, Black will survive this season. He has an excellent working relationship with Schmidt and Monfort, and Black says he likes the teaching aspect of working with young players. Like everybody else, I love Castilla, but I don’t see him managing the Rockies.

As for dumping most of Black’s staff, it’s way too early to make that call.

Hi Patrick, glad you escaped the elevator at Coors Field. Do any Rockies players store their bats in a humidor when they are in Denver? If it makes a difference with baseballs, perhaps it does with wooden bats as well.

— Andy Reid, Denver

Hey Andy, that’s an interesting question. I’m sure the players don’t want their bats to become dry and brittle, but as far as I know, players don’t store their bats in a humidor. I do know that some players store their bats in special cases. I’m going to ask around about this and I’ll get back to you.

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What’s especially frustrating for Rockies fans is that at least five teams in the majors were as bad or worse than Colorado just two years ago, but are now enjoying success. Most notable are playoff contenders Baltimore and Arizona, both with miserable 52-110 records in 2021. Two years from now in 2025, what’s there to believe that the Rockies can turn things around and become a winner?

— Dom, Longmont

Dom, I was curious to see which teams were worse than the Rockies in 2021. The Rockies finished 74-87 and there were actually nine teams worse: Orioles (52-110), D-backs (52-110), Rangers (60-102), Pirates (61-101), Nationals (65-97), Marlins (67-95), Cubs (71-91), Twins (73-90) and Royals (74-88).

As you can see, the Rangers (now leading the AL West) have also made a dramatic turnaround. They did it by spending money, acquiring free agents and making smart trades. The D-backs and Orioles have done it mainly by drafting and developing players.

But you also have to keep in mind that the Orioles were an embarrassing team from 2018-2021, losing 115 games in ’18, 108 in ’19, and 110 in ’21. The Rockies have never been that bad. So while Orioles fans may be happy right now, they suffered for years.

As to your main question, by 2025 the Rockies could have a talented lineup, featuring Ryan McMahon at third, Ezequiel Tovar at short and Brendan Rodgers at second. The outfield will likely include Kris Bryant, Zac Veen, Nolan Jones and Brenton Doyle.

Those position players could open a window of playoff opportunity for the Rockies, but the problem is that Colorado lacks quality starters both in the majors and minors. General manager Bill Schmidt and manager Bud Black are acutely aware of the dilemma. I’ll be curious if the front office can find a solution.

Hi Patrick — great coverage as always (especially given this horrific season). A few questions.

First, I assume (owner) Dick Monfort wants to win, but he seems really obtuse and incompetent about whom he hires and OK’s to sign to the ballclub. What’s his reputation around the league? A buffoon? Do players and agents think we’re a joke?

Second, I’ve casually looked at attendance this season, how does it compare to past seasons? Looks like 50-60% roughly which isn’t terrible relative to how bad they are. Since we have many transplants here that probably go to Coors Field to watch their “home” team, what impetus does Monfort have to look at himself in the mirror, and make some drastic changes with day-to-day operations to make the Rockies competitive — or at least not awful? It seems like the same old, same old forever now, aside from a few lucky years.

And where else would you recommend watching live baseball locally to get a fix? Are there single-A teams nearby? I won’t pay for a ticket anymore given my dissatisfaction with the ownership.

— Joe, Denver

Joe, you’ve certainly mixed a lot of opinions into your questions, but hey, that’s what being a fan is all about.

Let’s take them one at a time.

In regard to Monfort, no, the league does not think he’s a buffoon or a joke. He’s actually very tight with Commissioner Rob Manfred. Some of Monfort’s fellow owners admire how he makes money in Colorado and they marvel at the crowds at Coors Field.

However, there is a sense among other front offices that the Rockies are too insular of an organization and that Monfort needs to step back and bring in some executives from the outside. The decision to sign Kris Bryant to a seven-year, $182 million deal was Monfort’s and right now it looks like a terrible move.

I should add, however, that the Rockies have a reputation for treating their players in a first-class manner.

In regard to the Rockies’ attendance, it started out slowly but the team has been drawing very well lately. That’s due in large part, not to the Rockies’ play, obviously, but to visiting teams such as the Mets, Dodgers, Angels (with Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani), and fireworks nights.

The Rockies currently rank 13th in the majors, averaging 30,882 per game. Not too long ago, they were averaging about 27,000, down about 5,000 from last season.

Finally, I would suggest you go north to watch the Northern Colorado Owlz in Windsor at Future Legends Field. The Owlz play in the independent Pioneer League.

Don’t you think it’s blatantly obvious that unless Monfort sells the team, the Rockies are doomed to be not even mediocre, just plain terrible? I think it’s partly the fans’ own fault for continuing to attend.

— Kelly, Denver

Kelly, I don’t the Rockies are doomed to failure if Monfort continues to own the team. He’s willing to spend money. The Rockies currently rank 15th in the majors with a total payroll of $179.4 million, according to Spotrac. Anyway, it’s a moot point because Monfort’s two sons, Walker and Sterling, are next in line to own the team.

What I will say is that the Rockies need to bring in a number of outside voices to change the direction of the team.

I don’t blame the fans at all. If people want to spend money to watch baseball, drink beer and chow down on hot dogs, who am I to discourage them? For the good of the city and lower downtown, I think it’s good that fans still go to Coors Field.

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Hey Patrick, what are your thoughts on Nolan Jones so far? He’s been one of the few bright spots this year. He’s got power, speed and a heckuva arm.

— Mark, Arvada

Mark, I’ve also been impressed by Jones.

Based on discussions with general manager Bill Schmidt and manager Bud Black, I wasn’t sure if Jones’s skills would transfer from Triple-A Albuquerque to the majors this quickly. There were questions about his defense in the outfield and at first base. But so far, so good.

Jones is incredibly athletic and it’s a pleasure to watch him play. He’s provided a needed spark for a struggling team.

Here are some particulars of what he’s done so far (through Monday’s game at Cincinnati):

• Reached base safely in a career-long 13 games, tied for the longest active streak in the National League.

• Since his recall from Triple-A on May 26, slashed .321/.404/.551 with six doubles, four home runs and 12 RBIs, with four stolen bases.

• Hit a walk-off homer on June 11 vs. San Diego, the first walk-off of his career, and the Rockies’ first walk-off homer since Elias Diaz on Sept. 9, 2022.

• His walk-off homer flew 472 feet, the longest walk-off home run in baseball in the Statcast Era (since 2015). He also hit a 483-foot home run on June 7, the second-longest home run in the majors this season. He’s the only player in the majors with two of the 10 longest home runs this season.

Any word on how Ryan Rolison or Riley Pint are looking in the minors?

— Mike, Denver

Mike, Rolison continues his rehab from shoulder surgery last summer. It’s a slow process and even when Rolison made his four starts earlier this season at Triple-A (0-1, 9.00 ERA), he was on a limited pitch count. Now he’s back on the injured list getting treatment. The Rockies are hopeful he can progress this summer but he’s a long way off from making his big-league debut. Shoulder injuries are often more difficult to fix than elbows that are repaired via Tommy John surgery. Rolison’s career is definitely in limbo.

Pint made his Rockies debut earlier this season, but he pitched just one-third of an inning. At Triple-A Albuquerque, he’s pitched in 22 games as a reliever, going 1-3 with a 6.07 ERA and 1.820 WHIP. He might get another chance to prove himself against major league hitters but there is certainly no guarantee that’s going to happen. However, farm director Chris Forbes told me that Pint is making progress.

Do you still think Zac Veen will make his major league debut this year? His .209/.304/.308 slash line at Double-A Hartford isn’t inspiring much hope in my book. I’m more curious about this Hunter Goodman kid. He’s clobbered 18 homers in Double-A so far.

— Peter S., Fort Collins

Peter, it’s looking doubtful that either one of those Yard Goats players will make their debut this season. I was told during spring training that Veen had a legitimate chance to get called up this season, possibly before the All-Star break, but right now he will probably spend most of the year in Hartford.

Veen, just 21, has struggled, hitting just two home runs in 46 games (201 plate appearances). But those who’ve watched him play on a daily basis say he’s making progress, especially as a corner outfielder. Veen certainly flashed promise during spring training. In 20 Cactus League games, he slashed .271/.314/.375 with one home run, two doubles and eight stolen bases. But he’s had a rough go of it in his first full season at Double-A.

He’s been dealing with a left wrist injury that continues to flare up from time to time. From what I’ve been told, his attitude and work ethic remain solid, but he’s clearly still a work in progress. Also, remember that the average age in the tough Eastern League is 23 1/2, so Veen is still something of a kid.

When Veen, along with catching prospect Drew Romo, was sent down from big-league camp, manager Bud Black said: “Are they equipped to play 30, 40, 60, 100 (major league) games? I don’t know. Not right now. That’s why they are in the minors.”

Goodman has shown off his power, but he’s only slashing .231/.336/.537 and there are other young players who are performing better right now.

The Nuggets just won their first title. The Avs are perennial contenders. The Broncos look to be on an upswing. What are we looking forward to with the Rockies outside of one of our vaunted prospects coming up and possibly showing some bright moments? I mean, what’s a win for the Rox? Not finishing last in the National League? This team is frustrating.

— Kevin K., Cheyenne, Wyo.

Kevin, yes, the Rockies are frustrating.

Any kind of “win” for the Rockies this season won’t be seen in the won-loss record. Given the state of their starting pitching, the first 100-loss season in franchise history is a possibility and last place in the NL West is a probability.

So a win for the club would be continued growth from young players such as shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, center fielder Brenton Doyle and Nolan Jones, some smart trades to acquire pitching prospects, and a solid draft.

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I read recently in a national writer’s notes column that the Rockies are supposedly talking to Dayton Moore, the longtime Royals front office executive, about a role with the team. Do you see something like that happening, whether with Moore or someone else? If so, what role would you guess that person would have? Adviser, or maybe president of baseball operations?

— Dave, Fort Collins

Dave, I checked out the column you are referring to by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman is well-connected, especially to super agent Scott Boras. So I imagine he didn’t write his tidbit without some degree of validity behind it.

However, I’m skeptical. Moore did not return my text, and when I asked Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt if the club is interested in bringing Moore into the front office, Schmidt said, “Not that I’m aware of.”

Here is what Heyman wrote:

“Word is that the Rockies could be interested in hiring former Royals president Dayton Moore in a high-ranking role, but probably not as general manager because ownership is believed supportive of Bill Schmidt. (For the record, Moore said he hadn’t heard that. He has now though.)

“Moore, a rare small-market GM to win a World Series (in 2015 with the Royals), was shockingly let go by new Royals owner John Sherman. (It’s believed Moore’s scouting background wasn’t what Sherman wanted. Like a lot of owners, he seeks even more analytics.)”

You have to keep in mind that those in the baseball industry often use national writers to test the waters or get the word out for some agents.

If Moore does end up in Colorado, I could see him as a fit as president of baseball operations. I’ve long said that the Rockies need outside voices and perspectives. I’ve always thought he was a sharp baseball man.

Patrick, this year it seems like the Rockies are seeing more movement than usual between their minor league and MLB rosters. How can minor league batters effectively prepare for major league pitchers when they are almost exclusively facing minor league pitchers?

Also, I am hoping you have insight into how Bud Black makes decisions regarding when to take out a struggling pitcher. We see Bud leave in pitchers who give up four-plus runs in an inning, whereas other managers, like Davey Roberts, take out a pitcher when he sees a pitcher struggling before the damaging runs are scored. Is it all about not wanting to wear out the bullpen at the expense of losing a game?

— Judy, Denver

Judy, I’m not sure I quite understand your first question. I believe your view is that young players should stay up longer with the big-league club rather than getting sent back down to Triple-A.

But here’s the deal. The Rockies are still trying to win games, so they aren’t going to simply play only their youngsters. It can be argued that the Rockies should just “tank” and deal with a 100-loss season. But the Rockies aren’t going to do that.

Also, some young players benefit from taking their lumps in the majors. They have the mindset and confidence to deal with failure. Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and center fielder Brenton Doyle fit that mold. Others, such as first baseman Michael Toglia, were struggling so much, and striking out so often, that keeping them in the majors was counterproductive. It made sense to send Toglia down. It really is on a case-by-case basis.

Now, if the Rockies move some veterans at the trade deadline — as they should — we’re going to see more young players in the daily lineup.

As for your second question, Roberts has a more talented corps of pitchers than Black, and the Dodgers have a pitcher-friendly ballpark. Black doesn’t have that luxury. He’s got a ramshackle rotation and has to milk every inning he can from his starters. If he didn’t, the bullpen would be completely shot by the All-Star break. As I wrote recently, history tells us that too many innings early in the season by relievers always come back to bite the Rockies.

And consider this: Entering Tuesday night’s game, the Rockies had used 26 pitchers this season, tied for the third-most in baseball with the Angels and Reds, and behind the A’s (29) and Rays (30). The Rockies had already used 11 starting pitchers, tied for the third-most in the majors. The Rockies had used 22 total starting pitchers from 2017-22, in Black’s first six years as manager, the fewest starters in the majors.

Greetings. Great googly moogly, with the apparent collapse of RSNs (Regional Sports Networks) around the country, the future of viewing your hometown team looks in jeopardy. With Altitude and Comcast still at odds showing championship teams, what platform would show the Rockies, and at what cost for a sub-.500 team? What does this do to the value of the Rockies franchise, and other small-market teams? Cheers.

— Robert Emmerling, Limon

Hey Robert, I wrote about this in a previous mailbag.  Essentially, things should remain status quo for the time being. The Rockies will remain on AT&T SportsNet for the rest of the season. Then we will see a new setup for 2024, under the Major League Baseball umbrella. That setup might include both streaming and a local TV outlet. Emphasis on might.

Some background: In February, Warner Brothers Discovery announced it would cut off its rights payments to the Rockies, Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates, whose games it airs through AT&T SportsNet. The deadline was supposed to be March 31, but games are still being televised.

However, according to a report last month in the Sports Business Journal, a deal now being discussed would have WBD continue to pay its rights fees and produce/distribute games for the entire 2023 season. At the end of the season, WBD would walk away, and the rights would revert back to the teams.

In Colorado and Pittsburgh, that means that Major League Baseball will be in charge of producing and distributing games next season. MLB has been constructing an in-house, local sports division that will produce and distribute games locally as those rights return to the teams.

I don’t yet know how all of this will affect the Rockies’ revenue, but it’s a huge concern, for sure.

Hi Patrick, has there ever been a study on the Rockies’ hitting for the first half of a road trip vs. the second half of a road trip? Especially after an extended homestand?

If not, I’ve got a theory. Hear me out because I can’t explain this in 50 words or less: We all know at altitude the air is thinner, i.e. less dense. Thus it would stand to reason that breaking balls thrown by a pitcher would tend to break less. And during a homestand at Coors the Rockies batters would get accustomed to this minimal break.

Now they go on the road to ballparks that are always at lower elevations. The air is obviously more dense and thus breaking balls will normally break more. Now the Rox batters have to adjust to the maximum break. And it may take them several games to do so.

If my theory holds true the Rockies’ batting average, OPS, or whatever hitting metric you want to use, would tend to be lower in the first games of a road trip vs the latter games. Your thoughts.

— Dewy, LoDo

Dewy, you’re referring to the dreaded “Coors Field hangover.” It’s real, and yes, the first couple of games of a road trip tend to produce a tepid offense. Several studies, including one by FanGraphs, have documented the team’s struggles on offense when they come from a successful home series where they score a bunch of runs and then go ice cold on the road.

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence, too. Several Rockies players, most notably Charlie Blackmon and former Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado, have told me that there is a huge adjustment from hitting in Denver and then going to Los Angeles or San Francisco.

What can (should!) the Rockies learn from the Nuggets’ recent success?

— Mark Newton, Denver

Mark, that’s a huge question with many layers of answers. I don’t have the time to delve into the topic but it boils down to some very good draft choices, beginning with second-rounder Nikola Jokic and first-rounder Jamal Murray. Some savvy trades, most especially Aaron Gordon. And also, Denver found a coach, in Mike Malone, who had a hand in shaping the roster to fit his vision of how the team would play.

Also, the Nuggets are built to take advantage of playing at a mile-high altitude. The Rockies have never found a formula for consistent success at altitude. Of course, building a winning baseball team is very different from building a winning basketball team.

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Where do you see Charlie Blackmon next year?

— Mark Newton, Grand Junction

Mark, I honestly don’t know but don’t think he’ll be playing for the Rockies.

As I’m sure you’re aware, Blackmon is in the final year of his six-year, $108 million contract. If he was having a great year, I could see Colorado trading him to a contending team this summer, as long as Blackmon was open to it. But right now, Blackmon is not producing at a high enough level to draw much trade interest.

Blackmon has not said that he’s thinking about retirement, but he’ll turn 37 on July 1, and he and his wife, Ashley, have two young kids, so retirement is certainly a possibility.

When I asked Blackmon in January if this was his final season, he said: “I think about everything, but I don’t really want to go there and think about that until I have to. I’m really not ready to comment on that. I still really love the game and I think I can still be productive, for sure.”

Blackmon entered Tuesday night’s game against the Marlins hitting .276 with three home runs. He’s been the Rockies’ primary designated hitter.

Patrick, I have not heard any update on the fate of AT&T SportsNet, or Altitude Sports. I am curious as to what is going on.

Personally, I was glad to see the upheaval approaching as I hate the current setup.  I find it hard to “brainwash” my grandchildren on loving the local franchises as I do when they can’t see any of the regular season games at their cord-cutter households.  I too am about to cut the cord and go with YouTube TV which will take away my ability to see the Rockies. 

Any hope for me to cut the cord and see the Rockies during this season?

— Don, Highlands Ranch

Don, the short answer is no.

The Rockies will remain on AT&T SportsNet for the rest of the season. Then we will see a new setup for 2024, one that might include both streaming and a local TV outlet.

In February, Warner Brothers Discovery announced it would cut off its rights payments to the Rockies, Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates, whose games it airs through AT&T SportsNet. The deadline was supposed to be March 31, but games are still being televised.

However, according to a report last month in the Sports Business Journal, a deal now being discussed would have WBD continue to pay its rights fees and produce/distribute games for the entire 2023 season. At the end of the season, WBD would walk away, and the rights would revert back to the teams.

In Colorado and Pittsburgh, that means that Major League Baseball will be in charge of producing and distributing games next season. MLB has been constructing an in-house, local sports division that will produce and distribute games locally as those rights return to the teams.

What is the ETA and role you see for Nolan Jones this year?

— Simmy, Springfield, N.J.

Simmy, I’ve been getting this question a lot because Jones, acquired from Cleveland in a trade, is killing it at Triple-A Albuquerque. He’s slashing .336/.459/.664, good for a 1.222 OPS. He has nine home runs and 32 RBIs in 37 games.

However, barring injuries on the big-league roster, his promotion to the Rockies is not imminent. I’ve been told that he still has a lot of work to do on his defense at first and third base. While his outfield defense is solid and he’s got a good arm, there is not any room for him in the outfield right now.

Also, keep in mind that numbers are inflated for Isotopes players because the ball really flies in the Pacific Coast League. So statistics are deceiving, and the organization is rightfully skeptical about flashy numbers coming out of Albuquerque. Jones will likely get called up this season, but I don’t know when.

Patrick, do you think we’ll be able to keep Jurickson Profar after this season? He’s starting to look like that stud prospect people thought he was going to be a decade ago. In his last 12 games, he’s slashing .360/.418/.620. Profar, Brenton Doyle and Kris Bryant aren’t a terrible outfield. What do you think?

— Mark, Arvada

Mark, you’re correct that Profar is flashing his talent. He was an integral part of Colorado’s win over Miami Monday night.

But here’s the thing. Profar was seeking a bigger, longer contract than the one-year, $7.75 million deal (with $1 million in incentives) he received from the Rockies late in spring training. He signed with Colorado because he couldn’t land the longer deal he wanted. So think of this as a prove-it season for Profar.

The 30-year-old outfielder opted out of the final year of his three-year, $21 million contract with the Padres, so I don’t see him sticking around Colorado after this season. In fact, he could be on the trade block come July. The same could be true of outfielder Randal Grichuk, who’s also in the final year of his contract.

Next season, the Rockies would love to have a starting outfield of No. 1 prospect Zac Veen in left, Doyle in center and Bryant in right, but it remains to be seen if Veen can match that timeline. Also, Sean Bouchard, currently on the injured list, will be returning, perhaps in the second half of this season.

Ryan McMahon is not progressing, but regressing so far in 2023. Where’s the concern level at?

— James, Denver

James, I would say the concern level is high. McMahon, who in March 2022 signed a six-year, $70 million contract, is clearly frustrated right now. He’s fighting himself at the plate and not quite sure what approach to take. He’s healthy and he still has good bat speed and natural power, but he’s a tick late on a lot of pitches, which is part of the reason why he’s fouling off so many pitches and why hasn’t been consistently pulling the ball with power.

One scout I talked to recently said McMahon’s swing is too long and a bit loopy. The scout said McMahon needs a more compact swing. Right now, McMahon is struggling to make adjustments.

Do you see any implications from the bench-clearing scuffle against the Phillies, mainly from Bryce Harper’s “losing organization” comments?

— Andrew Christenberry, Nashville

By “implications” I assume you mean retaliation. I don’t see that happening, especially since the two teams won’t play each other again this season. I suppose Rockies reliever Jake Bird might be a bit more subdued with his gestures on the mound, but I think the incident is over.

For those who are unaware, on May 14 at Coors Field, Bird yelled and clapped his glove in the direction of the Phillies dugout after Bird cut down the Phillies in the top of the seventh. Harper went ballistic, charging out of the visiting dugout and screaming at Bird. According to the Twittersphere, Harper yelled “You’re a loser ‘blanking’ organization. Every single one of you! ”

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