Welcome to 5 Quick Questions, a new series here at Mile High Sports where we will ask as many Colorado Rockies ballplayers as we can, and maybe a few coaches, front office members and media too, the same set of questions.
These questions are designed to help us all get to know them better but also as a way of celebrating the history of the game of baseball and the unique traditions of the local club.
We will be keeping track of trends to see if any favorites emerge across the board and making note of particularly fun or interesting answers, while also adding a bit of context wherever it may be needed.
Our first two victims: Kyle Freeland and Vinny Castilla
Who were your favorite players growing up?
Kyle Freeland: “Larry Walker, Barry Bonds, Troy Tulowitzki.”
Vinny Castilla: “Ozzie Smith.”
When you think of the Rockies, who is the first player who comes to mind?
Kyle Freeland: “Walker.”
Vinny Castilla: “Todd Helton.”
They say that the triple is the most exciting play in baseball. Do you agree and if not, what is?
Kyle Freeland: “An outfielder running a ball down in the gap and making a diving play near the track. Having to cover a lot of ground, take a correct angle going over and back, especially at our place. Big outfield.”
Vinny Castilla: “A big homer. There’s a saying… let me translate… “home runs destroy castles and build monuments.”
If you could have any job in the world other than your own, what would it be?
Kyle Freeland: “Professional golfer.”
Vinny Castilla: “Lawyer.”
What is your favorite ballgame that you have played in?
Kyle Freeland: “Wild Card. 2018.”
Vinny Castilla: “The one where we clinched in 1995. First time I got to the playoffs. Had to be one of my favorites. Do you remember that?”
I do, in fact, remember that.
Notes:
On October 2, 2018, Kyle Freeland took the mound as a visitor in Wrigley Field to face off against the Chicago Cubs and Jon Lester, the winningest pitcher in postseason history.
He pitched 6.2 innings and did not give up any runs, allowing just four singles and a walk. Colorado won their first, and to this point still only, postseason game since 2009, by a score of 2-1, after Tony Wolters delivered what turned out to be a game-winning RBI single in the top of the 13th inning.
Thirteen years earlier, on October 1, the final day of the 1995 season, the Rockies were battling the San Francisco Giants for a Wild Card spot and fell behind big early. It was 8-2 entering the bottom of the third but a massive comeback powered by home runs from Eric Young and Larry Walker, not to mention a 1-for-3, 2 RBI performance out of Castilla led the home team all the way back to an eventual 10-9 victory. Just a few years after their creation, the Colorado Rockies were going to the playoffs.
Todd Helton and Larry Walker are likely to be the runaway favorites for the second question though it will be interesting to see if there are any generational differences as we move forward. So far, it’s one vote apiece.
The home run is also likely to be a popular answer for the most exciting play and of course we will keep track of how many pitchers pick defensive plays vs. the position players who take a big moment on offense.
Freeland is a famous intense competitor on the golf course so only challenge him if you are serious about your game and Vinny Castilla can represent me in court anytime.
One of the greatest responses to any question I’ve ever asked in over a decade of doing this: “Home runs destroy castles and build monuments.”