The way this Rockies team has been crushing the long ball, and putting football scores on the board, it looks like the Blake Street Bombers of the 1990's are back at Coors Field.
"I hope so, I hope so," said Rockies Manager Bud Black.
If these Rockies truly are "Bombers 2.0" Vinny Castilla, Rockies 3rd baseman from 1993-1999, would know.
"That team was so talented. To make it to the playoffs third year in the league, that was a great experience. To see the fans pack the ballpark every day, that was electric."
The electricity was powered by the Rockies prodigious power. They hit 200 home runs in a strike shortened 144 game schedule in 1995. All those homers led to sold out crowds nearly every night. The Rockies led the majors in attendance that season with 3,390,037 people pushing through the turnstiles.
"To share it with all those fans, they love the long ball," Castilla said with a chuckle.
They still love the long ball Vin, and that's not where the similarities over 23 years of baseball end. The spot in the standings, that's a mirror image. On the morning of September 27, 1995, the Rockies were in first place. A half-game ahead of the L.A. Dodgers. On the morning of September 27, 2018, the Rockies were in first place. A half-game ahead of the L.A. Dodgers. But the 2018 incarnation of the Blake Street Bombers has something Castilla wishes he had on those 90's teams.
"The pitching we have now, the starting pitching, the bullpen, that's the difference."
That pitching is putting the Rockies on the verge of doing something all those Bombers fell just short of achieving.
"[German] Marquez yesterday, was unbelievable. We have a chance to do something that we never did before, to win the division. And we're in a great place."
This year's Rockies team has a chance to do something they couldn't in '95, or in the decades since, wear the N.L. West crown. If they do, it will be because this year's team shares the same attitude Vinny and the Bombers had in 1995.
"The best feeling for a ballplayer, when you take the field and you know there's a very good chance you're going to win the game," reflected Castilla.
"We had that feeling in '95, and I think these guys have that same feeling now."
Remains to be seen if this team can deliver Castilla a new feeling, the feeling of being a division champion.
