Clearly, the 2018 edition of Charlie Blackmon hasn’t been quite as prolific as the 2017 version.
Defensively, the Rockies’ center fielder has shown the wear and tear of his position, ranking in the bottom 10 of all major-league outfielders in Statcast’s outs above average. And at the plate, the defending NL batting champion’s home runs, batting average and RBIs are all down markedly from last year’s historic campaign.
But while the stats may not be as gaudy, there’s still plenty of reasons to fear — and simultaneously respect — the beard, as Blackmon’s red-hot September indicates the 32-year-old still boasts one of the most reliable bats in the game.