Colorado Rockies: 3 things we learned from the opening series

Chris Rusin is going to pitch a lot in 2018, and that’s good

Bud Black loves a few things in life: telling old stories, his family (I assume) and Chris Rusin. Rusin is smart lefty who plays 3D chess on a checkerboard when he toes the rubber. Part of this is that Rusin reminds Black of his southpaw self. The other part is Rusin that does not let his manager nor his teammates down.

In Colorado’s first game, Jon Gray left him the worst sport possible: bases loaded, nobody out. Rusin worked out of it. He miraculously worked out of that but surrendered three runs in the next inning.

On Saturday, Rusin was good again, working a solid nine-pitch inning including a double play after issuing a walk.

Next: Predictions for the 2018 Rockies season

Rusin is such an underrated part of the Rockies and is the bridge for the club to get from their young starters to their expensive backend. The game will often hinge on Rusin before the casual fan even gets to the TV or while the hardcore fan is getting a refreshment. He started his season pretty much where he left the last one off, and that’s great news.