Colorado Rockies: The 5 players we most want to hear mic’d up

Could on-field microphones play a bigger role in baseball games when the Colorado Rockies and the rest of Major League Baseball finally return to the playing field?

That’s one of the points reportedly being discussed as Major League Baseball toys with the idea of playing a shorter season potentially within empty stadiums in Arizona (or potentially in both Arizona and Florida). If Colorado Rockies fans can’t be in the stadium to cheer on their favorite players, being able to hear what they’re saying at key points of the game could help enhance what will likely be a much different game day experience.

With empty stadiums, microphones will likely pick up more banter than we’ve heard in previous seasons. But what about players wearing microphones as they have during All-Star Games previously?

That’s where we know Charlie Blackmon has shined in the past. Flash back to this conversation during the 2018 All-Star Game. A discussion about his beard in the middle of the game is a beautiful thing. After all, he is “a little ‘stitious” and outfielders don’t have a lot of friends. Just some of the things we love to hear from Chuck Nazty.

We know Blackmon is a natural for this if microphones are a bigger part of the game in 2020. But what about some of the other Rockies we’d love to see have a microphone at their disposal during a game? Here are some of our thoughts. See what you think.

Some of the most honest and real conversations I have had with a Rockies player about strategy and the game’s changing outlook as the contest has gone along has been with infielder Ryan McMahon. Versatile enough to play first, second, or third, McMahon has never shied away from the press, pregame or postgame.

RyMac also has a great personality and way of talking that makes him very relatable. We’re thinking to give him a microphone and a way to talk baseball and life in general during some of the games would be fantastic.

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Now here’s an interesting question. As an outfielder, Charlie Blackmon has time to react while answering a question. An infielder like McMahon is obviously closer to the plate and gets the ball coming at him a lot faster than Blackmon. Would a conversation became a distraction that could become dangerous for an infielder? It’s something to think about.

However, if RyMac could be mic’d up at the plate or between innings, sign me up for that. I always learn something after talking to him in the clubhouse and I think a lot of baseball fans would feel the same way.

Put a microphone on Tony Wolters and let’s see what happens. I believe it would be baseball gold.

Whether it’s Wolters interacting with the batter or having a discussion with the umpire about a call, the Rockies catcher would no doubt have some interesting things to say. Wolters would also have plenty of nuggets of knowledge to share with the pitcher on a mound visit (will we still have those when baseball returns with social distancing?) that viewers would love to hear.

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By the way, it would be great if both the catcher AND the umpire would be mic’d up during every game. It would create must-see TV every game that fans simply can’t be a part of right now. Hearing an umpire’s reasoning on a call or rule challenge would be very interesting indeed.

But back to Wolters, hearing some of the catcher’s strategies as the game goes along and how it might change depending on the pitcher, the count, and the score would be insight that any fan would find interesting. Wolters is also a great student of the game so getting insight into his mindset would be great.

Would pitchers and catchers be worried about some of their game secrets coming out during the broadcast? Possibly. However, if there’s a way to make sure Rockies fans can learn while keeping some of the strategy out of the ears of the other team, we’re all for hearing what Wolters has to say from behind the plate as much as possible.

Give us Kyle Freeland and all of the emotions on the mound during the game and a microphone to record them. We’re in for that.

Much like we talked about with Tony Wolters, it would be great to hear Freeland talking to his catcher as well as his pitching coach about strategy, fatigue, or many other points. It would also be great to hear some of the emotion we have seen so many times from the southpaw on the mound.

Naturally, Freeland isn’t going to be doing a lot of interviews while he’s on the mound. But some of the sound bites during the game and in the dugout after his day is done would be fantastic.