DENVER -- Rockies left fielder Jordan Beck arrived at Coors Field on Wednesday with a couple stories to tell. The moral of one was that thinking leads to a winning baseball play. The other ended sadly, and ultimately led to a loss.
Pregame Rockies hitters meetings begin with storytime of sorts, instituted since interim manager Warren Schaeffer took over May 12. No, the Rockies aren’t children, even though they are going young whenever possible -- with nine players making Major League debuts this year, after last year’s club-record-tying 12 (2014 and 2016). Wednesday night’s 5-3 loss to the Astros marked the debut of Rox No. 5 prospect Yanquiel Fernández, who went 0-for-3 with a strikeout and a strong throw from right field that was relayed into an out at home plate.
The stories of success and failure told before going over the opposing pitcher are designed to emphasize what was done right and account for what was done wrong the previous game. The Rockies are 19-67, tied with the 1907 Cardinals and 1916 Philadelphia Athletics for second-worst start after 86 decisions in the Modern Era. Their 8-34 home mark is the worst in the Modern Era. So this is a process full of cautionary tales.
Eventually, the Rockies expect to change the endings.
So here are a couple of stories Beck authored during Tuesday night’s 6-5 loss to the Astros. The first centers on an idea that can help others.
A 5-for-5 night -- two more hits than his single-game high -- made for some nice pages in Beck’s tale of his first full season as a Major League regular. The last hit, a ninth-inning ground-ball single past Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes, allowed the Rockies to bring the possible go-ahead run to the plate.
“I showed bunt early in the game and brought the third baseman in,” Beck said. “My last AB, he was actually playing pretty far in. If I hit the same ball where he was playing earlier, he catches it. That’s just part of playing the game, things that we’re trying to do.
“Sometimes, there are pitchers that aren’t great matchups. And you notice the third baseman playing way back. There are hits available, we have guys on base and it’s easier to score that way. Plus, I can steal bases and affect the game in many ways. So the bunt is a tool to use.”
But in the seventh, Beck was at second and took off for third even though Astros pitcher Bryan King easily fielded Thairo Estrada’s one-hopper and erased Beck from the bases. Not being sure the ball went past the pitcher and not to the third-base side, and making the first out of an inning at third base, meant Beck violated a number of principles.
Part of Schaeffer’s teaching plan is to make sure the players own their mistakes. But Beck, already impressing his manager and teammates with his studiousness about all aspects of the game, doesn’t need to be pushed.
“This is our job,” Beck said. “Like anything else, we’re going to mess up things and we’ve got to go over it. If we don’t learn from it, it’s bad on our part.”
Schaeffer said the reviews last “no longer than five minutes,” with preparation for the next game being the priority. But with runners picked off in key situations, bases not properly covered, overzealous at-bats and players just learning when to implement ideas like bunting for a hit, the Rockies have to cover it all for all this losing to make sense.
And Schaeffer’s aim goes beyond just the previous night’s mistake or good deed.
“It’s multiple talking points -- whatever happened the night before that we can learn from, good or bad,” Schaeffer said. “So there’s accountability built into that. That’s how you get progress.”
However, anyone who has played a sport has cringed at coach-led lectures that can easily become prosecutions. Schaeffer’s goal is for players to represent themselves when testifying -- or bragging.
“That’s the ultimate goal, to have the veterans lead those discussions, and it’s happening at times,” Schaeffer said. “That’s what’s happening in places like San Diego and others. The players determine what’s important and what’s not.”
At the start of meetings is the preferred time for a review.
“We watch the video, go over it, talk about it,” third baseman Ryan McMahon said. “And then it’s gone. I’ve enjoyed that. It makes sure everybody is on the same page on how we want to play the game – play hard, play fearless but not out of control.”
McMahon showed no fear on June 24, when he dropped a bunt single in the bottom of the ninth to bring the potential tying run to the plate in a 9-7 loss to the Dodgers.
Tyler Freeman, who has emerged as the team’s leadoff hitter and had three hits and two steals in Wednesday night’s game (which ended with him striking out as the potential tying run after a Rockies comeback attempt), said the sessions are browbeating-free.
“That goes into just not being afraid to fail,” Freeman said. “You have to have that mentality, whether it’s trying to take the extra base or being more aggressive at the plate. We’re trying to be, I guess the word is, more dangerous.”
Beck noted that even some less-advisable decisions worked for him on his five-hit night.
“I actually felt like I chased a couple pitches that I got hits on, but that’s part of the game,” Beck said. “But I had two pitches that I liked the pitch selection on, too.”
The way the Rockies are operating, he’ll tell the story of those at-bats to teammates and listen to theirs.