Colorado Rockies: Duane Espy talks hitting, navigating tough times at plate

While the way we look at stats may have changed, “the physical elements of hitting have remained the same,” Espy says. Another thing that hasn’t changed throughout the years is the importance of communication between player and coach.

Take Story, for example. While Espy served as Colorado’s minor league hitting coordinator in 2015, Story was working through Double-A and Triple-A toward his time in the Majors. The two developed a relationship that continues today as Story continues to work on his swing.

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“I talk to Buddy a lot about the game and situational stuff, including defense. He’s a pitcher and he has that mindset,” Story said. “But I’ve been around Duane a long time, including the minor leagues. We just know each other really well and know how we work together.”

“Familiarity with anyone and knowing their personality and what they physically do well and what that slippery slope is where they could head the wrong direction, we try to monitor those things and keep them on track,” Espy chimed in. “He (Story) knows the language I’m speaking and I know the language he’s speaking. Sometimes things can still go off but there is enough respect in our relationship where we can go back and forth and get things where they need to be.”

His 2012 Tulsa Drillers Double-A team featured a 21-year-old Nolan Arenado, 22-year-old Tyler Chatwood  and 23-year-old Josh Rutledge, among others. Through his years as manager, minor league hitting coordinator, supervisor of development and hitting coach, Espy has had his fingers on the development of several of today’s Rockies … and those who have impacted the organization in the past.

That’s a lot of job titles … and a lot of difference-making for the franchise.

“Everything’s a little different,” Espy said about his various roles. “There are good elements. There are frustrations in everything. I think the great thing about this game is that, and it took me a lot of years to understand this, it’s fun and it seems to be an easy game when it’s going well. But I’ve found a little more joy and gratification in getting through the tough times.”

And that gets us back to today and those “tough times” the Rockies are facing as they open a three-game series in Pittsburgh against the Pirates. Espy believes in the old saying that “tough times don’t last but tough people do.”

You can bash this team or individual players. You can give up on them. You can say the season is already a lost cause. Do what you will, but Espy knows what he is seeing in the cage and in the sessions that no one else sees.

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“I want them all to find something they can take on a consistent basis from day to day. Their work, how they prepare and how they can get through a long season,” Espy said. “The one thing I will say about this group, their attention to detail and how they work and come to the ballpark has been great. There is nobody who has fallen off to the side. It’s easy to help when you have guys who are working like these guys.”