Rockies Opening Day 2018: Weather updates, highlights, score, and more

5:49 p.m. MT

Over 48,000 tickets sold today (not all 48,000 pictured here).

5:30 p.m. MT

How cold is it? It’s so cold, Ian Desmond is wearing a beanie out in the field, and it covers at least 80 percent of his ears.

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5:20 p.m. MT

That’s what you need when you’re down five. 8-3 Braves in the bottom of the seventh.

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4:48 p.m. MT

There’s always one.

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4:37 p.m. MT

The top of the fifth, a brief and as yet incomplete history:

Flyout

Flyout

Walk

Double (run scores)

Intentional walk

Double (two runs score)

7-3 Braves.

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4:32 p.m. MT

Video evidence:

4:26 p.m. MT

DINGERS! First, Carlos González hit a laser out to right field (that sweet, sweet swing). Then, Trevor Story hit a looooong one out to left It’s 4-3 Rockies after four innings.

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4:18 p.m. MT

Just in case you forgot about the weather.

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3:49 p.m. MT

Indeed it is. 4-1 Braves after two, with all those four runs coming in the first.

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3:41 p.m. MT

CarGo roped a triple to score Nolan Arenado, who stole one of the three or bases he’ll snag all year.

Also, there’s this for warmth:

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3:27 p.m. MT

So, the Rockies began the game...cold. Ozzie Albies led off with a home run and later on Dansby Swanson knocked two more home with a triple. 4-0 Braves.

Let it snow.

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2:59 p.m. MT

In pregame ritual, the Rockies bring out large sacs of what could very well be Dinger eggs. Game on!

Eric Garcia McKinley

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2:08 p.m. MT

The Rockies just announced that the first pitch is now scheduled for 3:10 p.m. The tarp is coming off, and people are happy about that.

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2:07 p.m. MT

The weather, it is still bad. There’s no official word on the game yet. The moisture is off and on, and it’s cold. There are still some brave souls sitting in their seats. Waiting.

Eric Garcia McKinley

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12:59 p.m. MT

The Rockies have officially announced that the game is in a delay. There will be more information to come. That said, it’s still snowing at Coors Field.

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12:01 p.m. MT

It’s the Rockies vs. the Braves vs. the weather from Denver. The major question right now is whether or not the game is going to get in. The tarp is on the field and the grounds crew is snow blowing snow off to avoid too much accumulation.

It looks like this:

Eric Garcia McKinley

There’s no word about game time yet. While it is the home opener, today if a game is going to get postponed this series, this is the best one because the Rockies and Braves can play two tomorrow, when the forecast is much better. This post will be updated as we learn more.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Purple Row breakfast this morning. We had a great turnout and an even better discussion. Here are a few notes from the media panel:

Jenny Cavnar of AT&T SportsNet offered excellent insight about Mike Tauchman’s role on the team. We don’t often think about it, but this is the first time in Tauchman’s career where his primary role is to come off the bench. According to Cavnar’s conversations with Tauchman, he’s had to make on the fly adjustments, such as redefining what success is for him on a week to week basis.

Drew Creasman identified Yency Almonte as a player not currently on the roster who can have a positive effect on the 2018 team. Nick Groke jumped in to remind everyone that that Jairo Díaz does, in fact, still exist and have a lot of potential. He can also be a contributor this season.

On the first base situation, Jerry Schemmel noted that it’s not as crowded as it seems. The Rockies have Ian Desmond and Pat Valaika as right-handed options, with Valaika also serving as a utility-man. Ryan McMahon is the only left-handed option. The Gerardo Parra experience at first base, Schemmel noted, is very likely in the past.

All of the panelists agreed that the Rockies’ success this season hinges on the starting pitcher. If they make the playoffs, it will likely be due to the pitching. If they fail to make the playoffs, it will also likely be due to the pitching.

We’ll see how it goes today, as Germán Márquez takes the ball for the Rockies—weather permitting.