You’d think a team coming off a 43-119 season would be playing in front of empty seats and crickets. Honestly, any other city would have revolted by now. But the Major League Baseball Colorado Rockies are a weird, beautiful anomaly in the sports world.
Even after tying for the third-most losses in modern baseball history last year, people still flock to 20th and Blake. Why? Because Coors Field is basically a massive outdoor bar with a baseball game happening in the background. But as we head into 2026, the "party at the park" vibe is finally clashing with a fanbase that’s tired of being the league's punching bag.
There is a shift happening. It’s slow, like molasses in a Denver winter, but it's there.
The 119-Loss Hangover and the DePodesta Era
Let's not sugarcoat it: 2025 was a disaster of biblical proportions. The Rockies gave up over 1,000 runs. Their run differential was a staggering -424, which is the kind of stat that makes you want to look away but you just can't. They set a record for the most losses before the All-Star break. It was a "historical atrocity," as some analysts put it.
But then, something actually happened. The Monforts—owners who have long been criticized for a "status quo" approach—hired Paul DePodesta as the President of Baseball Operations. Yes, the "Moneyball" guy.
It's a massive deal because the Rockies have historically been an insular organization. They liked hiring "Rockies people." Bringing in an outsider with a data-driven pedigree is basically the front office equivalent of a total organ transplant. DePodesta isn't here to just "compete"; he’s here to fix a broken developmental system.
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Why the Pitching Is Always the Problem
Everyone talks about the "Coors Effect." The thin air makes breaking balls hang and outfielders' legs turn to lead. But the real issue hasn't just been the altitude; it’s been the lack of a plan. For years, the team just tried to find guys who threw strikes and hoped for the best.
Now, the focus has shifted toward high-velocity relievers. The 2026 bullpen is actually... young and exciting? It’s weird to say. Aside from guys like Brennan Bernardino, most of these arms are making league minimum and throwing absolute gas. Jimmy Herget was a legitimate bright spot last year with a 2.48 ERA over 83 innings. If you can do that at 5,280 feet, you’re basically a wizard.
The Kids Are (Mostly) Alright
If you're looking for a reason to actually care about the Major League Baseball Colorado Rockies on the field this year, look at the lineup. The Charlie Blackmon era is over. The "old guard" has moved on.
We are firmly in the era of Ezequiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle.
- Brenton Doyle: He’s arguably the best defensive center fielder in the game. Watching him track down balls in the massive gaps at Coors is worth the price of admission alone.
- Hunter Goodman: He slugged 31 homers last year. Sure, he strikes out a ton, but he’s the kind of raw power threat that fits perfectly in this park.
- Jordan Beck: A legit 20/20 threat who actually showed he could handle MLB pitching in spurts last season.
Then there's the prospect everyone is whispering about: Ethan Holliday. The brother of Jackson and son of Matt. He was the 4th overall pick in 2025, and while he’s still a teenager in the minors, his presence in the system gives the fans something they haven’t had in a long time: legitimate superstar hope.
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The Charlie Condon Factor
We also have to talk about Charlie Condon. The 2024 first-rounder is the "Chosen One" for many fans. He’s a massive human being with light-tower power. Most scouts expect him to be a fixture in the middle of the order by the end of this season. If he and Goodman start hitting back-to-back, the scoreboard operators at Coors are going to need a raise.
Coors Field: More Than Just a Ballpark
The team is even replacing the grass for the first time since 2019. It’s a "scheduled maintenance" thing, but it feels symbolic. Out with the old, trampled, 119-loss turf; in with the fresh Kentucky Bluegrass.
There’s also the massive "West Lot" development. The Rockies aren't just a baseball team anymore; they’re a real estate empire. This new mixed-use area at 19th and Wazee is going to have hotels, shops, and a Hall of Fame. It’s designed to bridge the gap between LoDo and the stadium.
Critics say this is why the team stays bad—because they make so much money off the "experience" that the winning doesn't matter. But you can't deny that the atmosphere in Denver is top-tier. Even when they’re 30 games out of first, 35,000 people show up on a Friday night because, well, it’s a great place to be.
What to Actually Expect in 2026
Look, they aren't winning the World Series. They probably aren't even finishing .500. The NL West is a meat grinder with the Dodgers and Padres spending like there’s no tomorrow.
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But a "successful" 2026 for the Major League Baseball Colorado Rockies isn't about the standings. It’s about not losing 100 games. It’s about Chase Dollander showing he can be a frontline starter after a rocky rookie year. It’s about the DePodesta philosophy trickling down to the minor league affiliates like the Albuquerque Isotopes and Hartford Yard Goats.
Basically, if they can play "boring" baseball—meaning they aren't setting records for futility every week—that’s a win.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
- Watch the Bullpen: If you’re into the "unders" or live betting, keep an eye on the young high-velocity arms. The "Rockies bullpen blows it" trope might finally be fading.
- Fantasy Targets: Hunter Goodman and Jordan Beck are huge sleepers in dynasty leagues. The Coors boost is real, and their roles are secure.
- The Attendance Trap: Don't expect ticket prices to drop just because they lost 119 games. Coors Field remains a top-15 draw regardless of the product on the field.
The 2026 season is about identity. Are the Rockies just a scenic backdrop for a beer garden, or are they a professional baseball team again? With new leadership and a crop of legitimate power hitters, we might finally start seeing the latter.
Keep a close eye on the international signing Richard De Los Santos. The club just dropped a $1 million bonus on him. He's only 17, but he represents the "build from within" strategy that DePodesta is banking on to save the franchise. If you want to track the progress of the rebuild, follow the strikeout rates of the young guys—that's the metric the front office is obsessed with fixing right now.