20th and Blake: The Rockies Podcast · Mile High Sports, Bleav

Colorado Rockies Surprisingly Competent So Far in 2026

April 7, 2026·44 min·4 clips

The Colorado Rockies are 3-3 against World Series contenders, defying expectations early in 2026.

The episode opens with a historical digression: Drew Creaseman prompts Mark Knutson to recall May 6th, 1993, when he came in relief for the expansion Rockies against the Atlanta Braves and gave up eight runs to a lineup that featured Sid Bream, Ron Gant, and Jeff Blauser. Knutson describes the surreal experience of receiving a standing ovation from 50,000 fans who didn't care about the score because they were just happy to have baseball in Denver. Don Baylor, Knutson's manager and a figure he describes with genuine affection, came to pull him without making eye contact. The anecdote sets up a comparison to Michael Lorenzen's rough opening-day outing in 2026. From the press box, Creaseman watched Eli Leachman, the Rockies' 36-year-old pitching coach who never pitched professionally, call pitches from the dugout via the electronic system while Lorenzen looked back after every pitch. Knutson is incensed that a veteran with 12 major league seasons and a no-hitter on his resume is following pitch calls from someone without pitching experience, and argues the Brandon Marsh 454-foot home run came directly from Lorenzen following a call he might not have agreed with. Creaseman offers the counterpoint that pitchers can shake off, and both acknowledge coaches would not take that personally. The hosts pivot to the automated ball-strike system, which Knutson refers to as the Magic Beans. Creaseman saw three instances where Goodman challenged calls and all three were overturned as microscopic strikes. Knutson's thesis is that once batters learn the strike zone is now consistent and exact, they will start swinging at borderline pitches rather than taking them, which will naturally speed up at-bats and make the pitch clock unnecessary. The Rockies had two walks flipped to strikeouts during the series, including a high-leverage Kyle Schwarber at-bat late in a close game. Tomoyuki Sugano is praised for his two-start start to the season, described as crafty, calm, and commanding of his off-speed pitches. Knutson argues Sugano's composed demeanor is exactly what Dolander needs to absorb from veterans around him. Chase Dolander's 4.1-inning relief appearance draws extensive analysis: Knutson believes in Dolander's ceiling but warns that his growth depends on learning from experienced starters, not from peers who are equally inexperienced. The hosts discuss the Rockies' strategy of escalating Dolander's leverage exposure gradually. Creaseman pulls up Baseball Savant data on challenge success rates, revealing Logan O'Hoppe of the Angels as the best at 9-for-10, Hunter Goodman in the middle of the pack at 3-for-5, and the Twins as the team benefiting most overall. The hosts note umpire CB Bucknor is famously poor but that Estabrook has been worse so far in 2026. They also discuss Mickey Moniak's hot start and Hunter Goodman continuing to perform like an above-average catcher rather than a one-year wonder. The episode closes with a light exchange about a robot field-liner machine Knutson saw in Arizona and a tribute to the Rockies groundskeeping crew.

As heard by us

A pitcher-first Rockies discussion turns a 3-3 stretch and a strong Dollander outing into cautious optimism.

20th and Blake treats Colorado's 3-3 run against Toronto and Philadelphia as worth talking about, mostly because the series win in Toronto gave the stretch a little weight. It keeps the scope tight.

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Why you'd press play

A Rockies win, a Phillies test, and a real look at Chase Dollander.

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