by John Cusick
With a new season on the horizon, Colorado Rockies fans have already begun to murmur their usual rumblings of the season. “We’re always good for the first quarter of the season,” “if Trevor Story hadn’t gotten hurt last year we could have made the wild card,” “our bullpen is the worst thing that’s happened this century.” With a new hiring of seasoned manager Bud Black (who last managed in 2015) and multiple free agent signings unbeknownst to some fans it feels like the Rockies are ready to try and compete.
As part of the Rockies’ Fanfest, manager Bud Black, pitcher Jon Gray, catcher Tom Murphy and outfielder David Dahl made the trip out to Grand Junction to hold a press conference, field a question and answer session for Grand Junction Rockies season ticket holders as well as a meet and greet session later in the afternoon.
During the question and answer session, the Rockies’ franchise showed fans some personal interest in their fan base. With all four guests answering questions for the community of Grand Junction, it was nice to see questions ranging from their kid having confidence issues in baseball to how sabermetrics and analytics are affecting the way games are managed.
With the Grand Junction Rockies in town, and a place where rookies go after they are drafted, it has become an essential for some Rockies’ fans as they can watch their team’s draft picks. Watching these picks comes with the ebb and flow of being a professional baseball player. Some might not be ready for the bright lights while others prove they are ready for whatever comes at them.
The three in, Gray, Murphy and Dahl certainly have proven they are ready for the game’s biggest stage. All debuting in 2016 they spoke of the expectations that are in front of them. “Pitching is going to carry us this year and that’s on Tony and I,” Murphy said of what expectations are of catching this pitching staff. “I’m ready mentally, yes,” Gray said when asked about his ability to be the organization’s frontline starter. “Picking their brains about hitting and pitchers they’ve faced,” Dahl said when asked what he can learn from veterans Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon.
All three managed to silence the qualms of fans as they spoke of managing their own expectations and keeping them within the grasp of the team.
As for Bud Black? He’s just as excited to be a part of the Rockies’ turnaround as the players are. “What’s exciting for me are these guys, our players,” Black said. “This season I think brings some expectation […] what I like is that I think these guys are ready for those expectations. I think these guys feel it of what we can become. And that’s exciting for me.”
During the question and answer session more than 50 community members showed up to show their fandom for the Rockies’ franchise. As for Bud Black and his feelings towards the fan base in just his few months? Well let’s say he’s taken a liking to it. “It’s a fan that cares about their team and their players. You can see in professional football, basketball and hockey. The same holds true for baseball.”
