Purple Dinosaur Podcast

This time last week, we would not have been expecting to talk about a 6-2 Rockies road trip through Los Angeles and Phoenix that started with a six-game winning streak and a sweep of the Dodgers, but here we are. The Rockies may well have saved their 2017 season over the last eight days, provided they don't screw the pooch over the final two weeks against mediocre opponents. We'll discuss what went right in Hollywood and the desert and how the Rockies may be able to sustain it.

There are still, as Anthony eloquently put it, "areas of concern" with this club. Behind Jon Gray, who gets a nod in a postseason series should the Rockies make it that far? That's a muddled picture at the moment, but we'll discuss it anyway.

Plus, Carlos Gonzalez status: COULD ACTUALLY BE HEATING UP. We'll talk about the Rockies star's turnaround, the possible reasons behind it, and its impact on the playoff chase. It's the 116th episode of the Purple Dinosaur Podcast. Get it from a vending machine and put it into your backpack for later!

We know you've been waiting a while for a return of the PDP, so here it is, with some international flavo[u]r. Tyler is off in Canada broadcasting some U18 World Cup baseball while Anthony is in the final run-up to his wedding day, but nothing is more stressful than the Rockies, who are doing everything they can to hand away a Wild Card berth while heading into the most crucial road trip of the year. We'll discuss why the team in the most offensively friendly ballpark in Major League Baseball history can't score runs and what can be done about it.

Plus, some good news: nobody else seems to want to make the playoffs in that second Wild Card spot, either. So with that in mind, we'll look at the weeks ahead and why (hopefully) there are reasons to not lose hope.

It's the 115th episode of the PDP. Drizzle some gravy and cheese curds on it and fry it up real good!

The Rockies' most inspiring story hit its highest point so far when cancer-slaying hero Chad Bettis returned to the Coors Field mound on Monday and turned in seven shutout innings. It felt so much bigger than baseball to so many, and we'll attempt to break down our thoughts from that day.

Plus, Bettis's return gives the Rockies something they have to be thrilled with right now: a full -- and strong-- starting rotation. With Bettis, Kyle Freeland, Jon Gray, Jeff Hoffman and German Marquez forming the group, Colorado now has its most talented arms lined up 1-5 and can utilize Antonio Senzatela and Tyler Chatwood in more clearly defined relief roles.

With that, we acknowledge that the pitching staff has in fact been good this year. The offense has not been so. We'll discuss how things could improve in that area and what it means that the Rockies have played barely-above-.500 ball against arguably the weakest portion of their schedule.

Plus we're sure there's other stuff in here that you'll like listening to! That might debatable, but hey who knows! It's the 114th episode of the Purple Dinosaur Podcast. Grind it down to a fine powder and add it to your chocolate shake for a creamy malt mix!

Thursday on Twitter, we invited you to submit your #AskPDP questions for this week's show, and boy oh boy, did you come through. You came through so much, in fact, that we decided this week's show would be nothing but your #AskPDP queries.

We run the gamut of Rockies topics from why Raimel Tapia isn't an everyday player to how Pat Neshek's delivery makes him effective. Plus we dissect how "player to be named later" deals work, who the worst actor was to ever play a baseball player in a movie, who the best Rockies player to spoon with would be and more.

It's a weird episode. But a fun one! The 113th edition of the Purple Dinosaur Podcast: boil it down and make a nice soup with it!

With the Major League Baseball trade deadline in the rear view mirror, the PDP returns to review the movess the Rockies made -- and didn't make. Pat Neshek and Jonathan Lucroy seem good! The fact that the Rockies didn't overspend for someone else also seems good! What does it all mean going toward the stretch run? Who knows, man. Life is an incredible tapestry of mystery.

Tyler Chatwood got the start for the Rockies on Wednesday and was...not good. Are there any ways Colorado can reduce his amount wof work at Coors Field (where he's struggled mightily) while still getting him starts on the road (where he's been very good)? We'll discuss.

Last but not least, Carlos Gonzalez is riding the world's weirdest 11-game hitting streak. Is it a sign that, as we've been told since April, HE'S HEATING UP? Probably not, but it's a possibility! Or maybe it isn't. But it's better than 11 games with no hits which is what it's felt like for the majority of the year.

The Major League Baseball trade deadline is just three days away, and YOUR Colorado Rockies have already made a pretty impressive move, acquiring All-Star reliever Pat Neshek at not-too-high a cost. What will the next few days look like, and how will the roster stack up come Tuesday?

Enough of that craziness, let's get to the stuff you're excited to hear. Rockies prospect Ryan McMahon joins this week's edition of the show to talk about his blistering hot start with Triple-A Albuquerque, learning new infield positions, and why he had to spend a lengthy part of Friday morning sitting in the sun outside the drive-thru of an Albuquerque Starbucks. (Sorry, Ryan.)

Plus, how long can the Rockies afford to keep a struggling Carlos Gonzalez in the lineup? It's...not fun. But we'll discuss. It's all on this week's edition of the Purple Dinosaur Podcast! Fire up your monster truck and leap over it!

We didn't forget about you over the last few weeks, but we apologize for the layoff. Either way, the PDP is back! Lucky you. This week, we're diving into a Rockies team that has played better ball since their homestand before the All-Star Break (although it would be hard to have played worse than they did in the losing streak leading up to that). The MLB trade deadline looms. What will the Rockies do? What *should* the Rockies do? What would you be willing to part with to reel in a contributing big league component to this roster, and is it all worth it while the Rockies play for a window of contention that lasts well beyond 2017? All that and more is on this week's PDP. Load it into your printer and fire out some missives with it!

Things have not been what you, the viewing public, would call "good" lately for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball. Losing is afoot. Is the dreaded June swoon finally rearing its head to sink the early season good fortunes of the strong baseball men in purple? Eh, probably not. Sometimes teams play like garbage for a couple of weeks. The 2007 Rockies went 1-9 on a road trip and lost eight straight and still went to the World Series. Whaddaya want from me?

We'll discuss why it's too early to FREAK THE HECK OUT about what's going on with this losing streak. There are things to be concerned about (we'll discuss those too), but the overall trend is still very much up for this team.

Plus, a REAL journalist joins the show! Jonathan McNicol of WNPR in Connecticut joins us to talk about his podcast, "The Second First Season" which is currently following the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats through their first season in Hartford and second season in existence.

It's the 109th episode of the Purple Dinosaur Podcast. Melt it down and jump into it!

So this whole three-team race thing doesn't seem to be going anywhere, yeah? It's nearly the end of June, and YOUR Colorado Rockies are caught in one heck of a battle with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles for first place in the National League West. This week, we're diving into the heat of the race with D-backs pre- and postgame host and one of your favorites on MLB Network Radio, Mike Ferrin. We'll discuss the most recent couple of Diamondbacks-Rockies games, which we don't really *want* to do but do anyway, plus why these teams are built for sustainable success, the Coors vs. Chase debate, why there are so many more homers in the big leagues this year, and more.

Nolan Arenado is superhuman. You already knew that, but Sunday's walk-off blast to complete the cycle took him to another level. We'll discuss Nolan's greatness and what it means for the franchise.

Plus #AskPDP is back with questions ranging from possible trade targets to al dente pasta and more. It's the 108th episode of the Purple Dinosaur Podcast! Guzzle it down like the milk gallon challenge!

The Rockies won a baseball game Thursday night in which their bullpen blew a lead of eight (8) runs with three (3) innings to play. Generally, that approach is not good, but it worked last night. While the walk-off celebration was fun for everyone who wasn't Giants broadcaster Jon Miller, did it unmask a soft underbelly in this Colorado bullpen that's been so strong this year? And, if so, should you be worried? And, if you should be worried, what can the Rockies do to address the situation upon the returns of Jon Gray and Tyler Anderson and potentially Chad Bettis? And just how many licks DOES it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? Rly makes u think.

Denver sports radio host Renaud Notaro joins the show this week to discuss what it's like being a Denver sports radio personality who actually knows and loves and understands and talks about baseball. Beyond his thoughts on the 2017 Rockies, Renaud also tells us what it's like the be the older brother of one of the greatest standup comedians on the planet and how he intends to save his adorable young nephews from being Dodgers fans while growing up in Los Angeles.

Plus Raimel Tapia has finally arrived. In his success, the Rockies have been sitting franchise luminary Carlos Gonzalez. How long does that last on both sides, and what does it mean for the rest of CarGo's time in Denver?

It's all on this week's edition of the PDP! Punch yourself in the face with it!