In-N-Out, Whataburger: Colorado Rockies dish on their favorite burgers

From the Hartford Steamed Cheeseburgers to the Albuquerque Green Chile Cheeseburgers, the Colorado Rockies and their organization certainly knows how to celebrate a good hamburger.

Monday was National Hamburger Day and, despite it being overshadowed by a much more important holiday, one could argue that a good hamburger is just about as American as it gets. With that in mind, we at Rox Pile took some time on a very patriotic day to spice it up and talk burgers with the Rockies.

Last year on June 16, the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes became the Green Chile Cheeseburgers for a game against the Fresno “Tacos.” Current big leaguers Ryan McMahon and Noel Cuevas played in the 15-14 Pacific Coast League “shootout.”

“I played great that game. I liked it,” said McMahon who went 5-for-6 with two homers and two doubles along with seven RBI that night. “We were in a shootout, it was a fun offensive game.”

“I remember that night actually, we crushed them but lost 15-14,” said Ceuvas who went 3-for-5 in the game. “It was the Tacos against the the Cheeseburgers and I hit my longest home run of the year that day. It was a lefty, I think I hit it went out of the stadium on a 2-0 count. I remember everything about that night.”

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The talk of National Hamburger Day was a juicy topic in the Colorado clubhouse that drew plenty of reactions. Those included “I didn’t know that!” and “Is it really?” from ballplayers.

What’s rare are the arguments to be had over the “best burger.” Plenty of players had plenty of opinions.

“Oooh heavy, the best burger I’ve ever had is tough, but you can’t go wrong with Whataburger,” Trevor Story said. “Being from Texas, that’s my pick. But Five Guys is a good pick too.”

“I’m a California kid so In-N-Out is my favorite burger,” McMahon described.

“No. No. He’s got it all wrong. He’s a California boy. His taste buds are off,” McMahon’s new double play partner Story said.

And that’s the meat of the matter.

Nolan Arenado also disagreed with his left side mate.

“It’s In-N-Out and it’s not even close,” the star third baseman said. “Double Double animal style, Animal style fries. If I want to get naughty again, I go quadruple with four patties on California Style.”

McMahon doesn’t do animal style and likes the four by four. However, if he were to create his own burger it would be, “a lot of cheese, double bacon and two beef patties and dousing it in ketchup.”

Story and Cuevas are simpler. Their favorites an A1 steakhouse burger and a hangover style one, respectively.

“It’s the one with the fried egg,” rookie outfielder Cuevas said. “It’s my favorite of all time. We have it here in the clubhouse and I absolutely crush it.”

Not in his 20s, manager Bud Black may have a more refined and experienced taste.

“I had a good burger two weeks ago at Elway’s,” the second-year Rockies skipper said. “Hey, good burger.”

Broncos legend John Elway has several steakhouse locations around the city. You can visit them most days, including his birthday.

“As far as fast food, I take In-N-Out,” Black continued. “You know who makes a good burger? Tyler in our clubhouse.”

The consensus is that Rockies’ club Culinary Nutrition Specialist Tyler Hines makes a good burger. As for the rest, as Story pointed out, it kind of just depends on where you’re from, unless you’re Cuevas because you can put an egg on beef just about anywhere.

Next: Inside the mind of Coors Field's most prolific hot dog eater

All these comes back to age old question, “Why do hamburgers make good baseball players?” Because they’re great at the plate.

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