SPORTS ALL-STAR BLACKMON WORKING ON VACATION
Charlie Blackmon never stops working, even on an all-expensespaid vacation.
While many of his teammates are headed back to their hometowns for a few days of family time during the all-star break, or will be chilling in Vail, the Rockies’ center fielder will be in Washington, hobnobbing with baseball’s best players.
Don’t misunderstand. Blackmon is thrilled to be going to his third All-Star Game. He’ll soak up the experience, and he would love to deliver a big hit on the big stage Tuesday night.
But he also plans to use the time to make himself a better ballplayer. How? By picking the brains of his fellow all-stars. He’s not about to let that chance slip by. Last year, he chatted with Giants catcher Buster Posey, Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke and Reds first baseman Joey Votto to pick up tips.
“I had a lot of baseball questions for those guys,” Blackmon said. “I like to see how they think sometimes. It’s fun to ask, ‘What were you thinking at this point?’ Or, ‘Why do you do this?’
“It’s awesome that every player there is elite. So that makes for an interesting atmosphere. It’s very rare to have a group of guys that are that confident and that talented, all together in the same place.”
Blackmon is a workout warrior who follows a weightlifting and stretching routine to ward off the grind of the long season. He’ll follow a similar routine while he’s in the nation’s capital, just not with the same intensity.
“I think it’s important to get a mental break,” he said. “I’ll still do all of my injury-prevention stuff, but I’m not going to hit as much BP (batting practice) or throw as much or chase as many flyballs.”
He’ll allow himself to soak up the experience.
“I still really enjoy that this is still sort of a break,” he said. “Most of the guys are in a great mood, and it’s not like a normal
game day where guys are focused on performing. Guys are a little bit more laid back. They are there just to have fun and play the game, as opposed to really trying to grind out a win.”
During an all-star game, both clubhouses are filled with jerseys, baseballs and other memorabilia that players sign and swap with one another. Blackmon participates in the time-honored rit- ual, just not to the same extent as some of his fellow all-stars.
“I’m worried that I’m going to be an old guy one day and regret not doing more of that stuff,” he said. “Having a picture taken, getting a signed jersey, or maybe a ball signed by all of the guys is good enough for me.”
Third baseman Nolan Arenado, an all-star for the fourth time who’ll be making his second consecutive start, relishes every part of the experience. But he also admitted he needs a couple of days off before the second half of the season kicks in.
“I like all of it. There’s nothing that’s not exciting about the All Star Game,” he said. “Just being around all of the guys is cool. Then I’ll go to Arizona for a couple of days, get some rest and be ready for the second half.”
Arenado owns a home in Scottsdale, which is convenient for him since the Rockies open a threegame series at Arizona beginning Friday.
The Rockies, winners of 13 of their last 16 games, are in third place in the National League West, sitting two games behind the Dodgers and 1K games behind Arizona.