ROCKIES TOWN
Colorado GM happy to see more purple in Rocky Mountain region
The Colorado Rockies are beginning to feel right at home in Albuquerque.
That was perhaps the biggest takeaway from the team’s caravan stop Tuesday at Isotopes Park.
Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich and four players spent two hours getting to know roughly 200 Albuquerque Isotopes season-ticket holders during the lunchtime gathering. The Rockies contingent signed autographs, answered fans’ questions and basically waved the Colorado organization’s purple banner.
The Rockies, who fell to Arizona in last season’s National League wild-card game, are trying to build fan enthusiasm after their first postseason appearance since 2009. It doesn’t stop in Denver, Bridich said.
“It has been more noticeable, people wearing purple,” he said, “and it’s fun to see. We hope to carry that over all around the Rocky Mountain region. This is our area.”
The players in attendance Tuesday included three current Rockies —— pitchers Jon Gray, Jeff Hoffman and util-
ity man Pat Valaika — who spent time with the Isotopes in recent seasons. The fourth was relief pitcher/Albuquerque native Austin House, who spent last season with the Isotopes, Colorado’s Triple-A affiliate, and is trying to take the final step in his climb to the majors.
“Being part of this (caravan stop) is a big-time deal for me,” House said. “I recognize a lot of faces here and get a lot of support in Albuquerque. Hopefully, I can continue being successful with the Rockies organization.”
Gray, Hoffman and Valaika all credited Albuquerque as an important step toward the major leagues. Both pitchers said adapting to Albuquerque’s elevation was good preparation for Denver’s Coors Field.
“I always had a slider and a fastball,” Gray said, “but this is where I added a curveball and really learned how to use it. You figure out that the break is a little shorter at altitude and learn to adjust. Playing here is very similar to Denver, so I feel like my time here was an advantage.”
Gray, who appeared in 21 games in Albuquerque in 2015, advanced to the front of the Rockies’ pitching rotation in 2017. He went 10-4 and was Colorado’s starter in the wild-card game. He also became known for his long blond hair and full beard — a look he was asked about during Tuesday’s question-answer session.
“I like the whole primal deal,” Gray said with a grin. “It’s been working for thousands of years. Why mess with it?”
Gray ultimately donated his hair to Locks of Love last season, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children. He plans to make a similar donation at some point this year.
Players were asked about their favorite memories from playing in Albuquerque. Hoffman, who pitched for the ’Topes in 2016 and ’17, said Fourth of July games made a lasting impression.
“Seeing 15,000 people in the stands,” Hoffman said, “getting that kind of support from the community was unbelievable.”
Bridich followed Hoffman’s recollection with a quip.
“If Jeff’s at the major league level in July,” he said, “we’ll be sure to option him out.”
Bridich was a bit less committal when responding to other fans’ questions, including one about House’s chances of making the Rockies’ roster in 2018.
“Austin had a heck of a season (in 2017) and took the next step,” Bridich said. “Kudos to him. He earned a major league spring training invitation and we’ll see what he does with it.”
Another fan asked whether the Rockies will consider playing spring training games in Albuquerque in the future. Bridich detailed some of the scheduling complications involved but finished with, “It’s a possibility.”
Tuesday’s caravan stop was the Rockies’ third in Albuquerque since the Isotopes became affiliated with the organization in 2015. It may have been the most upbeat stop to date.
“Last year didn’t end the way we wanted,” Hoffman said, “but success feels good and we’re itchin’ to get back at it. I’m going to spring training with one goal: pitch my butt off and earn a spot on what I know will be a special team.”