The Colorado Rockies are on pace to break more than a few franchise records

LOS ANGELES, CA. – History, they say, is written by the victors.

And if the Colorado Rockies wish to truly rewrite their own, they will need that ever-elusive division title. Make no mistake, that is the big prize.

But other prizes can be fun, too.

While Nolan Arenado is a shoo-in for another Gold Glove and will likely land in or near the Top 5 in MVP voting this season—with teammate Trevor Story making his first foray into that territory and Kyle Freeland getting some Cy Young talk, there are plenty of other fun but less discussed accolades that the 2018 team is ready to add to their resume.

Trevor Story’s first-inning double to score Nolan Arenado last Tuesday’s night against Arizona placed the 25-year-old shortstop among rarified air as the first and only shortstop to hit 40 doubles, 30 home runs and 25 stolen bases in the same season.

Story’s 32 home runs this season also tie him with Troy Tulowitzki for the franchise record for a shortstop. With 18 games to go, he should be a lock to move ahead of Tulo’s mark set in 2009.

With his recent surge over the past month, Story has entered the MVP conversation. Though the Rockies have already had one MVP in their history (Larry Walker, 1997), no infielder has ever finished higher than fourth place in voting than Nolan Arenado in 2017; previously, Todd Helton (2000) and Troy Tulowitzki (2010) finished in fifth place.

A week later, Ian Desmond stole his 20th place, joining Story in the 20/20 category to become the first Rockies teammates to accomplish that in the same season since 1996.

Several other records or firsts are poised to fall in the final days of the season, such as potentially the first National League West championship and first consecutive playoff births.

We have compiled a list of franchise records that have been broken or are about to be by the Cardiac Kids.

And friends, it is not a short list.

MVP:

Larry Walker 1997 – no infielder has won the MVP

Dante Bichette (1995) runner-up

Ellis Burks (1996) 3rd place

Matt Holliday (2007) runner-up

Nolan Arenado 4th (2017)

Todd Helton 5th (2000)

Troy Tulowitzki 5th (2010)

Team Totals:

Road Wins: 41 in 2009 & 2017 – 42 with two remaining

Wins: 92 in 2009 – 84 with 9 left

Worst Batting Average: .258 in 2011 – .255 with 12 left

Least GIDP: 103 in 2010 – 98 with 11 left (*excluded strike shortened 1994 season)

Fielding Percentage: .989 in 2007 – .988 with 8 left

Strikeouts by SP: 779 in 2010 – 838 with 9 left (A new record)

Saves: 47 in 2017 – 48 with 9 left

SP ERA: 4.10 in 2009 – 4.28 with 9 left

Bullpen Wins: 36 in 2000 – 30 with 9 left

Career Totals

Top 10 career records: Games played as a Rockie – 659 by Larry Walker – Charlie Blackmon 653

Single Season

Games Played: 162 by Vinny Castilla (1998), Neifi Perez (1998 & 2000) – Story on pace for 158

QS: Marquis 21 starts (2009); Freeland 21 

Holds: Ottavino 30 (tied for team record with Todd Jones 2002)

HR by a SS: Story 33 (passed with Tulo with 32)

RBI by a SS: Story 100 (Tulo 105)

Saves: 41 by Greg Holland (2017) and Jose Jimenez (2002) – Davis 40

Strikeouts: 214 by Ubaldo Jimenez (2010) – Marquez 210

K/9: 9.91 by Jon Gray 2016 – Marquez at 10.24 (1st), Gray at 9.61 (3rd), Anderson 8.58 (7th)

ERA: 2.88 Ubaldo Jimenez 2010 – Freeland 2.95 with three starts left

Lowest BA Against (qualified): .209 Ubaldo Jimenez 2010 – Freeland .233, Marquez .239, Anderson .248, Gray .254

Off the Mark (But Close)

Freeland – 14 wins; with two wins in final three starts, pulls into fifth place tie for 16 wins (Jason Jennings 2002, Aaron Cook 2008, Jorge De La Rosa 2009 & 2013); three wins is good for a second-place tie for 17 wins (Jeff Francis 2007, Pedro Astacio 1999, Kevin Fritz 1996)

Oberg – Seven relief wins; currently tied for fifth (Curtis Leskanic 1996, Bruce Ruffin 1996, Darren Holmes 1997, Matt Belisle 2010) – the record is 11 (Gabe White 2000)

Gray – 2.58 BB/9 (good for 6th), record 2.04 by Aaron Cook 2008

Anderson – 30 HR Allowed; Two more and he’ll tie for fifth (Pedro Astacio 2000 and Masato Yoshii 2000); four more and he’ll tie for third (Darryl Kile 1999 and Kyle Kendrick 2015)

Story – 369 starts at SS with 9 games left (4th all-time); passes Clint Barmes and Juan Uribe; should pass Walt Weiss (494) for third place next season

Whatever happens in this final stretch, the Colorado Rockies have put up some impressive numbers in 2018, especially on the pitching side. Perhaps the most encouraging part of all of this is that these records are mostly being broken by players who figure to be major factors in the club’s future.

The present may or may not be bright, but the future appears to be blinding.