Blackmon turns back the clock with 4-RBI game, great defense

DENVER – Behind the scenes, Charlie Blackmon has been telling his younger Rockies teammates to cherish the repeated playing opportunities that they’re receiving as part of the Rockies’ building program.

At 37, Blackmon gets fewer starts and appearances than during the four-time All-Star prime of his 14-season career, all in Purple Pinstripes. But the preparation for each opposing pitcher doesn’t change, even if getting into the game to face them is not as certain as once was. When not playing, he is embracing the value of sharing thoughts and principles with younger players.

“When I go back and watch video, or watch myself play, I know that day was the best I was going to be,” Blackmon said. “I don’t look back and say, ‘Oh, I wasn’t feeling good there.’ I was ready to put a product on the field when I went out there.

“It’s important for everybody to approach the game in such a way -- ‘I’m ready to be evaluated. This is my best product.’ I want to do the best I can, so every rep you get out there is an opportunity.”

The way Blackmon produced in Monday afternoon’s 8-6 victory over the Guardians at Coors Field, the only way to tell that it was late in his career is looking closely at the gray in his famous beard.

Blackmon followed Elehuris Montero’s two-run single with his homer off Guardians starter Xzavion Curry to cap Colorado's 6-run 4th inning. It was Blackmon’s second homer of the season, 114 at-bats since his first. Blackmon had doubled in the first inning, and added an RBI double off Scott Barlow in the sixth.

Blackmon also defensively helped a turn-back-the-clock outing by lefty reliever Josh Rogers, who held the Guardians to two runs on four hits in five innings after replacing starter Anthony Molina and received Blackmon’s vote as “the player of the game.”

Selected from Albuquerque earlier in the day to help the bullpen, Rogers had not appeared in the Majors since June 2, 2022 and he had help from the defense.

In the sixth, shortstop Ezequiel Tovar made a diving stop of David Fry’s smash for the first out, then Blackmon ranged into foul ground in right field to steal an out against Kyle Manzardo with a sliding, rolling catch.

The victory, which ended after Jalen Beeks yielded a ninth-inning run but earned his fifth save, lifted the Rockies (19-34) to 3-1 on a current homestand. They took 2-of-3 from the Phillies, who have the Majors’ best record, and won the first of three from the Guardians (36-18), who entered with the American League’s best record -- and a nine-game win streak.

“There’s starting pitching, relief pitching, hitting and timely hitting,” said Blackmon, whose day increased his batting average 13 points to .237. “When the Rockies are good and they do all those things together, we can beat good teams. The goal is to do that more consistently.”

Blackmon has appeared in 45 of the Rockies’ 53 games as manager Bud Black wants Blackmon -- who signed a one-year, $13 million contract extension late last season -- to be available throughout the schedule.

“From our coaches and me, and our conversations with Chuck over the years we communicated enough to let Chuck know what’s going on,” Black said. “He deserves that. We’ll continue to do that.”

The conversations go smoothly, in part because “you don’t have to worry about him doing the right thing,” and partly because talking to Blackmon is fun.

“He’s funny,” Black said. “He’s got quick wit. He’s sharp. He can talk about a lot of different subjects. I don’t know whether he’s quite a renaissance man but he’s well-rounded.

“If you get in certain settings, he makes it better.”

Rogers recalled being with the Nationals on May 5, 2022, and being extended to 11 pitches before escaping with a pop-up to short. When Rogers joined the Rockies for Spring Training 2023, he admitted being “super intimidated” by Blackmon at first.

“I didn’t know what to say to [Blackmon],” Rogers said. “But he’s one of the nicest guys.

“And I think I make him laugh.”

Blackmon has joined former Rockies star and Hall of Famer Larry Walker among the 12 hitters in MLB history to reach the following combination of benchmarks: 1,700 hits, 600 extra-base hits, 300 doubles, 200 home runs, 140 stolen bases and 60 triples.

Not resting on that, however, is how he stays relevant with the current Rockies.

“The assignment has changed,” Blackmon said. “That doesn’t mean it’s any less important.”