Hey America, I have one simple question for you. Do you believe in the Colorado Rockies?
Yes, those Rockies. The Rockies who currently lead all of the National League with a 41-23 mark. The Rockies who have won their seventh straight game. The Rockies who have taken the first three games of a four-game series from the defending World Champion Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, including a 9-1 demolition on Saturday. The Rockies who did that after sweeping the defending American League champion Cleveland Indians in a two-game set in Denver.
Yes, those Colorado Rockies.
We’re guessing that some of you are still sitting there going, “Just wait. The June swoon is coming.”
Well, we’re still waiting. That may have been a characteristic of a Rockies team of years past. These, however, are not those Colorado Rockies.
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I’ve heard Bud Black say a lot of things this year. However, this quote is absolutely one of my favorites from the Rockies skipper this season.
"“Like I’ve said many times, this is a new team,” Black emphatically stated. “Every year is different. The composition of the team. The composition of the coaching staff. The composition of a new year. I don’t want to draw any comparisons to previous teams. I assume that we’ll play good baseball, home and road.”"
Do you know that’s why that’s one of my favorite quotes? Because Bud Black said it after the Seattle Mariners came into Coors Field and beat the Rockies in two consecutive games right after Memorial Day.
Colorado lost to a bad team in a two-game series? Oh no, the world is crashing down around us! The season is over! The June swoon started early!
We hear you, baseball fans around the nation. You pointed and said, “Told you so!” You’re ready for the Rockies to go skidding off the rails. Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado and every other player in the Colorado lineup are just products of Coors Field, right?
Keep thinking that. Then keep looking at the standings.
Sure, it’s early. We’re creeping up on Father’s Day and we’re a long ways from October. However, there’s a different feel with this team.
Rookie pitchers stepping up and surprising the National League. Players like Ryan Hanigan or Alexi Amarista coming through with the clutch hit. Greg Holland showing that a pitcher can regain All-Star form after Tommy John surgery. Oh wait, we’ve already seen that with Adam Ottavino’s slider and Tyler Chatwood’s road dominance.
From Blackmon’s beard to Nolan Being Nolan to Mark Reynolds proving everyone who passed on him this offseason wrong, there’s a lot to like about this team.
It’s OK America if you’re not ready to embrace the Rockies yet. We know it’s hard to believe in a team you might not see on ESPN or FS1 (or even hear about much on local sports talk radio). However, these Rockies do exist and they’re not just a fad.
When you’re ready to start believing, we’ll be here. Cheering for the Rockies today and tomorrow just as hard as we have all season. Believing in their talent just as much as we have all season.
Next: 5 guarantees for Colorado for the rest of the 2017 season
America, you’re on the clock. These Rockies are for real. Don’t wait until late September to realize it.