Blackmon's belief in the bullpen, Freeland's proponent for staying and Cabrera's shot at immortality

Back in the early days of the Colorado Rockies, there was a prevailing thought by the Blake Street Bombers that their club could win any game.  

Even despite a deficit in the late innings, the sluggers believed their ability to hit three-run home runs in bunches meant no lead was safe for an opposing team, especially at Coors Field.

While a new generation of home run hitters has yet to rival that original quintent, the same sense of perseverance exists with the current club, albeit for a much different reason.

“Our bullpen has been really good,” Charlie Blackmon said following a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday. “Anytime you’re performing up there with the tops in the league, you’ve got to step back and recognize how well they’re doing.”

Before the ‘pen gave up a combined eight runs on Tuesday and Wednesday, they had surrendered only nine through the first ten games and owned a 1.88 ERA, best in all of MLB.

Even with those most recent results inflating most statistics, Colorado still owns the sixth-best earned run average in the National League. Their 6-1 record as a unit is tied for most wins in the league and underlines their importance on the Rockies’ promising 8-4 start.

“I do think our bullpen is really deep,” praised Blackmon on the night of his first home run of 2022. “You’re just seeing how deep our bullpen is with leverage spots and it’s not the same guys over and over. (Jhoulys) Chacín’s in there, (Alex) Colomé is there. (Tyler) Kinley is throwing really well the last couple times out. (Robert) Stephenson and (Lucas) Gilbreath are gonna throw in leverage situations, too.”

Stephenson and Gilbreath, two pitchers who combined to have a 1.25 ERA (50.1 IP, 7 ER) in the second half last year, finally made their debut on Wednesday after a stint on the COVID-IL. 

Considering the Rockies were that strong of a unit without that pair suggests the club will have a chance for a comeback in nearly every game should all things continue to be prosperous for the relief corps.

Colorado, Through and Through

Kyle Freeland’s five-year, $64.5 million pact keeps the Thomas Jefferson High School product in his home state for at least 2026. 

Integral in the decision to remain with the Rockies was Freeland’s wife, Ashley. 

The options were simple, but emotionally charge: either sign an extension to stay in Denver or play out the next two years before departing in free agency following the 2023 season. 

Naturally, Ashley has been his confidant throughout the process.

“I looked around this clubhouse two starts ago,” explained Freeland at the press conference announcing his deal. “I was just sitting in my locker and I saw a lot of my teammates in there and I was like you know what? These are guys that I love going to battle with, that I want to continue to go to battle with. I love hanging out with them at the ballpark and spending time with them. And that goes top to bottom. Not only players, but staff – the training staff, strength coaches, coaches and the front office. When I told my wife that about a week or so ago, she’s like, ‘You know what, I’m gonna stop you right there. That’s your answer right there.'”

In his closing remarks, Freeland thanked his agents at MSM Sports, Jonathan Maurer and Mike Montana, in addition to the Rockies’ front office for allowing him to stay in the only town he’s called home. 

And there were his final, impassioned words of gratitude for Ashley.

“I want to especially thank my wife who ultimately helped me make this decision and it’s very special. What she was able to do to help me have a clear mind was incredible.”

Another Historical Hit?

When manager Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees held up four fingers to signal an intentional walk to Miguel Cabrera in the bottom of the eighth inning in Detroit on Thursday, he helped increase the likelihood that the Tigers’ slugger would get his 3,000th hit against the Colorado Rockies.

For those fans at Comerica Park who arrived to see history, they rained boos upon the Yanks’ skipper. Fortunately, the next batter whacked a 2-RBI double to give the Tigers some insurance runs on what would be a 3-0 victory. (They probably would have preferred a loss and a piece of history instead.)

Entering Thursday with 2,999 career hits, Cabrera had three opportunities to become only the seventh man in baseball history with 3,000 hits and 500 home runs. Alas, he struck out twice and hit one 316 ft to left field for a long out. 

The scene is now set for Cabrera to reach 3,000 during a three-game series against the Rockies, who play in Detroit for the first time since 2014.

Coincidentally, this won’t be the first time a player has reached the milestone against Colorado. 

In fact, it’s happened quite a lot. 

Ichiro Suzuki accomplished the feat with the Miami Marlins on Aug 7, 2016 with a triple to right field off Chris Rusin. It was only the second time a player had achieved the mark on a triple, and the first time Coors Field had ever seen a 3,000th hit. 

When Craig Biggio did it with the Houston Astros – who were still a part of the NL at the time – it was thanks to a 5-for-6 night at the plate at Minute Maid Park on Jun 28, 2007. It was his third hit that made history, a single in the seventh off Aaron Cook that resulted in an 8-6 putout at second base as the 41-year-old tried to leg out a double.

Though more than 60,000 fans in San Diego showed up to Qualcomm Stadium on Oct 7, 2001 to see Tony Gwynn’s final game, they received another memorable moment. In the latest game of a season to see a 3,000th hit, Rickey Henderson stroked a single to open the first for the Padres against the Rockies’ John Thomson. 

Should Cabrera join this group of players to make history this weekend, he’ll be the fourth  in the last nine players to reach his 3,000th hit against Colorado.

3 of the last 8 times a player has reached 3,000 hits, he has done so against the Rockies (Ichiro, Craig Biggio, Rickey Henderson). Miguel Cabrera can do it against the Rox tonight.

— Anthony Castrovince (@castrovince) April 22, 2022

Since the Rockies became an MLB club in 1993, only four NL teams have had their player reach the milestone. Only once – Gwynn on Aug 6, 1999 against the Montreál Expos – was Colorado not a part of that historic accomplishment. 

Jose Mesa, reliever for Colorado in 2006, is the only other former Rockie to surrender a 3,00th hit. As a member of Cleveland in 1992, Mesa gave up a single to Robin Yount on Sept 9 in front of 47,589 at Milwaukee’s County Stadium.