SPORTS ROCKIES’ BLACKMON IS GETTING HOT AT THE RIGHT TIME
Clearly, the 2018 edition of Charlie Blackmon hasn’t been quite as prolific as the 2017 version.
Defensively, the Rockies’ center fielder has shown the wear and tear of his position, ranking in the bottom 10 of all majorleague outfielders in Statcast’s outs above average. And at the plate, the defending NL batting champion’s home runs, batting average and RBIs are all down markedly from last year’s historic campaign.
But while the stats may not be as gaudy, there’s still plenty of reasons to fear — and simultaneously respect — the beard, as Blackmon’s redhot September indicates the 32yearold still boasts one of the most reliable bats in the game.
Heading into Tuesday night’s game against Philadelphia, Blackmon was riding a careerhigh 16game hit streak, the longest active streak in the majors and the longest streak by a Rockies player since DJ LeMahieu’s sizzling 16game autumn stretch last year.
“All year, he’s put up great atbats,” LeMahieu said. “He’s the best leadoff hitter in the league in my opinion, and in a lot of people’s opinion. It’s September, and I’m sure his body is tired and beat up, but he keeps going and setting the table for us.”
Additionally, Blackmon’s .353 September average ranks fifth in the National League, and his month he became the just the third center fielder in league history to have at least three straight seasons with 25 home runs and 100 runs scored. The others? Willie Mays and Duke Snider.
And even with the recent surge, Blackmon believes his stretch ceiling still hasn’t been reached.
“I’ve been sometimes good over the past week or so, but I don’t feel
like I’m super locked in or anything right now,” Blackmon said.
Colorado manager Bud Black believes Blackmon’s secondhalf resurgence amid the playoff race speaks volumes about the approach that the uberfocused, routineoriented outfielder takes to the game.
“Charlie is probably as mentally tough as any player I’ve been around,” Black said. “On a daily basis, he’s ready to play even though he might not be (as fresh) as he is on opening day. But Charlie doesn’t, and will never, make a performancebased excuse for being bangedup and tired. He just keeps hitting.” Black good with Dbacks’ moves. During pregame Tues day, Black touched on what he called the “integrity of the pennant race,” and his belief that all teams, regardless of whether in contention or not, should be making their best effort to win at the end of the season.
But September’s expanded rosters mean clubs eliminated from the playoff race have the luxury of playing younger callups in favor of established veteran players, as the Diamondbacks chose to do in Monday’s loss to the Dodgers.
Arizona manager Torey Lo vullo elected to hold first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and outfielder David Peralta — the team’s two best hitters — out of the starting lineup in favor of rest, a move that Black trusts is in the best interest of the Diamondbacks.
“Torey called me, we talked on the phone after Sunday’s game in Arizona,” Black said. “We have a longstanding relationship — I coached him in the minor leagues and we were together for a full year in Buffalo — and he assured me they were going to do everything in their power to win games. I defer to all managers that they know their players better than anybody.”