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Kindred spirits: Rockies’ Kyle Freeland leaning on Bud Black’s experience

Kyle Freeland has better stuff than Bud Black ever did.

Who says so? Black, who doesn’t mind fessin’ up.

“Kyle throws harder than I did and his pitches have more life than mine ever did,” the Rockies manager said from his offseason home near San Diego where he awaits baseball’s return during the coronavirus pandemic.

But there are striking parallels between Black and Freeland. Both are ultra-competitive left-handers who know that guile can have as much to do with pitching success as fastballs, curveballs, sliders and changeups. Both men are counting on that connection to get Freeland back on track once baseball returns.