Before Rockies can be MLB’S farm system, maybe they should develop their own first.

There is no doubting the credentials of Rockies interim general manager Bill Schmidt.

After spending parts of five decades in the game as either a coach, scout or front office executive, one cannot argue Schmidt’s baseball bonafides.

That being said, he sure did cause a stir earlier this week when he told The Post’s Patrick Saunders, “We are not a farm system for other people.”

Bill Schmidt — C

Let’s begin by saying one thing first:

Schmidt deserves credit for showing a reporter the courtesy of fielding questions a few weeks prior to an MLB trade deadline that’s likely to end with shortstop Trevor Story leaving Lodo.

That’s certainly not something his predecessor, Jeff Bridich, did much of during his time as Rockies general manager. And even when Bridich did talk publicly, he didn’t say much — instead opting to keep reporters and fans in the dark about the thought process behind his (often questionable) decision-making.

So, the Grading the Week staff is more than willing to give Schmidt the benefit of the doubt for insisting the Rockies don’t need to do anything with Story before the July 30 deadline. (Even though they very much do.)

It’s quite possible Schmidt was just posturing — unhappy with what teams have offered thus far for his soon-to-be-free-agent shortstop. Who can blame a guy for doing everything in his power to drive the price up?

But to brush up against one of the biggest insecurities Rockies fans have carried with them for roughly two decades — “We are not a farm system for other people” — is to burrow deep into the darkest corners of purple pinstripe psyches.

And that’s a place no man should want to go.

This is a franchise, after all, that has watched many of its biggest stars (DJ Lemahieu, Matt Holliday and Nolan Arenado, just to name a few) leave for greener pastures well before their last days on a diamond.

Those are scars that run deep, and made even more painful by the reality that another (Story) is about to do the same.

That might not be quite so bad if there was a light at end of the tunnel. But with the Rockies currently sporting one of the shallowest prospect pools in MLB, there are few future stars waiting in the wings.

Which might be something Schmidt might consider when mulling trade offers for Story over the next few days.

Before the Rockies can be a farm system for other teams, they first must have their own.

Peyton Manning — D

If you’re looking for someone to accurately throw a football 60 feet, 6 inches, look no further than PFM.

If you’re looking for someone to do the same thing with a baseball, maybe don’t bring the Hall of Fame quarterback out of the bullpen.

Former Rockies first baseman and Tennessee football teammate Todd Helton learned as much before Tuesday night’s All-star Game at Coors Field, when Manning bounced a ceremonial first pitch into the left-handed batter’s box.

Who knew Rockies all-star German Marquez needed to be outfitted with a chest protector pregame?

A day later, the quarterback joked he thought he had an 0-2 count, “so I had a pitch to throw away.”

It’s OK, Peyton. Not everyone can throw a perfect strike before a packed stadium.

George W. Bush, PFM is not.