DENVER -- Numbers are accumulating for the Rockies’ Hunter Goodman. So is knowledge.
Goodman extended his club record for RBIs by a player who is primarily a catcher to 83 with three during a 3-for-5 performance in Wednesday night’s 10-8 loss to the Giants at Coors Field on Wednesday.
His RBI double, as the Rockies’ ninth-inning comeback attempt fell short, was his 55th extra-base hit of the season, most among catchers. On Tuesday night, he knocked his 27th homer and is one behind Wilin Rosario’s 2013 club record for a catcher.
More important than the statistics: Goodman, 25, in his first full Major League season full season, is learning.
Preparing for opposing pitchers, making in-game adjustments and controlling swings with consistency are traits of experienced, winning teams. At 39-101 with nine losses in the last 11 (including a three-game sweep at the hands of the surging Giants) – after beginning the second half with an improved performance – the Rockies’ young roster is struggling.
“Nobody wants to lose as much as we’ve lost – nobody wants to be in that situation,” said Goodman, who served as designated hitter. “But I think we’ve done a good job of pushing forward and trying to get better every day. I know the last two weeks haven’t been great, but we’re in pretty good games. Tonight, we were one swing away from tying that game up.”
After Goodman’s two-out, ninth-inning double off Ryan Walker cut the difference to two runs, Jordan Beck (2-for-5, two RBIs) struck out for the third time to end the game.
Games like Wednesday illustrate the challenge of having the Majors’ youngest roster at 26.1 years on average.
Giants lefty starter Robbie Ray faced the minimum through three innings. But Ezequiel Tovar, Goodman and Brenton Doyle each singled as the Rockies scored once in the third, Goodman’s RBI single (on the eighth pitch of the at-bat) and Beck’s two-run single in the fifth chased Ray with two outs.
“Robbie Ray, I faced him, like, six or seven times before tonight,” Goodman said. “Just having those at-bats in the past definitely helped. You kind of know what you’re going into. Plus you have guys like Kyle Farmer and Orlando Arcia that might have faced a guy 15 times, so you lean on the experience of certain guys.”
Since replacing Bud Black as manager in May, Warren Schaeffer has preached a process-based approach, especially since a results-based approach would have been an exercise in futility rather than mere frustration. Grabbing a 5-4 lead against Ray, after falling behind, 4-0, scored one for the process.
“He beat us with the heater that first time through the order – it was still good throughout,” Schaeffer said. “But we made a nice adjustment and just pushed the line, moved the line forward.”
Pockets of solid Rockies offense are intermittent, although they’ve shown more often since the All-Star break. When it happens, Goodman – the team’s only All-Star – often is featured.
“If you know ‘Goody’ behind the scenes and how he prepares and studies for each pitcher, it wouldn’t surprise you that he doesn’t just hit homers – he’s a good hitter overall,” Scheffer said.
Goodman sees teammates putting in the same work.
“We have nights when we struggle and the offense just never gets going, but it’s all about maturing,” he said. “Look around the locker room and we’re one of the youngest teams in the league. Through this experience the rest of the year and going forward, I think we’ll get better.”
The ninth-inning surge came against J.T. Brubaker and Walker. Goodman said past at-bats against Walker helped his comfort level. But a controlled swing that is showing up in pressure situations should work regardless who is pitching.
“Over the end of last season and through this year, I’ve matured in the box a lot more,” Goodman said. “I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable. I don’t feel I have to swing too hard or do that type of stuff.”