Colorado Rockies news and links for Wednesday, September 24, 2024
Charlie’s on a vacation far away
Come to Coors and talk it over.
So many things that I want to say,
You know I like my players a little bit Nazty
I just wanna see your hits tonight
I don’t wanna lose your hits tonight!
14 years is a long time to spend for a big league career. It becomes even more impressive when that career is spent with a single organization.
As we know, Charlie Blackmon officially announced his retirement on Monday. Fans and players across the game are sharing their thoughts and emotions and everything else on their minds about the decision on social media because Blackmon has truly meant a lot to many people around the game.
Today, I’d like to share my thoughts on what this news means to me.
I was in high school when I first heard the name Charlie Blackmon. I was 15 years old when the Rockies selected Blackmon’s contract from Triple-A and I quickly became a fan of the player. The first thing that stuck out to me about Blackmon was that he seemed like the fun down to earth guy you’d want to hang out with. I recall him telling the story of his promotion and that he had actually been hanging out in the hot tub when he received the call that he was going to the big leagues. In the way he described his tale, I already got a sense of his humor and personality that would make him a fan favorite.
As he got his first stretch of playing time in 2011 there was something about him that I just found intriguing. He played in just 27 games that season, slashing .255/.277/.296 a home run and a double in 102 plate appearances, but I couldn’t help but root for the guy.
Perhaps it was that he was a tall, lanky, somewhat goofy-looking dude that resonated with the pizza-faced teenager watching him play, but I knew Blackmon could be a great player if he got more time. Unfortunately, he had terrible injury luck those first couple of years as he broke his foot in 2011, suffered turf toe in 2012, and then was just bounced back and forth the first half of 2013. However, he made the most of his opportunities when they did come and that sort of resilience always stuck with me and clamored for me to hope the Rockies could find a way to get him more playing time.
Then they traded Dexter Fowler.
Heading into 2014 there was hope that Blackmon could finally stay healthy and contribute to the Rockies. With open spots in the outfield, it looked like he would have his shot, but it still wasn’t guaranteed after the Rockies brought in Drew Stubbs to compete in center field.
Not willing to roll over, Blackmon, now bearded, burst out of the gate with his legendary 6-for-6 day at the plate in the home opener. That performance changed his role with the team and they couldn’t help but pencil him into the lineup every day. He showed off his versatility by playing all three outfield positions that season and showed a solid bat that could serve as a quality leadoff man for the next 10 years.
Blackmon did so many incredible things over the next 10 years of his career. He stole nearly 150 bases in a Rockies uniform, including 43 in 2015. He finished fifth in MVP voting in 2017, was a four-time All-Star, a two-time Silver Slugger, and a Home Run Derby participant. He climbed the leaderboards of many Rockies offensive categories while tallying MLB and other historical records.
There is so much more to be said about the type of player that he was on the field, but what will make his departure so sad is that it’s realizing that those good ole days truly are in the past. Charlie Blackmon in all reality probably wasn’t supposed to become the player we all know and love. He would easily have been destined to be a short-lived player who was an extra outfielder at best and an MLB journeyman. That universe was within reach if not for key moments of fate.
And yet, Blackmon never wavered. Through his own work ethic, humility, and determination to his craft, he forced himself into the spotlight and into the hearts of Rockies fans. Few players have been able to immediately make fans stop what they are doing, wherever they are, and perk up to attention, unlike when Blackmon and his famous walk-up song come to the plate. As he grew in notoriety, he garnered attention from the nation. A friend of mine said this was the saddest he had ever been to see a player retire that wasn’t from his favorite team.
What has truly caused Blackmon to find a special place in my heart is the fact that he chose the Rockies. Over the past several seasons we have seen some of the best to wear purple look for greener pastures; Nolan Arenado, DJ LeMahieu, Trevor Story, Jon Gray. All of those were absolutely fumbled by the Rockies and I don’t blame them for going elsewhere and finding success. But Charlie was adamant about his desire to stay with the team.
Regardless of whether it was knowing he had a sweet gig with the Rockies he wouldn’t get elsewhere, Blackmon chose to stay. When rumors swirled that he could also be on the trade block in 2023, he said he’d only approve a trade if he helped make the Rockies better. To know that a successful homegrown player wanted to stay for the love of the game and the fans means a lot to a fanbase that hasn’t had a whole lot.
Charlie Blackmon will always be one of my favorite players of all time. What he means to me as a role model is infinitely more valuable than the team’s performance. We’ve seen hints of the old magic, but his legacy is defined by a commitment to working hard and playing the game with all his heart, might, mind, and soul. There will never be another like him as he is truly one of a kind.
Goodbye Charlie, I hope you know how much you truly meant to me and the people of Colorado.
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Hughes (Tommy John) right back to banging on the Rockies’ door | MLB.com
2022 first-round pick Gabriel Hughes is working back from Tommy John surgery nicely and has his sights set on making the big leagues soon. He will head to the Arizona Fall League to get more work but the 22-year-old is progressing nicely and will likely participate in big league camp come spring training.
Affected by Altitude Ep. 131: Gearing up for Decisions and Departures | Rocky Mountain Rooftop
This week Evan Lang and I talk about Hunter Goodman and Drew Romo, Sam Hilliard and Jake Cave, and prepare to say goodbye to Charlie Blackmon. We didn’t know he was going to retire when we recorded on Sunday.
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