ROUGH EARLY ROAD SCHEDULE DOESN’T FAZE MANAGER BLACK
PHOENIX» The Rockies will play 32 of their first 50 games on the road, including Thursday night’s season opener against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
In years past, that journey would have been a season killer for the Rockies and their dreams of contending for the playoffs.
But they’re heartened by a 41-40 road record in 2017, only the second winning road performance in franchise history.
“I like (this team) anywhere. It doesn’t matter where, ” manager Bud Black said, a touch of smart aleck in his voice. “Any big-league stadium, any back field, any sandlot, on the moon, Ecuador, it doesn’t matter, I’m in.”
The Rockies hit .248 on the road last season, sixth in the National League, with a .703 OPS (11th) and 82 homers (12th).
Second baseman DJ LeMahieu thinks the Rockies will perform better this season.
“I think we have a very balanced lineup and we have some team speed this year,” he said. “I think we have a lot of ways to beat you, offensively, so I’m not really worried about us on the road at all.”
Holland fallout.
Greg Holland, the Rockies’ all-star closer last season, agreed to a one-year, $14 million contract with the Cardinals on Thursday, according to multiple media reports. The deal was pending completion of a physical.
Holland rejected his $15 million player option with the Rockies last November and also turned away from the $17.4 million qualifying offer.
Because Holland turned down the Rockies’ qualifying offer, the Cardinals had to forfeit their second-round pick, No. 59 overall, in the 2018 draft. They also lose $500,000 from their international bonus pool. The Rockies will receive a compensatory pick after competitive balance round B, meaning the Rockies will get the 76th overall pick.
Grand opening.
Outfielder Mike Tauchman and infielder Ryan McMahon were on an openingday roster for the first time Thursday.
“It’s awesome,” McMahon said. “It’s like that first day of school again when you are in kindergarten and you actually want to go to school. It’s a dream come true.”
“What he said. That sounded good,” Tauchman said with a laugh. “But really, it’s so great. Outside of playing in the World Series, it’s the most singular coolest thing you can do in baseball.”
Footnotes.
The Rockies officially set their 25-man roster Thursday, putting three players on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to Monday: right-handers Carlos Estevez (left oblique strain) and Jeff Hoffman (right shoulder strain) and lefty Zac Rosscup (left middle-finger blister). … After playing three games at Arizona, the Rockies will have Sunday off before opening a four-game series at San Diego. It’s the first scheduled day off on a Sunday in franchise history.