:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49268769/IMG_3115.0.0.JPG)
DENVER -- Opening Day never gets old to Colorado Rockies manager Walt Weiss.
"Yeah, it's still exciting," Weiss said hours prior to the Rockies' 22nd Coors Field season opener. "It's the first opportunity for the fans to see our club in 2016. It's always a great atmosphere, and I think they're going to like the way we play."
The Rockies gave their fans a reason to be excited for the first home game in 2016 by taking two out of three from the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first series of the year. Colorado scored 20 runs on the strength of 10 homers, four off the bat of rookie sensation Trevor Story. His performance surprised everyone, but Weiss saw very early this spring that Story had the poise necessary to make an impact in the majors.
"You never know how a young player is going to respond when they know there's an opportunity," Weiss said. "He knew coming in that he had an opportunity to win a job and be in the big leagues for the first time, and he elevated his game."
Awaiting Story and the Rockies are the struggling San Diego Padres, who started the season in the worst way imaginable. The Padres were outscored, 25-0, in a three-game home series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. San Diego's 27 consecutive innings without a run to start the season is a major league record.
Coors Field should provide some respite for the offensively challenged Padres, even though the park is equipped new, taller fences in right-center field and down the left field line.
"It looks taller than I pictured," Weiss said of the right-center field wall in particular. "I don't see it having a major impact, but it will add some quirkiness to the park. Those padded columns that extend down the fence -- if [the ball] hits one of those, it could create more triples and maybe an inside-the-park homer or two."
Here are the lineups for the somewhat historic day at 20th and Blake:
How to watch/listen
TV: ROOT Sports, MLB.tv
Radio: 850 KOA, MLB.com