The Colorado Rockies, to put it plainly, have more bravado and confidence in themselves to win a World Series than they ever have before.
Welcome to the 2019 season.
When the Colorado club takes the field against the Miami Marlins to kick things off, they will do so with their highest of expectations.
Charlie Blackmon, who is prone to neither exaggeration or accepting premises he does not agree with, responded with an emphatic “absolutely” when I asked him if this is the most belief the team has ever had in themselves going into a season.
“We’re a good team with good players who’ve had a little bit of success,” he says. “Certainly, we know we have a lot of talent and we can win a lot of ball games. And win a lot of ball games deep in a season, too. I don’t think there’s anything other than people putting their work in and setting their sights high.”
That talent level was recognized from across the diamond during the Wild Card game by Daniel Murphy who then became the Rockies key offseason acquisition.
“It’s an organization that’s been in the postseason in back-to-back seasons,” says Murphy. “Went to game 163, almost won the division last year. Got to the Division Series when I was in Chicago. The starting pitching staff is really good. I’m excited about what the bullpen has. I know we invested a lot last year. I’m excited about how they’ll come out this year. I think the offense is a talented group that we can start really stacking up good at bats.”
But Murphy, who has more postseason games played than the rest of the Rockies core combined, knows that it takes more than looking good on paper. Sure, the game is a marathon, but it is one made up of thousands of individual steps that must be taken with care and intent.
“I think you head into each Spring Training thinking that you’ll be a good ball club,” he continued. “For me, I don’t necessarily look at big picture stuff because big picture is going to come into focus when you win individual pitches on a daily basis.
Starting pitcher Jon Gray will have a bit less pressure on his shoulders in 2019, entering as the fourth man in the rotation rather than its defacto leader, but says he can feel a palpable buzz in the clubhouse.
“There is. I think so. People definitely know we’re for real especially after the last few seasons. We just know we can put together this year with the guys we’ve have coming back.”
It’s also well understood that they are sick and tired of hearing about the Los Angeles Dodgers as the class of the division.
“It definitely gives you an extra edge when you’re trying to outwork someone,” says Gray. “At least that’s what I like to believe. I think it’ll work out for us.”
A team with this much talent and a chip on their shoulder for the way things ended with a thud last year – and for their division rivals – can be very dangerous.
“It’s obviously a talented group and a lot of us have played together for a long time,” says Garrett Hamspon. “We’re excited. We’re ready to get going. We like our chances.”
