Embrace weird. 2020 Rockies season is gift horse you don’t look in the mouth.

Search on the vibrant side. Thanks to Mookie Betts, which is now $365 million significantly less that the Dodgers have in toy income to plop, like a pirate upper body, at the feet of Nolan Arenado.

Hey, it is Opening Working day. We’re attempting. In excess of 60 games, those people straws you have been clutching may by some means be adequate to keep items afloat.

On just one hand, we’re thrilled. Thrilled that the Rockies are even in this article, bravely pushing the boat out into the swell and the fog. In the age of COVID-19, we have figured out to wake up just about every working day to the danger of a rainout, beholden to storm clouds you in no way see coming. Until finally it is far too late.

We’re grateful, due to the fact if we have figured out anything at all from 2020, it is that when it comes to positives, you just take what you can get, when you can get it.

Appear in this article, you reward horse. Major hug.

Embrace Nolan.

Embrace the asterisks.

Embrace the masks.

Embrace the unusual.

For the reason that none of us know how very long any of it receives to stick close to.

On the other hand, we’re wary. Cautious due to the fact the fates, or a sneeze, could conspire to pull the curtain down on this generation at any time.

Cautious due to the fact the 2020 Rockies, on paper, keep on being mostly as we remaining them in March: flawed, dysfunctional, prime-large in talent and a crap shoot just after the seventh inning.

If it is Kyle Freeland circa 2018? The Rockies, not the Padres, will be the NL West shock that keeps nipping at the Dodgers’ heels.

Kyle Freeland 2019? Protect your eyes.

Wade Davis 2018? Let us observe a pennant race!

Wade Davis 2019? Let us observe election commercials!

Typical knowledge says the Rox will go as far the prime 3 guys in the rotation and the 3 guys on the again conclusion of the bullpen can just take them. Identical as it ever was.

Then once again, there is practically nothing typical about the moment. Or about what we’re diving into.

Keep in mind when Arenado vs. Bridich was meant to dominate the headlines? When Nolan vs. Jeff was the most psychological subject matter of 2020?

These were the times, my mate.

We really do not know how deep the hatchet has been buried. We know the environment has greater, significantly greater, challenges now.

Here’s to rolling out the pink carpet. And rolling the dice.

10 months. A common DH. More innings that open up with a runner on 2nd. Locked gates in LoDo. Cardboard placeholders the place hearts should be.

Embrace Nolan.

Embrace the asterisks.

Embrace the masks.

Embrace the unusual.

For the reason that manager Bud Black, in Calendar year 4, is actively playing with residence income. According to BetMGM, only the Miami Marlins have extended odds of winning a National League pennant than the 2020 Rockies. These exact same bookies established the over-below on Colorado wins at 26.five, or the equivalent of 71.five victories over 162 contests.

We won’t do a Complete Monfort, but we’ll fulfill him halfway. This roster isn’t 20-games-below .500 lousy. The flooring is large adequate, if everyone’s balanced/available/current, to stay away from a repeat of final August’s capitulation tour.

It’s the ceiling that presents you pause. The ceiling and depth. Shedding bloated bullpen salaries is noble, but it does not atone for failing to slot complementary items close to franchise tent poles such as Arenado, Trevor Story, Charlie Blackmon and German Marquez, when you have received them. You really do not produce four All-Stars in a year and drop ninety games or a lot more unless of course the supporting cast is a dumpster hearth.