Colorado Rockies: a conversation with Jonathan Lucroy

Colorado Rockies catcher Jonathan Lucroy spoke to the media before yesterday’s game with the Miami Marlins. He spoke about an assortment of things.

Jonathan Lucroy joined the Rockies after being traded to Denver just before the trade deadline this season. After a down season in a Texas Rangers uniform, he has played much better in a Rockies uniform and offensively, in particular. In a Rangers uniform this season, he had an OPS+ of 65 in 77 games (100 is league average). In 41 games with the Rockies (entering Tuesday), he has an OPS+ of 106.

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Part of the reason that the Rockies acquired him was because Tony Wolters and Ryan Hanigan were struggling both offensively and defensively. Another reason was his veteran leadership and playoff experience. Before yesterday’s game against the Miami Marlins, Lucroy spoke with the media and our own Kevin Henry asked him about being a veteran leader and a player who has experienced the postseason, unlike many of the Rockies current on the roster.

"You know, [you have to] keep things simple…and try not to let these guys get too worked up and too fired up. You’ve gotta keep them grounded and keep them locked in from that standpoint. It’s like anything else. Human emotions [can] take over when you go out there and you try to do too much and get overly excited.Guys who haven’t been there before don’t understand it. You know, it’s a special time. It’s a lot of fun…Hopefully, all of us will take advantage of the moment and situations and play to our ability and if we do that, I think that we’ll be putting ourselves in a good spot."

Playoff Experience

He played in the 2011 postseason when he was still with the Milwaukee Brewers. He only hit .200 in the NLDS in 2011 but he played well in the NLCS when he went 5-for-17 (.294 batting average) with a home run and two RBI.

He also played in the postseason in 2016 with the Rangers but he only went 1-for-12 in the NLDS as the Rangers were swept by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Next: A game of inches haunts the Rockies

Lucroy and the Rockies hope that they can prove themselves in the playoffs this October as they currently have a 1 1/2 game lead on the Milwaukee Brewers with five games to play.