FanGraphs Audio: Thomas Harding Has High Hopes for the Rockies

April 29, 2022

Episode 972

This week on the show, we check in on the always-interesting Colorado Rockies, who have been exceeding expectations in the early going, before getting into recent beanball drama and more.

To begin the episode, David Laurila welcomes Thomas Harding of MLB.com, who has covered the Rockies for decades. The pair talk about the odd team’s odd history, what is different this year, and why there are reasons to be excited going forward. We also get insight on players like Connor Joe, Brendan Rodgers, C.J. Cron, Ezequiel Tovar, and Chad Kuhl, as well as the influence Bud Black and Kris Bryant have had on the club. [3:06]
After that, Ben Clemens catches up with Dan Szymborski, freshly returned from vacation. The duo gives the Rockies their due before discussing the Mets/Cardinals rivalry and the recent flare up of the unwritten rules. Ben wants to know exactly what a bench warning is, while Dan is concerned about some ethical loopholes. They also contemplate whether “Aaron Brooks” is the best-performing name across pro sports and the difficulties of projecting players coming from foreign leagues, as well as if we should buy into Nelson Cruz’s potential decline, Ben having his identity harmlessly stolen, and Dan responding to emails not meant for him. [25:10]

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Audio after the jump. (Approximate 63 minute play time.)