This is a community service for all of Razzball nation (/entire post in a Sam Elliot’s voice). A yearly reminder of just how much of a hitter’s park Coors Field really is, and when in doubt, to choose a COORpSe (AKA, in times of draft or waiver wire indecision, grab a Rockies player). If you play daily leagues, you need to know whose hitting at Coors on the home and visiting team. I’ll leave out the obvious COORpSe selections with limbs falling off like Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzales, and focus on the less obvious ones. It goes without saying fantasy baseballers (Grey’s mom’s word) here know the park factor and the advantage of hitting in the thin air and massive outfield in Colorado, but it may still be surprising to see the home/away splits next to each other.
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Exhibit A: Coors Extends Life
Justin Morneau hadn’t hit over .300 since 2010, having decent pop left in the bat, Colorado brought the long time Twin new life, and it was just what Morneau needed. The 1B slugged .496 in the thin air and while his HR total didn’t increase, he had his best SLG and OPS since 2010. Morneau wasn’t quite dead, but he’s enjoying a stat revival:
Justin Morneau – 62/17/82/.319 (2014)
*One note on Morneau is he doesn’t hit lefties exceptionally well, with Rosario learning the position, I could see Hundley at catcher as a defensive upgrade and Rosario at first who mashes lefties.
Coors home splits shaded*
| Name | Team | G | AB | PA | H | HR | R | RBI | BB | SB | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DJ LeMahieu | Rockies | 168 | 583 | 634 | 181 | 4 | 80 | 58 | 39 | 23 | 0.310 |
| DJ LeMahieu | Rockies | 161 | 544 | 585 | 132 | 5 | 44 | 34 | 26 | 6 | 0.243 |
This is noteworthy not because of the player’s production, but look at the contrast between home and away for glovechild DJ LeMahieu. Don’t draft DJ unless you’re in a defensive metrics league, but rather look at how his production on the road and how at home contrast. It translates to all the hitters in Colorado. More hits, more SB, Runs, RBI, etc. How about the mound of strikeouts known as Drew Stubbs? He was run out of CIN and CLE, but all the sudden he’s in a perfect platoony tune with Corey Dickerson. Stubbs is a different player at Coors and roster worthy in a deep leagues because of the extra production afforded at home:
Coors home splits shaded*
| Name | Team | G | AB | PA | H | HR | R | RBI | BB | SB | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drew Stubbs | Rockies | 68 | 208 | 225 | 74 | 12 | 46 | 33 | 13 | 0 | 0.356 |
| Drew Stubbs | Rockies | 61 | 180 | 199 | 38 | 3 | 21 | 10 | 17 | 1 | 0.211 |
Exhibit B: Coors Makes At-Home All Stars
These hitters are good hitters on their own merits, but Coors makes them into at-home All Stars. The splits between Home and Away are striking. In daily leagues, you must recognize the value of hitters in Coors, and as drafters, when in doubt, choose a Rockies player. Look at time and a ½ working on these players, Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado hold their own on the road, and they have All Star home stats.
Coors home splits shaded*
| Name | G | AB | PA | H | HR | R | RBI | BB | SB | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Gonzalez | 152 | 580 | 651 | 191 | 30 | 121 | 124 | 64 | 24 | 0.329 |
| Carlos Gonzalez | 155 | 589 | 645 | 146 | 29 | 75 | 69 | 52 | 20 | 0.248 |
| Charlie Blackmon | 127 | 473 | 520 | 156 | 17 | 89 | 63 | 27 | 21 | 0.33 |
| Charlie Blackmon | 140 | 479 | 507 | 123 | 10 | 43 | 40 | 15 | 15 | 0.257 |
| Corey Dickerson | 99 | 324 | 359 | 112 | 19 | 69 | 65 | 31 | 7 | 0.346 |
| Corey Dickerson | 101 | 306 | 332 | 75 | 10 | 37 | 28 | 22 | 3 | 0.245 |
| Nolan Arenado | 123 | 473 | 507 | 142 | 21 | 63 | 79 | 26 | 2 | 0.300 |
| Nolan Arenado | 119 | 445 | 474 | 112 | 7 | 44 | 34 | 22 | 2 | 0.252 |
| Wilin Rosario | 174 | 625 | 673 | 194 | 35 | 120 | 126 | 41 | 6 | 0.310 |
| Wilin Rosario | 169 | 602 | 629 | 146 | 27 | 56 | 78 | 22 | 3 | 0.243 |
Example C: If a Coorspse Goes Down, There’s Another Right Behind Him
Pay attention to promotions/demotions and who might be next, and keep them on your deep bench. Mike has the Rockies’ minors covered here. Does anyone remember Ian Stewart, Kazuo Matsui, Ty Wiggington, Tyler Colvin, Matt Merton, or Miguel Olivio? Keep an eye out for injuries because you usually will like the next Rockies COORpSe inserted just as much (Mike Mckenry, Josh Rutledge). SO when the names come off the board fast and furious like a Silver Bullet, do yourself a favor, grab an Ice-Cold COORpSe. This has been a community service announcement for Razzball…
