BSN Exclusive: Chris Iannetta opens up on his return to Colorado

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz – The only new member of the Colorado Rockies lineup is an old member of the Colorado Rockies lineup.

Catcher Chris Iannetta was re-acquired this offseason, leaving behind the team that his new club lost to in last year’s National League Wild Card game, mostly for the skills he brings behind the plate. But make no mistake, he is an offensive upgrade for the Rockies at backstop as well.

Arguably his most important role will be as a guiding force for a talented—but still very young—group of starting pitchers. Most of these guys were drafted into the organization long after Iannetta left the first time, putting them in an entirely different generation.

But his experience, calm demeanor, and knowledge of the game are sure to be vast wells for his pitching staff to tap.

And, for his part, he is already excited over the tools he now has at his disposal when calling a game, starting with a part of Jon Gray’s arsenal that goes undiscussed far too often.

“I think it’s more the command,” says Iannetta. “His ability to command his pitches, to throw that hard and also have that command is special. Obviously, watching him go out there and do those things is awesome.”

He notes of course that the slider is wicked and the fastball can chew up the best of hitters. But these strides toward commanding both sides of the plate have been the key for Gray his entire professional career and he is in a better spot with this than ever before.

For his pair of lefties, Tyler Anderson and Kyle Freeland, Iannetta sees two different but effective ways to attack hitters.

“They work differently, but they’re both very effective,” he says. “Free comes right at you. Got really good stuff, good slider, good curveball, good change. Fastball movement all around. Andy ‘pitches’ a lot more. He speeds guys up, he slows guys down. He pitches in on the hands, really makes it difficult for guys to get extended. Really speeds up the hitter, and then uses that changeup and offspeed stuff down and away to keep them off balance. So, it’s a different style but they’re both very effective.”

The art of hitting a baseball can often feel similar to the art of Jackson Pollock. It can feel random, overly complex, and nearly impenetrable to fully understand. But there is also a simple explanation for both; it’s all about timing.

Anderson’s hitch is well known by Rockies fans, but there is a lot more to it than a funny foot movement.

“For me, it doesn’t matter, just waiting for the release point. For the hitter, it’s kind of the same, but he definitely changes the size in the hitch. He changes up his delivery a lot, and time to the plate. That’s what really does it. It’s not so much the foot moving around, it’s just how quick he is to the plate sometimes how slow he is other times. So, really keeping the hitters off balance.”

We saw last season, most famously in an encounter with Justin Turner, how Chris Rusin was able to employ a quick-pitch mechanic to great effect. Gray has toyed with adding this element to his game. It has always been a part of Anderson’s.

“It’s become part of the game,” Iannetta explained. “I think it’s always been a part of the game. It’s something that I believe some of the other guys have been working on. A lot more guys are hitting with a leg kick so it becomes a little bit easier to implement. With a leg-kick guy, it’s a little bit harder to speed him up or slow him down. So, I think it’s become a lot more prominent in the game for sure.”

Whether he is helping his fireballer hone his command or helping the lefties throw off that timing, Iannetta will likely give most of his value in places that will never show up in the box score.

“I’m trying to do whatever I can to help this team win and contribute on and off the field,” he says. “Whatever I can bring to the table, I will, and just try to go out there and contribute and help this team get to the playoffs.”

And he’ll be contributing what he can back with the team that drafted him in the fourth round of the 2005 draft.

“It’s good to come back,” he says. “I really enjoyed my time in Denver. I love the city. It’s a great group of fans. It’s one of the few places in the country I could probably live full-time. So, it’s great to come back.”