Colorado Rockies: Jonathan Lucroy talks HBP and competitiveness

One thing that has not frustrated Lucroy since he was acquired by the Rockies at the trade deadline is the attitude Colorado’s young pitchers bring to the mound. Prior to his first home game with the Rockies this season, Lucroy called Colorado’s starters “a great staff.” Now that he’s worked with them extensively, the veteran says the competitiveness he sees from them on the mound has made a big impact.

"More from Rox Pile A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving Colorado Rockies: What if Todd Helton had played football instead? Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023? “They’re extremely competitive,” Lucroy said. “They’re not letting up at all on any pitch. They attack. They’re very aggressive. That’s something, for me, that is very refreshing. They’re out there giving everything they have because they care. They’re fighting for something. They’re playing for a reason. As a catcher, it’s nice to be able to have those guys on the mound because they’re attacking, attacking, attacking. Good results or bad results aside, it’s cool just to be able to be back there and to have that kind of mentality on the mound. Every pitch means something to them. There’s no letting up and, as a catcher, that’s really all you can ask for.”"

And, as a veteran catcher, what does he do if he sees one of his young pitchers starting to get a little wild on the mound?

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"“As a veteran guy, I let them kind of go and see if they usually self-correct,” Lucroy said. “Sometimes, young guys, they kind of get out of it and try to press a little bit. They try to do too much. Not all of them, but I was that age before too and I know how it is. You’re out there grinding through it and you’re fighting and you can’t figure out what to do to get back on track. Sometimes I will go out there and try to slow them down and get them to breathe. Get them to relax. Get them to focus on my glove. Just small stuff to see if I can get them away from what they’re thinking about.”"