Does it get any better than this?
Rockies. Dodgers. Coors Field. Seventy degrees.
And sunny.
The Rockies are coming off of two consecutive postseason appearances. Sure, they didn’t exactly sniff the World Series in 2017 or ’18, but they’re playing October baseball. If any town knows what can happen in October, it’s ours.
If there’s a town that understands April, that’s ours, too. In April, we’re concerned about: The Nuggets making the playoffs (check), the Avalanche making the playoffs (check, as of last Thursday night’s clutch win over Winnipeg), the Broncos impending draft pick (um, there’s reason for concern), spring snow in the mountains, green grass on the fairways and the weather forecast for Opening Day (aka, today).
In other words, really don’t have a care in the world right about now.
In April, we’re not concerned about: The Rockies record.
Good thing, because it’s not so hot at the moment. Oh, sure, things could be worse. The Rockies, who began their quest for a first-ever, third-consecutive run to the postseason, limp back home with a record of 3-4. So what. It could be worse. And it could be raining today, like it was last season. But really, 3-4 after a swing through Florida? Normally, we’ll take that.
It might sound a little better than it is though. The Rockies are currently ranked 25th in baseball in scoring (2.43 runs per game), 26th in hitting (.197) and 27th in home runs (two). As Simon and Garfunkel once wrote, “Where have you gone, Joe Girardi-o?”
Wait. Is that what they said?
Details.
Girardi’s Rockies – those ’93, ’94, ’95 teams – spawned the nickname the Blake Street Bombers, a moniker that’s synonymous with the Colorado Rockies for better or worse. Joe himself didn’t help with that a ton, as he hit 15 total homers in his three seasons alongside the real Bombers. Where have you gone, Vinny, Dante, Larry and Big Cat? If any team in baseball is defined by offense, or by Opening Day round trippers for that matter, it’s the Rockies. Who could forget the way it all started?
Zero outs. Zero on. Zero concept of Major League Baseball, really. First batter, Eric Young, 3-2 count…
Rockies fans didn’t lead the majors in attendance the first seven seasons of the team’s existence because they had an unusual appreciate for sacrifice bunts and hitting behind the runner. Chicks (and everyone, really) dig the longball. When E.Y. went yard on Opening Day 1993, there were 80,227 fans at Mile High Stadium to see it. If you ask around today, you can find approximately 172,890 fans who were there; 438 of whom just moved here from California, and 27 of whom got off work from the dispensary that day.
That’s how great it was.
So, if we’re going to get greedy – And why wouldn’t really? We’ve got two Denver teams currently in the playoffs, it’s a Friday, and there’s not a cloud in the sky – would it be too much to ask the 2019 Rockies to get out the whoopin’ sticks against the hated Dodgers?
It’s not as if that sort of request is a longshot – these Rockies can hit the ball. Um, they just haven’t yet this season. Then again, it’s only April 5. Just don’t suggest that Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story can’t hit or hit for power; they finished the 2018 season ranked 1st and 2nd respectively in the National League in home runs (with 38 and 37). Charlie Blackmon finished the 2017 season ranked 3rd in the NL, and this year, as a right fielder, he ought to be taxed even less, allowing him to hit even more. David Dahl finished the 2018 campaign by hitting six home runs in eight games. Even Ian Desmond, everyone’s favorite gripe, hit 22 bombs last season.
This hitting slump, the one that started right about the postseason last fall, has got to be about over. Why not break out on Opening Day?
Against the Dodgers.
In front of the See and Be Seens.
On Opening Day.
That’s what we do in Colorado.
Now, go take a hack or two.
