• “We Want to Be Here”: Pushing Back Against “LOL Rockies”
It’s not just the the front office looking for a reset; the players want to be taken seriously, too.
Apr 22, 2022
For the last year, the Rockies have largely been defined by what they don’t have: Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story, Jon Gray, competent leadership, an analytics department, a respected farm system.
Stories about the team tend to begin by focusing on players who are no longer with the organization rather than those who are. To its credit, the organization has attempted to address those on-the-field missing pieces — incidentally, the Rockies are ranked eighth in total offseason spending. That money paid for signing free agents Kris Bryant, Alex Colomé, José Iglesias, and Chad Kuhl in addition to signing extensions with CJ Cron, Elias Díaz, Kyle Freeland, Ryan McMahon, and Antonio Senzatela. With the exception of the Bryant signings, these have been unsexy moves, but the Rockies have tried to replace what was missing.
Still, the narrative of lack has provided an easy talking point.
Last week, I wrote about the Rockies using 2022 as the “UnArenado Year,” a time to change the narrative surrounding this team, and I still think that’s true. But over the course of last week, I began wondering if I had missed a key element of those involved in this attempt to shift the story: The players.
Here’s when I first noticed it.
After the Rockies defeated the Phillies on Tuesday night, CJ Cron was the subject of a Marc Stout interview. In this midst of that discussion, Cron, who is not an especially loquacious person, said something that struck me enough that I tweeted it.
Renee Dechert @307ReneeHere’s the full quote and video: “Everyone wants to be here. We want to commit. We want to win ballgames for this city.”
Two points are notable. First, Cron makes clear that he’s made a choice to stay in Denver; second, in mentioning “this city,” he’s tying that decision to the relationship the players have with fans.
Then, on Wednesday, after the Rockies had lost and were probably on a plane to Detroit, Alan Trejo liked the tweet, a suggestion of agreement.
That’s when I decided perhaps this was worth exploring. As it turns out, “I want to be here” is a theme. Consider a few examples:
- Kris Bryant (April 3, 2022): “We’re in a division that is very, very competitive where they could just roll over and say we don’t really want to sign guys. But they did it with me and Ryan McMahon and Senzatela and Márquez. It says a lot about the people running the show here. I’m so glad this is my home. This is where I want to be.”
- Kyle Freeland (April 20, 2022): “With Mac signing, I truly started to see everything shaping the way we want it, with Bill’s vision, with Dick’s vision and our front office. Obviously, Kris Bryant’s signing was massive and signing [pitcher Antonio] Senzatela last year. Those pieces started falling into place. I was starting to see the big picture, and it was something I wanted to buy into.”
- Ryan McMahon (March 24, 2022): “When I sat down and thought about where I wanted to be and who I wanted to play with and who I wanted to be around, everything lined up with here, and I was just really excited that they reached out to me and wanted to do this. And, obviously, adding Kris Bryant helped, the deals we have Márquez and and Senza for at least another what, four or five years? So just knowing that all those guys were going to be around, and hopefully we do some more with some of the other guys here, and I'm sure sure we'll keep getting better.”
The specific language may change, but the sentiment remains the same: I have chosen to be here.
The last two years have surely been embarrassing (if not humiliating) for the Rockies ownership and front office. For fans, they have been demoralizing because they lead to comments like this:
Zach Clanton @Clant1015I don’t know if Rockies fans, exist…but I’m truly sorry for you all. What are they doing?
Rockies fans do, in fact, exist, and they aren’t looking for pity: They’re looking for a winning team.
Perhaps, then, the players, too, feel a need to change the narrative. They are telling their peers on other teams and the media that Coors Field is not some Rocky Mountain Island of Misfit Toys, a team built of players with no other choice.
Rather, these players are asserting agency: That this team isn’t wrought by chaos; that not everyone is looking to leave; that they enjoy playing together; and that they believe they can compete.
We’ll know more about the viability of the 2022 Rockies when their first road trip has ended next week. But let me offer an utterly anecdotal observation about the shifting narrative.
Purple Row Twitter tends to be my fan barometer — the PR feed often finds itself on the receiving end of fan frustration. Since the 2022 season started with the Rockies winning, there’s not been so much “Too bad Dick Monfort paid the Cardinals $50 million to take Nolan Arenado” and “Remember, Trevor Story felt he had to leave to win” and “SELL THE TEAM, DICK,” and “Why did the Rockies sign Kris Bryant for all that money? They need to rebuild!”
Instead, fans are paying attention to what’s happening with the team and less to where those former fan favorites. It turns out, winning matters when it comes to changing the narrative.
Then there are games like this one against the Cubs:
RoxGifsVids @RoxGifsVidsThe Rockies turned 5 double plays against the Cubs tonight
When the Rockies are doing things like ranking third in turning double plays, the defensive losses of Arenado and Story seem less acute — less personal.
When CJ Cron’s six home runs lead MLB (Nolan Arenado has five), fans start to think less about what was and more about what’s happening now and what may be. They begin to hope and invest in the team.
Right now, the early (and, again, anecdotal) indications suggest that the old narrative surrounding the Rockies is shifting — the players’ statements as well as their play on the field will be essential to the success of this undertaking.
However, it’s early. When the Rockies hit those low points — and they will because that’s how baseball works — then we’ll see how successful the organization has been in redefining itself.
By the way, an important part of the players redefining themselves involves losing the #RoadRockies label they earned in 2021. When a team finishes with a road record of 26-54 and an early possibility of being the worst road team in baseball history, it leaves a mark.
This video from the Rockies’ two-game sweep of the Rangers bears keeping in mind:
Colorado Rockies @RockiesThat the Rockies used this video on their social media shows that the team understands the stakes. That they have recognized this history — indeed, are ridiculing it — and are attempting to set it right is in alignment with “We want to be here.”
Narratives matter.
We’ll see how it goes in Detroit and then Philadelphia.
Share Rockies Pitch by 307Renee: A Colorado Rockies ⚾️ Newsletter
Extended!
- I thought Mike Petriello’s take was right on the Kyle Freeland extension. Also, I’ve got to say that I’ve found it impossible to envision as with any team but the Rockies — his brand is so tied to being the “hometown kid.”
Mike Petriello @mike_petriello
Jeff Passan @JeffPassanDown on the Farm
- This is a nice prospect update from MLB.com.
- Jeff Aberle has finished his prospects series over at Purple Row. (This is a resource I return to repeatedly during the season.)
- Riley Pint may be back, which would be very cool.
Blake Street Banter ⚾🌮 @blakestbanter
He goes 98-98-96-89 to get the first out. Riley is still nasty
Old Friends
- Some bad news for Greg Holland, but it’s good on the Rangers for letting him get 10 years of service time.
Levi Weaver @ThreeTwoEephus
Texas Rangers PR @TXRangersPR- Tom Murphy will always the the former Rockie I’ll wonder about. (Then again, he’s clearly landed well in Seattle.)
Mariners Source @Mariners_Source
What I’m Reading, Watching, and Listening To
- MaximBet and Charlie Blackmon Team Up for First-Ever Partnership Between Active Baseball Player and Sports Betting Brand (Business Wire) — What does a person with a degree in finance do when he’s preparing to retire? He sets up his own sports betting brand.
- Thomas Harding’s “Rodgers Determined to Break Early Skid at the Plate”(Rockies.com) — This season has been a struggle for Brendan Rodgers. (As of this writing, he has a wRC+ of -17.) The good news is that he’s working through it.
- Will Law’s “Bud Black Could Be the Perfect Manager to Lead the Rockies to New Heights” (SI.com) — This is a nice look at Bud Black’s approach to pitching (though it also suggests that Law hasn’t paid attention to what the Rockies have been doing for the last five years).
Weekend Walk-off
I enjoyed this interview with Randal Grichuk. (Also, RoxPile had a nice pice here on the Rockies’ new outfielder.)
Randal Grichuk talks about playing with the Rockies and more on Pregame Spread
It’s also worth noting that Grichuk had been prepped on the Rocky Mountain oysters question that tripped up Kris Bryant last week. Still waiting for the follow up from KB on that one.
Thanks for reading —
Renee