Denver is coated in orange wherever you look, but for a few hours on Saturday, fans at Rockies Fest 2016 only saw purple. The annual event turned out a few thousand loyal Rockies supporters, sparking excitement for the quickly approaching start of spring training.
Rockies Fest is a special event for the fans, when we emerge from a long, dormant offseason blinking in the light of the new season. Even as a season approaches in which no (reasonable) person expects the Rockies to be very good, Rockies Fest beckons for their excitement as fans are given the chance to connect with players in a much more intimate way than through a TV screen.
After a long and busy offseason, I headed to Coors Field at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning, excited to get a break from Broncos-mania and surround myself with some fellow pathetically out-of-touch baseball enthusiasts. I made the journey alone — my friends may tolerate a game with me, but a full day of baseball panels is too hard an ask — freeing me to pursue panels and events to my nerdy heart’s content.
The fan turnout was both surprising and satisfying, the halls difficult to navigate through the excited crowd and wide-eyed kids. Speckled throughout the fan jerseys of the buzzing crowd are the actual jerseys of actual players, passing through to get to a panel or game of Rockies Family Feud. Early on, I was struck by the height and build of a Brandon Barnes fan passing me by who turned out to actually be Brandon Barnes.
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Panels were full enough to require fans stand along the back and sides of rooms to fill them out, and players were enthusiastic and genuine in their answers. Raimel Tapia’s courage was particularly striking, as he sat on two panels despite his limited English. Even if his participation was somewhat limited, just seeing Tapia, an organizational top prospect recently ranked at 42 in the Baseball Prospectus annual “Top 101” list, was perhaps the most exciting part of the day.
Tapia also sat on the receiving end of some jests from team veterans Charlie Blackmon and Corey Dickerson (who will certainly be missed). It would turn out to be a theme: there is a strong sense of confidence from the established players towards the strong core of prospects, many on the cusp of big league action. Dickerson spoke confidently of Tapia’s abilities after playing with him on rehab assignment last year, and players spoke frequently of their excitement to play with the young kids and the promising future they see when they reach the majors.
It was also particularly satisfying to see the elegant flow of Jon Gray again in a morning starting pitching and preparation panel. Also sitting in was Eddie Butler, who explained that he is in a much better mental space coming into the season than last year, when he bounced back and forth between Albuquerque and Denver, not finding much success in either place.
“I couldn’t even get someone out in my head last year. How was I supposed to get someone out in real life?” he said. He said his head is in a much better place this year, and it will surely be a point of interest and focus from fans when the season begins.
During an analytics panel, crowded in the back of a room much fuller than anticipated, my attention was pulled away by a knock on the glass from Zingers boss Richard Bergstrom. When I came out to greet him, I was invited to join in the small press brigade winding its way up towards the press box for interviews. I joined in, probably looking silly in my jeans and purple sweater (obviously) compared to the suit-adorned and stylish Harding.
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In a small side room, we were visited for short ten-minute interview sessions with Nolan Arenado, Jeff Bridich, Carlos Gonzalez, Jorge De La Rosa, Charlie Blackmon, Jason Motte, Walt Weiss and DJ LeMahieu.
One of the most striking themes to emerge was the eagerness of Nolan Arenado to step into a larger leadership role as he enters his fourth year in the major leagues, now an established and successful clubhouse veteran. Already arguably the best third baseman in the league, Arenado stands to help fill the void left by Troy Tulowitzki as a strong clubhouse leadership presence and now undeniable face of the franchise.
“If I feel something is in my heart that I need to share with this team, I’m going to start doing it,” Arenado promised. “Back in the day I probably wouldn’t do it so much. I’d just mind my business. I’ll probably be like that in a way. But there are going to be times when I’m going to need to let guys know how I feel and what we need to do, and I’m going to voice my opinion.”
CarGo may be a star, but it was clearly Arenado who the fans were most eager to see throughout the day. His presence in a panel ensured that fans would be spilling from the room, and his autograph session lead to a line that wrapped through three separate hallways. His talent, nerve and charisma create an unmistakable star quality, and he is ready to carry on the torch passed over after Tulo’s departure.
Jason Motte also proved to be a fun guy with a warm and amiable personality, cracking jokes before he’d even sat down. He joins the team as one of two offseason bullpen acquisitions, where his years of experience may serve some of the younger relievers including Scott Oberg and Miguel Castro.
It was especially nice to see the bloggers, having spent only a season really integrated within the media activities, recieve some due recognition. The players joked easily with press box and clubhouse stalwarts Richard and Drew Creasman, our friend from over on Purple Row. Maybe it’s the fantastic beard, but even Jeff Bridich acknowledged Drew by name during his interview period, a nice reminder that even someone like Bridich is aware of what we blahgers are saying and speculating about.
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Later on, strolling the extensive sections of Coors Field, we passed a panorama of team history in plaques, photos and jerseys hanging from the walls. Meanwhile, the faces of the present, and the future, rushed past on their way to another panel or autograph session.
Regardless of what happens this year, where the team goes or how many wins they net, the enthusiasm, optimism and contagious gaiety of Rockies Fest reminded me that at least we are in this together, Rockies fans. For a lot of us, the memories captured on those walls are very personal, but the sentiment is one that is shared, as the scores of purple-clad die-hards reminded me on Saturday. As a new season nears, I am excited to share the making of another chapter with you, whatever it may be. Is it April yet?
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