Since the Colorado Rockies signed Ian Desmond to the largest sum they’ve ever handed to a free agent — a whopping 5 year, $70 million deal — much has been made of the fact that the career shortstop and outfielder will be asked to play first base, a not insignificant amount of concern has been raised over the total dollars given out, and debate has raged over what else the Rockies might have done and if this move puts them any closer to contention.
But very little has been made of Ian Desmond, the man.
In response to a question from Dan Lewis of 850 KOA about his consistent ability to stay on the field (another less scrutinized element of the acquisition) Desmond highlighted some remarkable facets of his character that could play a role on a team looking to enter a contention window.
“I think the general term is gonna be fight. My mom taught me how to fight, she is the best, she taught me how to be who I am. Her work ethic is unbelievable. She’s been working since a really young age. She grew up in a family of eight, and she’s still working now. Hopefully we can get her off that but she loves it and her work ethic is second to none and as a kid she always did what she had to do to provide for us and my stepdad did the same. Playing everyday is a fight, you have to decide that it is something you want to go after and you wake up in the morning, you suck it up and you get out there because that is what you’re paid to do. That’s the way I see it. That’s the way my Mom taught me. The harder you work the more you can provide for your family. I try to keep as much of a blue collar attitude towards it that I can. And I love to play baseball, I love baseball. My father passed away when I was 18 months old, he was 46 years old. I don’t know when my last day is going to be and I don’t ever want to step off the field over something so small that I sleep at night and say ‘I could’ve played through that.’ I’m gonna go out there and give it what I got unless the manger says otherwise and I’ll probably fight him over that too.”
This quote puts everything else that Desmond said at the press conference in the proper context. It makes sense that he would sign a long term deal, and that the Rockies would offer him one, when you hear him discuss his passion for staying on the field which extends into helping his team anyway he can. “I’m gonna get in where I fit here, I’m on board for whatever,” he said both in response to manning first and to potentially moving around the diamond should he be called upon to do so.
For Desmond, which makes sense given the context, coming to Colorado had as much to do with wanting to move his family to a place of their choosing.
“I always enjoy coming to Colorado,” he said. “I always enjoy this city, I always enjoy the people in this city … I’ve got three little boys and I want to raise them in a place that has common views … I wanted to come here last year, this was my number one.”
If nothing else, the Colorado Rockies got themselves a player in a great mood and willing to do whatever it takes to get wins.
