Baseball, if you haven’t heard, is a difficult game rooted in failure, an endeavor in which a hitter is considered successful if he only fails seven out of ten times.
And though the Rockies currently stand 0.5 games ahead of the Diamondbacks for first place in the National League West, their hitting woes this season — a .228 team average that’s third-worst in the league, coupled with alarming strikeout totals — have fans sounding off left and right in the Twittersphere.
Colorado’s catcher, Chris Iannetta, took a moment to address one of those social media criticisms on Thursday night, calling out one particular fan who implored him to “please just try to concentrate on getting a hit once in blue moon.”
Thanks for the love, but let me drop some universal knowledge. With the most difficult game in the world, success comes and goes. No one hits the same average from start to finish. 2nd, it may be a punchline but, struggling is one of the most difficult mental grinds in sports.
— Chris Iannetta (@Chris_Iannetta)
So, poke fun and say your favorite team or players are terrible, but no one is trying or working harder to succeed than your favorite teams or players. I’m sure my words are lost on most and it will remain easy to throw jabs. But, this is reality. We are all trying to succeed 4 U
— Chris Iannetta (@Chris_Iannetta)
It’s not often professional athletes respond to Random Joes on Twitter — much less those with just a dozen followers — but Iannetta makes a solid argument that I’ve seen backed up in the Colorado clubhouse on a daily basis throughout a trying 2018 offensive campaign to date.
Simply put, Colorado’s struggles at the dish so far are not a matter of non-concentration.
From the veteran Iannetta (.209 average, .315 on-base percentage) to big-swinging shortstop Trevor Story (61 strikeouts, second in the National League) to widely reviled first baseman Ian Desmond — who is not living up to his $22 million annual salary on any level via a .181 average — the Rockies’ production is not due to a dearth of effort.
You hang around the clubhouse, you get a sense of the guys who are mailing it in. These Rockies’ hitters are not mailing it in.
These Rockies, fresh off their Wild Card berth last season and with an Arenado-led lineup, potential-laden rotation and cash-infused bullpen, know what is at stake this year.
As Iannetta’s response indicates, they might be sensing the external pressure to perform up to their collective capabilities offensively, but that doesn’t mean these pros don’t have a solid approach in the cages on off-days and in the box when it counts most.
Bemoan the lack of runs and clutch hits. Bemoan manager Bud Black’s lineup decisions, or general manger Jeff Bridich’s choice to keep certain burgeoning prospects in Triple-A while the big league team struggles to find its rhythm at the plate.
But don’t cite lack of effort, concentration, focus or any similar synonyms. That’s not the Rockies’ M.O. this season — they play hard every day at the diamond, even when they do strikeout 15 times.
— , The Denver Post
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What’s on tap?
- MLB: Reds at Rockies, 6:40 p.m., ATTRM | Pitching matchup |
TV/RADIO: Here’s what sports are airing today
Scoreboard
NBA: Rockets 98, Warriors 94
Full story |
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+Campground courtesy:
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By The Numbers
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Parting Shot
Nolan Arenado formally apologizes to Hi-Chew carton he roughed up in dugout outburst during series opener in Los Angeles
“Hey Hi-Chew, how are you? I know this is not the best time for this, but I’m really sorry for what I did to you a couple days ago.” Read more…
Get in Touch
If you see something thatap cause for question or have a comment, thought or suggestion, email me at dboniface@denverpost.com or tweet me .
