DENVER — In a strange phenomenon — a combination of unfortunate luck and an unwillingness to take a deeper look — Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu are each experiencing career years for the Colorado Rockies but are somehow more underrated than ever.
So for this BSN Denver exclusive, we decided to ask them the same two questions; Why is the other guy underrated? And who is the better basketball player?
Both fall victim to being overshadowed by more bombastic players, players on more successful teams and guys who can hit tape-measure shots that wind up on Sportscenter. Blackmon and LeMahieu, meanwhile, just keep on doing the job of providing a ton of value at little cost while being the most consistent players on a team known for its inconsistencies. They are the heart and soul of the Colorado Rockies.
The same unassuming attitude that both carry is what prompted me to ask each one about the other, since neither really likes talking about himself much. As expected, both showed a ton of enthusiasm when discussing what the other guy brings.
LeMahieu began things by not being able to narrow down why Blackmon is underrated to just one thing. “There’s a lot,” he says. “I think his defense is underrated. I think he’s made himself into a very good defensive centerfielder, so I’ll start with that. I don’t know how many teams say ‘if we just had a guy that could get on base for our big guys …’ and we have one. And we’ve had one for three or four years now. The quality at-bats he gives, every single day to set up the rest of our lineup is pretty underrated.”
He kind of allows the whole team to scout the pitchers in real time, I say.
“Exactly,” replies LeMahieu. “He always gives a good at-bat — to lead off the game, to turn the lineup over, he’ll compete and give you everything he has in every at-bat no matter the score. That’s not easy to do.”
Blackmon sets the tone and LeMahieu always has his finger on the pulse.
“DJ has a super good feel for the game,” says Blackmon. “He always knows what the right situation is for everything. He’s just a baseball player throughout; knows how to think, knows where to go with the ball, what’s right and wrong in terms of all that stuff that takes the experience to know. He knows when it’s OK to brush guys back, what’s unsportsmanlike, he just really knows the game.”
For some reason, football and basketball fans and media seem to have a better understanding of the importance of a high game IQ. In baseball, for whatever reason, that seems to get lost which is strange considering how cerebral the game is.
“That’s a good point,” Blackmon says on that double standard. “A lot of times, you can call some of that stuff from the bench, but DJ just has a tremendous feel for the game. He knows how to read the other team. All of it.”
One place where the two let their humility go is on the basketball court. Which is the better hoops player?
“I will say he’s underrated as a basketball player,” LeMahieu says. Apparently, Blackmon is cursed to be underrated everywhere he goes. “He’s a good basketball player … but I think I got him.”
But have you ever hit a behind the back half-court shot like Blackmon did at a Nuggets game last year?
“No, that’s impressive.”
But, LeMahieu says, this isn’t all theoretical. They’ve met on the hardwood a few times. “I think the all-time record is in my favor.”
Blackmon wasn’t arguing. “He’s better,” he says with no hesitation. “I’m more of like a skills guy. I’m a three-point shootout, dunk contest guy. He’s like Larry Bird. If you’re playing against him, he’s gonna win.
Please tell me he trash talks like Larry Bird.
“No trash talk. He’s just straight backing it up. No talk. Walks the walk. Doesn’t need to talk about it. Just like he is with baseball.”
