Blackmon atop lineup; Márquez goes 3; Rodgers' swing

MESA, Ariz. -- There’s a good chance that the first time the Rockies come to bat at Coors Field, the soundtrack will be familiar: “Josie’s on a vacation far away … come around and talk it over!” And it’ll sound right, feel right.

Charlie Blackmon and the Rockies just may make it work as right as his familiar walk-up song -- “Your Love” by the Outfield -- sounds.

• Predicting the Rockies' Opening Day roster

From 2014-18, a span that included two Rockies postseason trips, Blackmon was arguably baseball’s best leadoff hitter. But the run production down the lineup fell into disrepair, and manager Bud Black went away from the formula that worked just to get Blackmon in position to drive in runs.

The lineup-changing signing of Kris Bryant could make what’s old new again. Blackmon has led off all four of his Spring Training appearances, including Friday in a 17-1 victory over the Cubs at Sloan Park. Blackmon went 2-for-2 and scored twice -- the first time on Brendan Rodgers’ first-inning homer.

“We haven’t really talked about it -- it just started happening, which is fine with me,” Blackmon said. “I’m comfortable there, and we’ve certainly added some middle-of-the-order-type bats. I don’t think we’re in the need there. It’s sort of the opposite.

“It just jump-starts the lineup. There’s really nowhere to hide in the lineup now. It makes [opposing pitchers] think a little bit starting the game.”

Last year, Blackmon didn’t get above .200 for good until May 5 but hit for solid average the rest of the way to end up at.270. Also, in the middle of an order that struggled all around him, he hit just 13 home runs -- his fewest over a full, healthy season.

Now, in addition to Bryant, the Rockies have their 2021 home run leader, C.J. Cron, and Rodgers and Ryan McMahon with another year of seasoning. Connor Joe, who provided some power last year at times (and knocked one of the Rockies’ six homers Friday), could add more production.

As is his position with many spring strategies, Black would not commit. But it’s clear he’s testing the lineup.

“Charlie’s got experience -- we’ll see how it plays out,” Black said. “You’d like to get your best hitters at the top of the lineup. Charlie has proven to be a great Major League hitter. It [the order] could have that look as we get into the early part of the season.”

At 35, Blackmon is trying to think less in the batter’s box. Putting him at the top also takes away strategic tricks from opposing pitchers.

With the designated hitter, after the first at-bat Blackmon has a better chance to drive in runs than he did with a pitcher batting ninth.

“I will say that if you are hitting in the middle of the order and you’re labeled as that guy in the middle that’s supposed to hit for power, sometimes guys pitch carefully,” Blackmon said. “That makes it tougher. It’s harder to drive in runs as the guy who’s supposed to drive in the runs.”

Scoreless but working
Righty Germán Márquez, a 2021 All-Star, threw 54 pitches over three scoreless innings. He walked two, including Willson Contreras to open the bottom of the second inning, gave up two hits and struck out four.

“Everything was good – mentally, and my body feels good -- but I feel like my tempo was a little quick today,” Márquez said.

Going deep, working out technological kinks
Rodgers missed two games earlier this spring with lower back and hip tightness, but his swings the past several days -- including his homer off Cubs righty Alec Mills on Friday -- show the tightness was just a blip in a solid physical program.

“I just mixed up the workouts this offseason, and now my hips are firing,” Rodgers said. “I feel loose, and I feel good in the box.”

It was another day of trial and error with PitchCom, the encrypted system of calling pitches and defenses. In the third inning, catcher Brian Serven tried to pick off a runner at second. Rodgers was positioned well behind the bag and wasn’t covering, yet he prevented an error by sacrificing his upper body to block the throw on one bounce.

Turns out Rodgers wasn’t wearing a receiver unit, and he and Serven miscommunicated with their body language.

There have been a couple blips with the Rockies, who have been reluctant to go to the system full time because their main pitchers are just getting into Spring Training games and don’t want another factor. While the two games the Rockies used it were limited to runner-at-second situations, some teams are using it for every pitch.