The last three times the Rockies qualified for the postseason — 2007, 2009 and 2017 — they shared a common theme. Down the stretch, those teams had a dynamic, veteran presence behind the plate.
In 2007 and ’09, it was fiery Yorvit Torrealba. Last season, it was the sage Jonathan Lucroy. It looked as if the Rockies would re-sign Lucroy this winter, but when negotiations stalled, the Rockies instead signed veteran Chris Iannetta to a two-year, $8.5 million deal.
The Rockies are putting a lot of responsibility on Iannetta’s wide shoulders, beginning with his ability to mentor a young rotation.