Colorado Rockies: The top 5 things we learned at Rockies Fest

Along with the Arenado sniping and feuding, the Rockies have also had a bit of a public relations nightmare with the termination of radio broadcaster Jerry Schemmel. We talked about Schemmel’s loss in this podcast and how it will impact fans in 2020 (and how we hope he’ll still be affiliated with the Rockies somehow).

Let’s make one thing very clear: The Rockies did not have anything to do with this layoff. The ax falling on Schemmel came from KOA Radio through their bosses at IHeartRadio. But no matter where the news came from, it still didn’t set well with Rockies fans.

Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post took to Twitter to try to once again explain the scenario.

That buzz was still loud and clear on Saturday, despite KOA announcing that Mike Rice would be taking over for Schemmel alongside longtime play-by-play man Jack Corrigan. Rice is no stranger to Rockies fans as he has filled in on the radio in the past and has done plenty with the Rockies and other sports at KOA.

Still, many fans were not and are not happy about the change.

That was the view of several Rockies fans I overheard on Saturday and have spoken with on the subject. Change has happened … and it hasn’t been received in the best way so far, it’s very obvious.

Nolan Arenado was not at Rockies Fest on Saturday. Don’t read too much into that. After all, there were plenty of other players (Wade Davis, Ian Desmond, Daniel Murphy, and Ryan McMahon are just some of the names that come to mind) who weren’t there either.

Still, that doesn’t mean that there wasn’t plenty of talk about Arenado and his situation coming from the fans who walked through the gates at Coors Field. Many fans wanted answers, and they didn’t get them from general manager Jeff Bridich or owner Dick Monfort.

Colorado Rockies

Bridich and Monfort were both reportedly on hand to shake hands with fans and welcome them to Rockies Fest but it was made very clear that they would not be answering questions about Arenado. Neither were made available to the media to help ensure that.

Those fans who tried to ask about Arenado were reportedly stonewalled by the duo, in a nice way of course. Bridich was reportedly asked several times by fans after meeting them at the front gate but the topic didn’t continue.

There’s a huge elephant in the room and Saturday didn’t help in shooing it away at all. There has been no comment from the Rockies front office since Arenado lashed out earlier this week and it seems that, for now, they’re content to try to sweep it under the rug under spring training starts.

That’s not what Rockies fans want, and that was very clear on Saturday. Something will need to be done in order for the tension to be eased. It’s up to the Rockies front office to make that happen.

Who did answer the questions about Arenado? It was up to the players and manager.

The situation with Arenado was brought up in questions to Bud Black, Trevor Story, David Dahl and Kyle Freeland by the media in a session after Rockies Fest. The overall consensus? No one wants to speak for Arenado in this situation and they don’t think it will be a distraction for the team.

“Players are wired to play,” Black told the media, including Rox Pile. “Once we get to camp, I think the focus is going to be on baseball.”

It’s getting to camp that will be the tricky part for the team. However, Story believes winning can take care of a lot of the issues being discussed right now.

“You can only control what you can control. For me, I try not to worry too much,” Story said. “All of this comes down to everyone wants to win. Everyone involved wants to win and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”

And Kyle Freeland may have had the quote of the day on the subject.

“No matter what, he is gonna show up on time ready to play, ready to work his ass off,” Freeland said of his All-Star third baseman.

Don’t expect there to be much talk from the players or coaching staff heading into spring training about the subject. It’s very obvious they’re all focused on getting back to playing baseball rather than answering questions about their teammate and general manager.

As mentioned earlier, one of the most positive news stories of the offseason revolved around Trevor Story and the Rockies coming together on a two-year, $27.5 million deal that will keep the two sides from any arbitration issues. The contract (which is almost finalized, Story said on Saturday) ends after the 2021 season, the same time that contracts for Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon come to an end as well.

More from Colorado Rockies News

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: 3 things we appreciated from Tuesday in San Francisco
• What Bill Schmidt’s comments mean for the Colorado Rockies in 2023

The contract doesn’t keep Story as a member of the Rockies any longer than he would’ve been without it. It covers the last two years of his arbitration period. Colorado and Story were still going to need to figure out what happened after the 2021 season, with or without this new contract.

Story signing follows a similar pattern to Arenado’s. Does that mean Story is set up to sign a long-term deal with the Rockies? It’s possible, but nothing is set in stone.

“It feels good. I’ve enjoyed my time here. I love playing here in front of these fans,” Story said. “Last year was rough but the years before that were good. You have to look at it in a bigger picture.”

And that was a big theme as well. Last year was not who this Rockies team believes that it is.

Make no mistake about it, Kyle Freeland’s return to his 2018 levels (or even close to them) will be a huge boost for the Rockies. A change in his delivery is expected to bring good results, and Freeland has the confidence in better things in 2020.

Freeland said that he turned the page on his disappointing 2019 season quickly but isn’t forgetting about it.

“It’s something that I think should stick with me for the rest of my career,” Freeland said. “It should stick with me and I should be aware of it just because it was a serious rut that I was in and one of the lowest lows I’ve ever been in my life. And it’s something that I came out on the other side.”

And that “other side” is where Freeland is now and where Black expects him to be in 2020.

“The talent. His stuff. How he’s wired and his desire,” Black said when asked about what will help Freeland rebound this season. “This past season was a learning experience for him. I think it’s just lined up for him to bounce back.”