One month ago, the Colorado Rockies didn’t have a chance at making the playoffs. They were in third place in the NL West less than a month ago trailing the first-place San Diego Padres by 11 games.
Now, the Rockies are just one game out and the NL West race is shaping up to be the best in baseball with the Rockies, Padres and San Francisco Giants all battling for the division crown.
And who might be to blame for possibly stealing a playoff spot from one of those California teams and getting the Rockies back into the postseason? The recently unbeatable Troy Tulowitzki.
The Rockies shortstop has gone home run crazy this month, hitting 14 homers in 15 games, including two in their win against the Dodgers on Saturday. Since Sept. 3, when Tulowitzki hit his first home-run of the month, the Rockies have gone an incredible 13-2.
The only other players in modern baseball who have hit 14 home runs in 15 games are Albert Belle and Barry Bonds. And with the Rockies far down in the standings, Tulowitzki couldn’t have picked a better time to match that record.
There’s no doubt that if the Rockies make the playoffs, Tulowitzki should be considered for NL MVP.
Had he not been injured earlier this summer, who knows what his stats would look like now?
He leads all shortstops in the NL in batting average and on-base percentage. He is an offensive force at a position that has long been regarded as glove first, bat second.
Tulowitzki’s return and subsequent white-hot hitting gives the Rockies a much more balanced lineup, too. The combination of Tulowitzki and Triple Crown contending outfielder Carlos Gonzalez gives Colorado one of the best duos in the game.
Another factor to consider is how Tulowitzki’s home run streak has affected his teammates. His return was a welcomed sight for obvious reasons, but even with the emergence of Gonzalez as one of the game’s best hitters, the Rockies remain Tulowitzki’s team. As he goes, they go; this recent stretch is proof enough of that.
Is Troy Tulowitzki now a legitimate contender for the NL MVP? If not him, then who is? Share your opinions below.
