The Colorado Rockies are a pedestrian 6-4 in their last 10 games entering play on Thursday, but at 38-23 are off to the best start in franchise history. The Rockies currently lead the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers by two games in the National League West standings.
Though not necessarily to this extent, the resurgent Rockies have experienced previous success through the early stages of the regular season. It’s often been met by a drop off and another year missing the playoffs.
However, this season’s Rockies team figures to have as good of shot as any to break that trend. Manager Bud Black has infused new life in his first year guiding the team.
Black is close friends with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. The two communicated with plenty of frequency but Roberts explained that’s since changed, per Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports:
“We used to text back and forth all of the time,” Roberts says of his close friend, “but since he became the Rockies manager, and they’re playing so well now, we’re just going to have to catch up in the offseason.”
During a portion of Black’s tenure as San Diego Padres manager, he had Roberts on his coaching staff. Since being hired as Dodgers manager, Roberts has often spoke fondly of his experience working on Black’s staff.
The Rockies have taken five of nine games against the Dodgers thus far in 2017. They’ll next meet Friday, June 23, for the start of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. The two teams split a two-game set at Chavez Ravine in April.
While the Dodgers are in the midst of winning the NL West four consecutive years, the Rockies have yet to win a division title. They did, however, reach the 2007 World Series as the Wild Card team.
