Colorado Rockies: Take a lesson from Bill Belichick before facing Giants

Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick before Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick before Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

He may not be the most popular person in the Denver area, but the Colorado Rockies have hopefully implemented a lesson taught by New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick before stepping on the field at AT&T Park tonight in San Francisco.

After getting drubbed in a three-game sweep in Los Angeles, the Rockies will quickly need to turn the page against the San Francisco Giants. On the surface, the matchup could be just what the Rockies need right now. Colorado is coming off a first-ever four-game sweep of the Giants at Coors Field and has won nine consecutive games and 10 of 11 overall against San Francisco this season.

Remember when Belichick uttered his now infamous lines about his team moving “on to Cincinnati?” It was after the Patriots were blown out by the Kansas City Chiefs and many people were ready to write off New England after a 2-2 start to the 2014 season. The Patriots, however, went on to post a 12-2 record the rest of the regular season and eventually defeat the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl.

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After watching the Dodgers flex their muscles against the Rockies this weekend at Chavez Ravine, many may feel the same way about Colorado as they did New England after that dismantling by the Chiefs. However, for the Rockies, it’s all about putting the Dodgers series behind them and focusing on what comes ahead. That begins tonight at AT&T Park.

As this tweet reveals, the Rockies have a very favorable schedule ahead of them, starting tonight in San Francisco. If Colorado is going to compete for the National League West crown and keep itself way ahead of the pack in the postseason race, now is not the time to look back. It’s the time to focus on the task at hand. To use another Belichick quote, “Do your job.”

It starts with German Marquez, who will take the hill tonight in the opener. He was solid in his last outing, limiting Arizona to one run over six innings. After allowing six runs against San Diego on June 2, Marquez has allowed just three earned runs over his last 14 innings spanning three games.

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That’s just the kind of pitching performance the Rockies desperately need tonight as they turn the page and look ahead to what could well be a series where Colorado can regain its swagger.