With Chuck Nazty’s career at its end, thoughts turn to celebrating his Rockies tenure
What a week, huh?
With so many of us ready for the end of another tough season for the Rockies, Charlie Blackmon decided to drop a bombshell just before the campaign’s final home stand: He’s calling it a career.
Charlie Blackmon has announced he will retire from Major League Baseball after a 14-year career – all with the Colorado @Rockies.
He was a 4-time All-Star, 2-time Silver Slugger, and won the 2017 National League batting title. pic.twitter.com/j2oKdpUXi3
— MLB (@MLB) September 24, 2024
And I mean, wow, right?
I think part of us knew this day was coming, but it’s still a bit of a shock to finally be presented with the possibility of going to a Rockies game with no expectation of seeing that familiar beard in the lineup.
I’ll be the first to say that I’m sad to see Chuck go. He’s been an integral part of Colorado’s sports identity for over a decade and is arguably one of the most recognizable faces in the state’s history of athletics. Regardless, he’s earned his place in the hearts of Rockies fans forever.
But there ain’t a stat for that yet, so instead, let’s look at the numbers. Does Charlie Blackmon’s career warrant a number retirement ceremony? Do his accolades make him worthy of occupying a spot in Coors Field next to 17, 33, 42, and KM?
The argument has been made that Blackmon’s odds are propped up by his longevity, and that his overall career is one largely defined by his loyalty to the franchise overall, rather than his domination or excellence of the sport itself.
And, okay, I can kind of see the logic in that argument. Longevity is a major part of his legacy — 14 years with one team is no small feat, and Blackmon would be only the second of Colorado’s many men to wear the purple pinstripes for the entirety of his MLB tenure (of players that played at least ten seasons).
His steady production with the Rockies led him to become the franchise leader in triples, and he’s at least top five in the following categories:
- at-bats (2nd)
- plate appearances (2nd)
- runs scored (2nd)
- hits (2nd)
- total bases (2nd) doubles (2nd)
- RBIs (4th)
- walks (3rd)
- stolen bases (2nd)
He’s also in sole possession of sixth place in terms of Rockies career bWAR.
Phew!
These are volume stats, though, and it’s not unfair to say that they’re more indicative of his time spent in Denver, though of course they would be unachievable if Blackmon weren’t playing at an at least solid level for most of his career.
To that end, let’s look at his more overall metrics to see where he rates among not only Colorado’s best, but MLB overall.
Blackmon’s 14 years were highlighted by a stretch of six seasons, 2014 – 2019. This run saw the Nazty one elected to four All-Star Games and finish fifth in MVP voting in 2017, easily the finest season of his career.
The free-swinging Georgia Tech alum’s value was predominantly propped up by his bat, which made him a genuinely fearsome opponent during the heights of his career. His career slash line of .293/.353/.479 shows how consistently he performed, and his OPS+ of 111 is an indication that he was an at least above-average hitter for years.
His greatest adversity was, of course, his glove.
With respect, Blackmon’s outfield defense left much to be desired, as evidenced by his negative defensive bWAR in all but two seasons and his below-average Range Factor metrics. Baseball Savant has stats available from 2016, and in that time he recorded negative Outs Above Average in each season since then. He’s not quite at Nick Castellanos levels of fielding ineptitude, but I don’t believe anyone would point to Chuck’s mitt as his strongest asset.
If there’s one thing that we can look to with reverence in regards to his field work, it’s his arm. Blackmon had an absolute Howitzer, able to gun down runners on the base paths with pinpoint accuracy. Savant’s arm strength metrics place him in the league’s upper echelon of throws, never dropping below the mid-80’s and topping out at about 90. Even if his defensive play wasn’t always a highlight, the cannon attached to his left shoulder made up for it.
Looking at these numbers in totality, we see a player that was an above average hitter for about half of his career, and a slightly below-average fielder. With most of his accolades being in the form of volume stats, we return to our original question: Does Charlie Blackmon’s number belong up next to the other Colorado legends?
In my opinion, the answer is yes.
It’s true that his numbers don’t lead me to believe he’ll be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but his contributions to the Colorado Rockies franchise cannot be denied. He’s a quintessential member of the Hall of Very Good on a national level, and he’s one of the most recognizable faces in Rockies history. Even if he’s not quite on the same tier as Todd Helton or Larry Walker, he’s still worthy of recognition and the honor to be immortalized at Coors Field forever.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments!
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