By Jordan Long
The Colorado Rockies are well into Spring Training in Scottsdale, Arizona. They will play the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday for both teams 1st game of the spring. The Rockies are going to experiment with Charlie Blackmon and move him to right field. He is used to center field. Ian Desmond is going to anchor center field while David Dahl is in left.
Blackmon is able to play all the positions in the outfield. Since 2015, he has been the Rockies’ starting center fielder. Colorado knows they can rely on him at that position. In 691 games played in center field, Blackmon made an impressively low 16 errors. Colorado trusts him to make the catch and not allow runners to advance. His arm at center field allows him to throw out baserunners advancing, making 20 outfield assists.
Blackmon can play right field. He appeared in 131 games at the position but Blackmon hasn’t been in right field since 2015. That season he was in right field for 7 games. In those 131 games, Blackmon still used the glove to catch the baseball and throw into the infield. He totaled 5 outfield assists and only recorded 1 error.
According to ESPN, Manager Bud Black said, “In our park, I like right for Charlie. I think he is probably more comfortable in right. David might have a little more range in left. I think left field needs range in our park.”
The Rockies hope Blackmon is the answer in right field. Black knows he has an All-Star in the outfield with him. If he struggles, Colorado may have to move him back to center field. If that is the case the Rockies would have to change the outfield alignment. For now, this move is only going to increase the Rockies odds of making the playoffs for the 3rd straight year.
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