Before I start into the meat of the news for today’s Rockpile, I just want to say one thing. Baseball. Is. Back. After weeks of negotiations following the pandemic shutting down spring training, this is the week. The Rockies will play two exhibition games against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday and Wednesday and on Friday the Rockies will open the season against the Rangers. I am excited to have real baseball again.
The exhibition game against the Rangers tomorrow will be televised on the MLB Network and according the below tweet will be available in Colorado television territory. Wednesday’s game will be broadcast by the Rangers and will be available on MLB.tv if you have a subscription and are in a region where blackouts don’t apply. Both games will start at 6pm MDT/8pm EDT.
Programming announcement: @MLBNetwork to air 7 live #SummerCamp game telecasts presented by #Mastercard, beginning this Saturday with the @Indians at @Pirates at 7pm ET. Full live schedule, which includes one live game every day, is as follows: pic.twitter.com/hNCG9hU8Ty
— MLB Network PR (@MLBNetworkPR) July 16, 2020
Colorado Rockies admit defeat in $106 million bullpen disaster | USA Today
This has been the big news over the past few days, and I don’t want to beat it over and over again, but it was a big deal. The Rockies spent a lot of money on the “Super Bullpen,” that consisted of three high-paid arms: Wade Davis, Jake McGee and Bryan Shaw. By releasing two of the three, the Rockies are admitting that spending big money on the bullpen was not a success like we hoped.
Davis, while not very successful last year remains. He showed some promise at spring training (I saw it with my own eyes,) but is likely to have a short lease as we enter the season. He will start the 2020 campaign as the closer, but if disaster ensues, it’s likely we might see Scott Oberg assume that role, as long as he remains healthy.
C.O. to CO: Owings arrives with new swing and versatility | The Denver Post
Chris Owings has had a wild 2020. He signed a minor league deal with the Rockies and was playing quite a bit in Spring Training. He left for paternity leave and while he was on his way back to return, things were shut down. In fact, the day he was supposed to return the lineup is the same day MLB called it quits for the safety of everyone involved. He is happy he was able spend the past few months watching his first child, a daughter named Olivia, grow.
Now, four months later, Owings is back on the field. Late last week he earned his spot on the roster and his hoping his new and improved swing will ensure success for him and the team. Owings has a lot of versatility and can end up being a super-utility addition the roster, along with Garrett Hampson, he can play both the infield and outfield as needed. He says he is most comfortable at second base, but he will be happy anywhere. He just wants to contribute and play.
“I’m just looking to fit right in whatever role that is,” he said. “Just showing up to the park every day ready to play, whether that’s in the infield, outfield, just to help this team out as much as possible.”
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With baseball returning comes fun content to watch on social media. The Rockies always do a great job on social media of posting videos and content. Yesterday was no exception.
: It cleared the fence in center pic.twitter.com/LfIFglkEYk
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 20, 2020
Matt Kemp has had success in the past hitting, especially against the Rockies at Coors Field. Now that he is a Rockie, I hope we still see that electric bat and home runs. I also really missed hearing the beautiful sound of a home run off the bat.
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