SAN DIEGO -- During the Rockies' 2-0 loss to the Padres on Thursday night, outfielder Mickey Moniak went full contortionist to avoid a tag on a stolen-base attempt in the sixth inning. Moniak was ruled safe after a replay challenge.
“It’s funny -- I’m not flexible at all,” Moniak said. “I know I did a little gymnastics as a kid, but that was mostly just my mom wanting to get us out of the house. Nothing serious.
“It was just one of those plays where the ball beat me there and you just let your instincts take over.”
Some ill-advised tendencies have overtaken the Rockies this week. In losing the first four games of a trip to Los Angeles and San Diego, with three more at Petco Park coming, the Rockies have 12 total hits and three runs -- none in the past two games.
The consensus in the clubhouse is that hitters are pressing.
“Personally at times, I can say that I tended to do that, especially against good teams like the Dodgers and the Padres -- two teams that are most likely going to the playoffs,” Moniak said. “It just comes with experience, learning the game.
“Everybody in this clubhouse wants to go 4-for-4 every night, and it’s not going to happen. At the end of the day, even when results aren’t there, guys are still coming in, putting the work in. It’s not a lack of effort.”
The Rockies took batting practice against a high-spin, high-velocity pitching machine before Monday’s game at Los Angeles. That didn’t provide immediate results, but manager Warren Schaeffer said it’s a strategy that could have benefits.
On Thursday, the Rockies tried talking it over.
“We had a meeting today during our hitters meeting,” center fielder Brenton Doyle said. “Everyone is on the same page. Everyone wants to finish strong. But we have to find a way to find that effort level to get success and not try to do too much.
“The body starts grinding a bit this time of year so you try to do too much, and things don’t tend to go your way. You’ve got to find that happy medium.”