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Colorado Rockies
Overall: 74
Title track: 106
Ownership: 112
Coaching: 111
Players: 58
Fan relations: 81
Affordability: 35
Stadium experience: 31
Bang for the buck: 49
Change from last year: +36
The Rockies improved quite a bit on last season's overall ranking, despite not improving in the real-life standings. In fact, the Rockies have been consistently below average in the NL West, as 2016 represented their sixth consecutive season with considerably more losses than wins, and there is little reason to believe 2017 will be different. At least the beer is cheap and the fans keep showing up!
What's good
Who doesn't love the all-around play of third baseman Nolan Arenado or the upside of right-handed hurler Jon Gray and outfielder David Dahl? Coors Field remains a fantastic place to enjoy a baseball game, thanks not only to the on-field participants but also to the affordability (35th overall) and stadium experience (31st overall), each of which rose, fans say, to near top-10 in the sport. That's very good. Fans feel like they're getting an improved bang for the buck, including the least expensive beer in baseball ($3 for 12 ounces!). This team just needs more wins.
What's bad
It isn't likely the fans will see the brothers Monfort -- Charlie and Dick -- step aside as primary owners anytime soon, but clearly there's a level of unhappiness here, as the Rockies annually rank so poorly in ownership (112th overall) and coaching (111th) that they're in the bottom 10 of all sports. Manager Walt Weiss, a former organizational shortstop a generation ago, had four seasons to turn things around, but the results weren't good. It was likely not a surprise to Weiss or fans when the Rockies announced earlier this month that he wouldn't return next year. As for the owners, though, they aren't going anywhere.
What's new
It isn't easy to pitch well in the thin air of Denver, but Jon Gray, Tyler Anderson and Tyler Chatwood gave hope this season. Getting back to contention status seems feasible for this franchise, thanks to a roster that seems to be turning fans' opinions (players are up 37 spots to 58th this year). There's never an issue scoring runs, after all. Arenado and Dahl will be rejoined in the spring by a healthy Trevor Story, who made fans quickly forget about organizational idol Troy Tulowitzki at shortstop. DJ Lemahieu and Charlie Blackmon are fantastic. The Rockies made one of the standings' biggest jumps this year, and with this roster -- plus a few pitchers -- perhaps that can continue.
Next: Seattle Mariners | Full rankings