Cron an example for young players finding their way

DENVER -- The Rockies aren’t playoff contenders, but C.J. Cron has found something to get excited about as the season winds down.

“I guess when the season doesn't go how you want, you see a lot of these younger players -- it's something you almost look forward to,” Cron said. “It’s cool to see them all get their debuts.”

But around those golden first moments -- like Michael Toglia, who made a couple of nice plays at first base in his first MLB game at Coors Field -- Rockies baseball hasn't always been scintillating. Managing no runs and just one hit from the second inning through the seventh, between a three-run first inning and Cron’s solo homer in the eighth, the Rockies fell to the Brewers, 6-4, on Monday afternoon.

Cron’s 26th homer, off Brewers lefty Taylor Rogers, was a highlight during a September of more tests than triumphs.

Unless the Rockies trade Cron and his club-friendly contract (he’ll earn $7.25 million next year in his age-33 season), he knows he is playing with folks vying to be contributors in 2023. He considers his role now to be observed putting in his work. After a post-All-Star break slump, Cron has hit in nine of his past 10 games and is hitting .280 (14-for-50) with three homers in his past 13.

“Just let them play,” Cron said. “If they have questions, I'm definitely open to answer. But I'm kind of one to take a step back. If they want to approach me, that'd be awesome. If not, then I let them do their thing.

“When you get called up, there are so many people telling you how to do this, how to do that, sometimes it gets overwhelming. So I don't want to be an extra voice. I want them to just play and have fun. There's only one way to get better. It's through experience, and they'll slowly gain that.”

Essentially, here’s how that worked for the Rockies.

Cron reached on a fielder’s choice in the first inning against Brewers starter Adrian Houser, loading the bases before Charlie Blackmon’s two-run single. Behind Ryan McMahon, Brendan Rodgers, Cron and Blackmon were rookies Toglia and Sean Bouchard, struggling utility man Garrett Hampson, rookie Brian Serven and recent callup Alan Trejo. In the first, Toglia walked and Hampson delivered a sacrifice fly. But after the first, the only hit from the quintet was Bouchard’s single in the eighth.

The trials will continue through September for that group and others, like rookies Elehuris Montero (who did not play) and Connor Joe (who walked as a pinch-hitter), as the Rockies try to determine how much they’ll count on less-experienced players going into 2023. With several players, most notably the injured Kris Bryant (seven years, $182 million), signed to multiyear contracts, the roster calls for a beef-up in experience and production -- even if that means less playing time (or even none) for some of the team’s younger players.

“You look from Toglia on down [in Monday’s lineup], and even Rodgers has two years of service time. It’s important to be patient with these guys,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “I mean, they’re learning.”

But it’s not as if the more experienced hitters are on fire. The only ones who reached double figures in hits during a 3-7 road trip against the Mets, Braves and Reds were Cron and Randal Grichuk, who went 1-for-11 in Cincinnati and was rested on Monday.

Learning also took place on the mound. Rookie right-hander Ryan Feltner continued his development with his second straight seven-strikeout performance. Feltner had a 3-2 lead when he hit Kolten Wong with one out and one on in the sixth. Then Justin Lawrence, who has pitched well of late while trying to prove he is ready for an enhanced role next year, yielded a three-run shot to Victor Caratini with two outs. Rookie Jake Bird then struck out four and allowed just one hit in two innings.

There will be coaching points and tests passed and failed for many Rockies for the rest of the regular season. And while Cron is there to lend an ear if called upon, he’s much like the rest -- trying to reverse some rough times with the bat. The trip has plunged Colorado deep into last place in the National League West.

“It wasn’t the best road trip,” Cron said. “It was probably the best week of pitching we’ve seen. Those two staffs [Mets and Braves] are pretty darn good. That’s just baseball. We went to the East Coast for 10 games and, unfortunately, it didn’t go how we wanted.”