Blackmon's bat riles boo-birds at Petco Park

SAN DIEGO -- For two nights, fans at Petco Park have booed Rockies veteran Charlie Blackmon as if he is still a feared hitter. They were onto something.

Blackmon struggled late last season, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in October and entered Friday with a career worst 47-game homerless streak. But his fifth-inning, two-run shot keyed the Rockies’ 4-1 victory over the Padres.

“Are they booing mostly everybody or just me?” Blackmon asked, before chuckling when hearing that the loudest greeting is for him.

Other Rockies upset a crowd hoping to will the Padres to reach back for the magic of last year’s National League Championship Series appearance. Kyle Freeland threw six three-hit innings, and put himself on the highlight reel with a Derek Jeter-esque (lefty version) spinning jump throw.

Lefties Brent Suter and Brad Hand set up Denver native (and former Padre) Pierce Johnson's first Major League save in his 141st career game.

But Blackmon, 36, is beginning his 13th season -- all with the Rockies -- as the best explanation for him becoming the man in the black hat to Padres fans.

Blackmon’s no-doubt shot into the right-field seats off Padres starter Nick Martinez gave the Rockies a 4-0 lead, and continued a solid start for Blackmon. He delivered three hits in Thursday night’s 7-2 victory in the season opener, and he singled and scored during Colorado’s two-run first inning on Friday.

Blackmon followed the path of fellow veteran C.J. Cron. Both missed time late in Spring Training with back issues. But Cron returned for the final three Cactus League games, which was enough to prepare him to launch two home runs in Thursday’s Opening Night victory. Blackmon played the final four games of Spring Training and did nothing particularly special.

Both also spent a day cramming Minor League at-bats (veterans are allowed to lead off every inning of a Minor League game during Spring Training).

But then has nothing to do with now.

“Big league at-bats are hard to get ready for,” Blackmon said. “You can have a ton of Minor League or Spring Training. But it’s never quite like going outside the wire when it counts in a big league game. It’s hard to say, ‘Yes, for sure I’m ready’ in Spring Training, because the intensity is just a little higher when the season starts.”

“He’s getting his hits in all different ways,” manager Bud Black said. “He’s getting hard contact. He’s finding some holes -- that’s what happens when you’re going well. Overall, the swings have been great.

“He got the head [of the bat] out on a pitch elevated a little bit, and he hit it out. He’s capable of that. That was great to see.

Blackmon exercised his player option for this season at $15 million with the aim of returning to the wire-to-wire hitting that made him a four-time All-Star. Blackmon had strong stretches in 2020 and ‘22, when his first half might have warranted All-Star consideration had the club been more relevant in the NL West standings. But he labored down the stretch each season.

In 2021, he hit a career-low 13 homers. Last year, Blackmon managed 16 before going dry after July 27.

The 2023 season isn’t far enough along to think of hot streaks and downturns. But maybe a basic thought can carry Blackmon through it all.

“I feel like less is more right now,” Blackmon said. “I’m trying to not do too much. Just trying to swing at good pitches and not overcomplicate things. Just stay relaxed and let my eyes do the work.”