Colorado Rockies Off Day Links, April 16

Sep 27, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Michael McKenry (8) in the dugout after a solo home run in the eighth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

After a successful series in San Francisco, your Colorado Rockies are enjoying an off day in Los Angeles before three games against the Dodgers this weekend.

As you read this, the Colorado Rockies and I are hanging out.

The Rox are enjoying an off day today in L.A. And whaddya know? I happen to live in L.A., too. What a coincidence!

So what’s on the agenda?

More from Colorado Rockies News

We’re going to Runyon Canyon to hike and watch celebrities, followed by a kale smoothie at that place on LaBrea and Sunset.

Then, we’re going to head to Santa Monica to rent bikes from the guy at the California Avenue pedestrian bridge.

We’ll ride from Will Rogers to Venice (where we’ll see those quirky guys selling rap albums to every tourist!), and we’ll probably grab some ice cream on the boardwalk.

That night, we’ll head to Beverly Hills and enjoy some shopping before hopping over to West Hollywood to dine at Lisa Vanderpump’s Sur (you know, just to see and be seen).

After dinner, we’ll head back to Hollywood and enjoy some experimental theater undertaken by truly god-awful actors, before ending the night in WeHo at the Whisky rocking out to music that probably only Christian Bergman likes.

At no point in time today, ever, for any reason, will any of us ever ever EVER venture into the Valley. Stick to the west side and Hollywood, kids, you can never go wrong.

Sorry. Links:

Adam Ottavino, New Closer With New Weapons (FanGraphs).

Interesting piece by Eno Sarris about what Ottavino has to do to get lefties out, and what he’s already doing differently from previous seasons in that department.

Colorado Rockies Infield Moniker Part 2: The Final Vote (Purple Row).

The only legitimate answer here is Coors Shield.

Leather Daddies is too much of an inside joke for Arrested Development fans. That’d be like me wanting to give the Rockies a Hank Hill-themed nickname. Like, King of the Hill is funny as hell, but it’s also exclusive in that it’s limited to those of us who have actually watched the show; the same would happen here with Leather Daddies if it won the contest.

Vote Coors Shield. You can’t go wrong.

Good as gold: Arenado makes fantastic catch (MLB.com).

Just shut up and watch it again.

Jackie Robinson was a great baseball player (Baseball Reference).

Jackie Robinson Day was yesterday and it’s important for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is the social and cultural implications Robinson had – and continues to have – on baseball, and America. But for goodness’ sake, don’t forget how amazing of a baseball player he was, too!

Here’s SABR’s in-depth bio of him, for more. I know, most of it is stuff a lot of us know already, but it’s cool to read about his life, especially understanding the context.

The Power of Teammates, Family, And Fans (LaTroy Hawkins).

LaTroy Hawkins wrote a thoughtful piece for SportsBlog.com about the Opening series in Denver, his last home opener in baseball, and – yes – blowing the save against the Cubs on Sunday afternoon. He’s a great guy.