Fandom from Afar
Join me as I discuss my journey as a Colorado sports fan living in Florida and my interviews with sports fans that are forced to enjoy their favorite teams from a distance.
Fandom from Afar
Curveballs and Connections in the Rockies Realm with Krista
From the crack of the bat at Coors Field to the hushed anticipation of a ninth-inning pitch, the love of baseball runs deep in my family—especially for my sister Krista, the Colorado Rockies' superfan who joins me in this special episode. We take you on a nostalgic journey, reminiscing about the days of spring training autograph hunts and the electric atmosphere of the Rockies' MLB debut. Krista's vivid recollection of Eric Young's legendary home run serves as a touchstone for our shared baseball passion, illustrating how those formative moments can spark a lifetime of devotion.
Baseball is more than just a game; it's about the community, the early morning encounters with players at spring training, and the personal connections that turn fans into family. In this episode, Krista recounts her evolution from cheering in the stands to orchestrating the game's timing as a field timing coordinator at Coors Field. Her story is a testament to turning your childhood dream into a career without losing the spark of fandom, even when you're scoring the game from the press box.
Finally, we bring you a playful twist on player appreciation by constructing our ultimate Rockies lineup and, for a dash of reality TV flair, matching Rockies players with Bachelors based on first names. It's a quirky blend of sports trivia and "The Bachelor" fandom that's sure to entertain. If you're a fan of heartening stories, baseball lore, and a bit of good-natured competition, this episode hits a grand slam of memories, laughs, and unwavering loyalty to the team that's won our hearts.
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Alright, everyone, welcome back to Pain them From afar, which turns out is a somewhat special episode today. I've been saving this interview till baseball season was about to start back up, and it is the biggest baseball fan I know, who also happens to be my younger sister. So welcome, krista, hey thanks.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I didn't really talk to you about this and I didn't know if you were wondering if you were ever going to get to be on the podcast, but in my mind I was always planning on it being around baseball season, so I guess I could have communicated that and actually told you that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, no, that's good. I wasn't sure, since I'm really not like afar from my love of my team.
Speaker 1:You've stayed loyal to all our hometown teams.
Speaker 2:Yes, that's true.
Speaker 1:But I had to get you going for baseball season and spring training is just around the corner and we happen to be sitting in our parents' basement in our family. Hobby when we're growing up was going to spring training and just really going anywhere where we could try and collect autographs. So we are surrounded by inspiration today, so I'm hoping you have stories that go along with all these pictures surrounding us today.
Speaker 2:Yes, probably too many that most people want to hear, but I think that's good.
Speaker 1:I got lots. In fact, in one of our games you earn a bonus point for a bonus story.
Speaker 2:Oh, yes, so stay tuned.
Speaker 1:So, just like with all my other podcasts, I kind of want to start out with your origin story, which in this case, is kind of unusual because I was there for it and I probably know it, but I want you to share it with all our millions of listeners who don't know your origin story, about how you became the biggest fan of the Colorado Rockies.
Speaker 2:Okay, well, thank you for that accolade. I would. I'd like to think I was the biggest fan of the Rockies too. So I think it all started when, obviously, the Rockies became a team in 1993. And I was just about nine years old, basically, and I didn't really know a whole lot about baseball in general. I didn't really know what to expect about having a major league team. But I do remember you being excited about it, and so most of the things that you were excited about I was also excited about Because I was so cool.
Speaker 2:Exactly. And then I specifically remember coming home from school and you had opening day on the television, I believe, and I think. Yeah, I think the game was live at that point because it was an afternoon game, but I remember.
Speaker 1:Can I give you some details?
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:If I'm remembering correctly, I think I was in I guess I would have been in sixth grade and we had just got home from outdoor lab and it was the home opener and obviously there's a cool story about the very first batter of the home opener.
Speaker 2:Yep for sure. Yeah, that's. I was thinking outdoor lab had something to do with it, because I wasn't sure if you missed it or if you were just getting home. But yes, that that makes sense. So I was watching the game with you and then players come up that I don't know who they are. So I'm like, all right, I got to find a favorite player, let's see who speaks to me here. And then a guy by the name of Eric Young comes up and hits a home run to start the game.
Speaker 1:Right, yeah, he was the lead off, it was the very first hitter of the Rockies, whole whole thing. Yeah.
Speaker 2:He hits a home run. The announcer just had a really, really cool like it's mile high and out of here type of saying and I think ever since that moment I was like, oh, this is fun, Like I like him, he became my favorite player and it kind of just took off in a ball of fury from there on.
Speaker 1:Yes, that's one way to describe your fan chip. I would agree with that A ball of fury. And you stayed loyal to him. He was your favorite player till he left the team, basically.
Speaker 2:Yep, yep. There was a few times where, yeah, he was my favorite player Back in the day. It was hard to get jerseys. They either didn't make them of who I wanted or whatnot, and I'm sure I'll speak about that another time too but he was the first jersey I wanted, and so I remember going to like make a Rockies jersey and it had number 21, young on the back and I wore that thing like crazy. I remember a couple of times he got hurt and I cry in my room and didn't want to come out, and then, of course, when he got traded and it was also upset too, so that was yeah you had that emotional attachment to the players.
Speaker 2:Definitely definitely started at a young age there, Yep.
Speaker 1:Now I remember that first team. It was just such a big deal to get a team like and obviously we were right around the right age to really get hooked in and with baseball being on every day during the summer, it was just perfect Like we literally watched every single game and loved all those players and thought they were so great, even though most of them are probably barely major league talent.
Speaker 2:But it was still great, it was fun yeah, it was. And then, like you mentioned too, with, like, the autographs, I think dad took us to get a few of those original Rockies autographs the very first year, david, need I remember? A few of those people and that just kind of kind of reeled me in, I would say, with that whole thing and just becoming a super fan.
Speaker 1:And it was perfect too, just because it was so fun to go to the games. It was just like I said, it kind of gave us something to do during the summer, but we had never experienced anything like it before, so it was also brand new. So it was just like all these perfect coincidences that just happened to be like okay, well, you guys are going to be baseball fans.
Speaker 2:Yep, exactly, yeah, it was good yeah.
Speaker 1:So how do you think your fandom grew as you became, like middle school, high school, the Rockies have been around for a while, but like, obviously I think you became more and more of a fan, even though you were obviously a very big fan right from the beginning. But like, how do you, how do you think were there any instances or players that really kind of jumped you up a level and you just became, went from a fan to a fanatic?
Speaker 2:I think the obvious answer there is when we started to go to spring training.
Speaker 2:That would have been 1996, I believe was the first year we went down there and it was one of those things where I was.
Speaker 2:I was a big Rockies fan and whatnot, but our spring breaks at that age usually consisted of Disneyland or San Diego or something like that, and that I remember mom and dad saying, well, we're gonna. Or Las Vegas because we also went there a lot, which was strange as children but mom and dad saying we're gonna go to spring training and watch the Rockies practice and instead of going to one of those places and I was kind of bummed and I was like, oh man, like those are my other favorite places. But then I walk into it was Tucson, arizona back then, and it was like all of my dreams came true and one in one place they had baseball and I had cactus and I didn't realize like how cool spring training was at that point, where you can get so close to the players, you can get autographs so much easier. You could just get to watch them in there like true element it was nice to get out of cold.
Speaker 2:Yes, for sure. It was a perfect time of year to go down there and so, yeah, that's first spring training trip. I remember we got tons of autographs and my thing also is getting pictures with the players. So then you kind of get to know them and they kind of start to remember you. And that was the beginning of it. For me was like, alright, spring training is the coolest place ever, and now I just can't wait for well you, you had a good streak going where.
Speaker 1:How many years in a row did you go to spring training from that first year?
Speaker 2:I believe it was I want to say like 17 or 18 years yeah, I knew it was something crazy yeah, I didn't. I went every single year until, I think, one of my last years in college when I didn't get to go, and then I missed one year and then now have been back every year since again. So I think I've been down there probably about 26 years now total.
Speaker 1:Man, that's awesome, yeah and you mentioned the, the pictures of like. You were always really good about getting pictures with the players and then you started a nice little cycle where you would get a picture of the player and then bring it back the next year to get them to autograph that picture, and then get a new picture and then kind of keep it going, yeah like you said, they really did start to remember you yeah, I think and that makes it more fun too, because the players know that I'm not there to sell the autographs oh there, for any money things at all.
Speaker 2:I really just enjoy meeting them and and getting to kind of see who they are as a person and not just a player.
Speaker 1:And yeah, it was really fun getting to see they would comment on how different they looked from last year to the next year, and I would too, and so it was just a really cool relationship yeah, that's always fun because you could tell it really disarmed them like I guess I would kind of get that just being around you because they knew, oh, I'm just with Krista, so I'm okay to sign for as well, because there was a lot of guys my age or a little bit older that were definitely trying to just sell stuff yeah, they're having like a whole case of baseball like oh here
Speaker 2:sign on the sweet spot yeah, okay, how much you can sell that for?
Speaker 1:yeah so it was. It was nice for all of us that you became friends with all of them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, it was, yeah, favorite favorite vacation spot, for sure, but yeah, I think just spring training in general is like the coolest place ever if you're a baseball fan to go.
Speaker 1:So can you describe maybe like a typical day for you in spring training, because it I think you kind of have it down to a science.
Speaker 2:I did. Yes, it's back in Tucson. It was like I would make dad and either you or sometimes Sarah get up really early while it was still dark, and we would head to the park this would probably be like 6, 30 am, maybe 7 and head to the park where the players would park their cars and we would pretty much just be waiting there for them as they walk into their day of training not creepy at all yeah, you know it looks sounds a little stalkerish when I look back at it, but for the most part they they didn't seem to mind, and that's when we would get to talk to them and say hi, whatnot?
Speaker 2:and they were always very good about it.
Speaker 2:I would say 90% of them oh yeah so, yeah, we would kind of start our morning nice and early with that, and then a lot of the times we wouldn't even stay for that game. We would go back and then swim and do like kind of more non baseball related activities and then go back to the park to occasionally, but for the most part, we would wake up and do that morning autograph picture routine every day that we were down there for four or five days in a row and then get a couple games in, and then we would always look forward to going out to dinner afterwards, because then sometimes we would see players at dinner and we have stayed in the team hotel a few times and then we would play pool and ping pong with them too, for them with the minor leaguers, and so that was really cool, because then you got to meet some of the up-and-coming people that nobody knows of so you started making friends with them real early yeah, yeah, so it was definitely.
Speaker 2:I think I had an advantage because I was at that time probably just a teenage girl, so, like you said, nothing really threatening and they really couldn't say no to me too much some of those guys probably had never had like real fans before, so in a way they probably just yep, that was fun.
Speaker 2:That's true. I think a lot of them actually did appreciate and they would constantly, constantly tell me like, hey, thanks for all your support. Or they would actually try to give me their jerseys and balls and hats and whatever. So it was just like one of those nice things where I never felt like I was like overbearing and never tried to be like too much, but just enough, where it was like, hey, they know who I am, I'll get a non-agrafer picture, they'll be nice to me in return and I'll wear your jersey and support you and that type of thing.
Speaker 1:So yeah, it was really a fun hobby and, kind of like you said, the actual games of spring training were far down the list of priorities for us yeah we would kind of get the autographs done in the morning and then just kind of have great family time the rest of the day.
Speaker 2:I said it was really fun.
Speaker 1:It was worth waking up early and doing that exactly. I thought so too I think most people would trade that experience. But if they went to the game they would love to like meet and talk to a player and we just happen to know like a way around that and just being able to do that first thing in the morning. Yeah, they were like you said.
Speaker 1:They were always really nice and it would take us a back sometimes whenever there was a player that was kind of grumpy or didn't want to, but like looking back on it, they don't owe us anything like who knows what they were dealing with at the time, like their career could have been on the line if they didn't do well that day or something. And we're like please sign our ball. And so it's like get out of here, kid yeah, but. I would say yeah for the vast majority. They were great yeah for sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I loved, loved it very much and it did change a little bit once they moved to Scottsdale, became a bigger city and a bigger stadium and started to have a little more security and things like that. So Tucson was definitely like the glory days, I would say with that. But I also got older and kind of grew out of the fan girling a little bit as well.
Speaker 1:So it worked out just fine yeah, what about While you were back in Denver and like, just say, watching the games or going to the games, how, how does your fandom kind of grow or change over the years for that?
Speaker 2:Um, I think it it. It was very, very Strong and consistent. I think I was definitely the biggest Rockies fan I knew. Probably Growing up all through high school. Everybody kind of would consider me that as well. I also went to every opening day possible. I think that streak is actually still active, that I haven't missed an opening day. But my first one wasn't until I think it was 97. I believe it was a year after we went to spring training you slacker.
Speaker 1:Why did you even bring that up? That's, that's only like 26 years. Who cares?
Speaker 2:So yeah, I don't that's. I think it was just one of those things where I'm like, all right, well, this is my passion, this is my love, I'm not missing opening day. I had, excuse me, I had a lot of like ticket packages, for they had a thing called ladies fan club and I would be a part of that and we would share partial season tickets and then I would just buy tickets and luckily they've never been super expensive because we haven't been really good. So it's just one of those things where I just go to as many games as possible and hope that someone wants to tag along and go with Me and if not, who cares?
Speaker 1:It's their loss. The World Series team sticks out. To me, that was obviously our best team. Who made it the farthest? Does that team stick out as as like maybe the season in your mind, or was there other Teams that maybe you just like were super attached to that? Stick out even more than the World Series team.
Speaker 2:I would say actually the World Series team and run. I I think I could Name them from you know, top to bottom if I saw a team roster, or even without a team roster, I probably could name a lot of them. So that team was definitely memorable, best team We've had. But if you're asking, like my favorite most memorable team or year or whatever, it's actually probably like the 2005 Rockies, where it was a complete Rebuilding year. They called them Todd and the toddlers.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, cuz it was basically Todd Helden was the only veteran. And then that's when a few of my favorite players that I had met at spring training Clint Barmas, you Baldo, corey Sullivan, like those guys were all Coming and like just making their major league appearance or major league debuts and starting to become more Everyday players. And so I was super excited because it was all these guys that I'd been watching in spring training Into minor leagues for about five years and now they're all finally in the big leagues. So I felt like it was like alright, like my, my time wasn't wasted, type of thing.
Speaker 1:So I could see that cuz. Yeah, like you said, you had personal connections with those guys and kind of saw them rising.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I watched them grow. Yeah, I get that.
Speaker 1:And then, of course, you mentioned Todd. He was one of our favorite players Growing up for both of us and just got the word that he's gonna be inducted into Hall of Fame yes. So of course, you already have your Reservations in Cooper's town that you're gonna go see? You yes. So again, if anyone had any doubts, she is the biggest Rockies fan in the world.
Speaker 2:I went to the Hall of Fame induction party at the DN VR bar and we watched it. We actually showed up like five hours early just because I wanted to make sure I got a table and they announced his name and I was just like you would have thought we just won the World Series or a Super Bowl or something huge. And then about 10 seconds later, dad texted me a couple of our pictures that we had gotten with Todd at spring training and I just started crying and I was like, oh my gosh, this is, this is crazy, and I'm a little bit crazy as well, but this is really cool.
Speaker 1:It is fun, though we we literally saw his whole career, and it's special because not only was he really good, but the fact that he spent the entire career in Denver like he was a leader, best player, just everything you could ask for out of a player, so it's it's pretty fun.
Speaker 2:Yeah, see him get rewarded for that. Yeah, I think, and Between like myself and mom and dad and whatnot, I've always said like this is this is our only chance at a Hall of Famer that I know of in a lot of years. So even when he was 10, 15 years ago, I said if he ever makes the Hall of Fame, I need to be there like this. This is a special player for sure.
Speaker 1:So yeah, the fact that Larry Walker already got in and now Helton, I don't think the Rockies are gonna have anybody get inducted for quite a while. Well, Nolan, but I don't even know if he'll go in as a Rocky after we were just like shipping him out for a bag of beans. No so let's talk about your job with the Rockies now, or technically MLB. So you are kind of getting to live out the dream and get paid To watch the Rockies.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Can you tell the listeners of what you do?
Speaker 2:Yeah, kind of took my Famed them to a whole different level a little bit. But yeah, basically about nine years ago Dad worked in guest relations at Coorsfield and he worked in the press box for a while and of course he likes to talk to everybody, which is good, and he had talked to a few of the Original people that did this job and told them hey, if you guys ever need somebody else, my daughter loves baseball, she's she would be great at whatever you want to do. And so he ended up getting my name into the the bucket a little bit and I got a call from my now boss basically asking if I wanted to do a thing called the pitch clock, pitch timing. Let's see what now it's called the pitch clock, but at that time it was do you actually work there?
Speaker 2:At that time it's called field timing coordinator, so. But yeah, so I started with that and yeah, I basically get paid to watch the game that I love and sit in the press box and get to Be like a part of the game, basically, and it's, it's super, super cool.
Speaker 1:I think it's awesome, like how many years you've been doing it now.
Speaker 2:This will be my ninth season, wow, so yeah it's.
Speaker 1:It's been fun just to see that position evolve, but also just the fact that you've been able to make it work with your Life and just making it, yeah, something that you get to do, like how many baseball fans would kill to do that.
Speaker 2:It's pretty awesome, yeah, it's, it's been awesome. It's it kind of I Put things in perspective a little bit because, yeah, since I was always such a huge fan and Then I get this job and it really was a dream come true. But they said one of the first things like you can't cheer when you're in the press box, you can't show allegiance to any team.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:That is the hardest part, for sure. I've gotten used to it, but it's still like super, super hard to. I have to sit on my hands like few times and not clap.
Speaker 1:Well, like you said too, they haven't really been great the last couple years, so at least that helps cut down on the opportunities. Yeah, he was needed to, but I think it's awesome and it's it's just been so fun. We started out so young with the team, just to See you grow up as a baseball fan and really never let it go. I've I've faded out since I moved to Florida and just it's. It's hard to keep track of the team, especially when they're not that great and I don't have the personal connection with any of the players, but, like you've been strong.
Speaker 1:Yeah the whole time and it's just fun to see and everyone's always shocked. It's like, oh, who's the biggest baseball fan you know? I'm like, oh, that's my. Yes, I know, it's crazy. Yeah people still are shocked that girls can be baseball fans. It's a. It's been impressive just to see your amount of knowledge and passion for the game. Like it's fun. But yeah. I think things that you love you shouldn't be ashamed of exactly.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I, I don't think there really was a time where I ever, like, tried to hold back on my Enthusiasm or love either cuz, yeah, I think it is one of those things where it's like, oh, girls don't know that much about sports, or if you do, then you're not cool, or whatever. But I never really felt like I ever had to change myself or who I was. I was like nope, this is, this is who I love, this is what I love doing, and I think it's always just been a big part of me.
Speaker 1:So that's awesome. Yeah, well, should we play some games to make you think about the players in? Ways You've never thought about them before. I'm excited. All right, all right. So the first game I want to play with you Is my starting nine game, so I just want you to make your starting nine. So that means you have to fill in each position around the diamond in one pitcher, and it doesn't have to be who you think is the best players.
Speaker 1:I just want to know your favorites, because I know you have plenty of favorites, but it'll be interesting to see you make decisions at certain positions. So let's start with the outfield.
Speaker 2:Who. This is tough. Okay, the outfield is hard. I've, I've, oh.
Speaker 1:Oh, so I thought the infield was gonna be harder for you.
Speaker 2:Well, I mean, actually that's what I'm thinking, like the infield is hard because I have so many, but the outfield, like I Don't really have anybody that stands out too much, that I like, have really liked in the outfield.
Speaker 1:Oh, I got you, so it's harder for a different reason.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there's like, there's people that I like, obviously, but I'm gonna Say Brad hop. Okay because he was just super, super nice, one of those like 2005 in the toddler guys. Um, I Think I need to put Charlie Blackman out there because he's been around forever, also has always been a cool guy and he's just super unique and he loves the game. So Charlie's out there and my third out fielder man that's.
Speaker 1:I guess, now that I'm thinking about it, so many of your favorite players have been infield. Yeah, they really have.
Speaker 2:So I Probably just have to go. Cory Sullivan, just cuz he's been around forever and now I Get to see him in the press box and we still say hi and talk and whatever. So I'm gonna go with Cory, cuz he's an OG.
Speaker 1:I'll take it All right Now. Now we're getting tougher. Well, actually, let's go with an easy one pitcher.
Speaker 2:You baldo.
Speaker 1:I figured now the infield first base is Todd Hilton.
Speaker 2:No obviously Shortstop is Trevor story oh.
Speaker 1:Interesting you went right to shortstop.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Trevor was the top.
Speaker 2:Yeah, interesting, I do. I do love Trevor. Third base is probably I know it's also not a very popular pick but Garrett Atkins.
Speaker 1:Okay, I was still expecting Nolan.
Speaker 2:No, I wasn't ever a huge Nolan fan, even though he was great and I love watching him play. He was just one of those that for some reason just never really spoke to me, not like literally, but like I just he's just not up in my top fave.
Speaker 1:Because I know for a fact that you did speak to him personally because you got Evelyn a autograph ball. That's true. You went to the game in.
Speaker 2:Atlanta. Yes, he did so. Yeah, no, he's. He has been nice a couple times that I've actually met him, so nothing against that at all, but I'm just going to go with Garrett Atkins.
Speaker 1:That's fine. He was right during that era where we were like obsessed with the team. Yeah, I think that's my problem.
Speaker 2:I'm just kind of stuck in 2005 apparently. And then second base. I got to put Clint Barmas there because he probably should have been a shortstop top, but I feel like he played second a lot as well and he has to be in my end goal.
Speaker 1:I forgot about that. I'll allow it because he did actually play second base. But yeah, I thought the big decision was going to be between Trevor and Clint, but you were able to get him both in, so good for you.
Speaker 2:Thank you, catcher. Catcher is going to be Ben Petrick.
Speaker 1:Oh nice.
Speaker 2:Yep, he was a very awesome person. From spring training for the first he was actually one that you had told me about. I remember, like one of the first spring trainings, that he was supposed to be one of our top prospects.
Speaker 1:Yep.
Speaker 2:I was just thinking about him and then I met him and then it was one that we ended up kind of following him for the next like 10 years basically. So Ben Petrick is my catcher and yeah.
Speaker 1:You can add in a relief picture if you really want to, but you don't have to.
Speaker 2:Curtis Laskanek.
Speaker 1:Oh, really, yeah, okay, he was awesome, very good Loved him. He was old school.
Speaker 2:I know, yeah, he was fun to watch and a fun fun guy too.
Speaker 1:I remember we went to his autograph signing at some store and he was having all the people that came to get his autograph sign his what's it called Tablecloth.
Speaker 2:Oh, really that's cool. I don't remember that.
Speaker 1:I always thought that was cool, because younger me was like, oh, he's probably going to hang that up, but like he probably threw that away right away.
Speaker 2:But it was just something to talk about. Yeah, that's cool.
Speaker 1:That's good. I like that you stepped around the landmine of Clint and Trevor by having them both play.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'll accept it. Okay, I mean honorable mention. Probably I got to put an A-fi Perez in there at some point too, but he was also shortstop so there's just no room.
Speaker 1:Yep, you've always liked the shortstop I've always liked shortstops.
Speaker 1:Hey everyone, this is Brian. For the first time ever, we have a live update for our podcast guest. Krista thought about it a little bit more after we got done recording and she realized that she forgot some of her all-time favorite players in her starting nine. So I wanted to correct that right here, right now and give you her actual answers after she thought about it just a little bit more. So in left field she actually has Ryan Spilburgs, which I always just called Spilly, and he was a fan favorite.
Speaker 1:Krista definitely was a huge fan of his and I think she actually gets to work with him quite a bit at Coors Field now in center, charlie Blackman and then in right field Brad Hopp. And then another change she wanted to make was her third baseman is Jeff Baker, which I think Jeff was one of the guys that she got to know at spring training. He was definitely a big time prospect that we all kind of had big hopes for. I remember him being a solid player, but I also remember Krista being a huge fan of Jeff Baker and other than that she stuck with everybody else. She had Trevor Storie at short, clinton Barmus at second, todd at first, ben Petrick as her catcher and Ybaldo as her pitcher. So that is the update and we will get back to the episode Now. Bonus question how many of those starting nine did you have a jersey for?
Speaker 2:Let's see, I just had well, I had about four Clint Barmus jerseys. The first one I ordered was came in. Spelled incorrectly.
Speaker 1:He did have a funny name.
Speaker 2:It was Barnes instead of Barmus. And then I got three more after that. I had a Ybaldo jersey and I had a two or three Trevor Storie jerseys actually as well. So just three.
Speaker 1:Oh, really None of those outfielders, uh-uh and Garrett.
Speaker 2:No, no, interesting.
Speaker 1:Now, who were you most upset with when they got traded or cut?
Speaker 2:I would say the Clint Barmus trade hit me the hardest because he was my favorite for so long.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so he was kind of the peak of your obsessed fandom. Yep, yeah.
Speaker 2:And we were like pretty good friends. He was friends with the whole family at that point too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he legit knew who you were and you guys would have conversations. It wasn't just like he recognized your face, he knew you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and he was great to everybody.
Speaker 1:Do you remember who he got traded for? Did we get anything good?
Speaker 2:You know, I don't remember. I don't feel like we've gotten anybody good for any of the trades of my favorite players.
Speaker 1:Shocking what the Rockies do so well in trades what?
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I cannot remember who we got for him, but I usually don't like the person that we get in the trade for, whoever they are, so I think I try to just block them out of my memory Exceptible, totally, not their fault at all. But you know that's my grudge that I hold and stick to it.
Speaker 1:So you named your top nine favorite players, and another thing that I know about you is you are probably one of the biggest Bachelor fans in the world. So let's picture this for me those nine guys are lined up in some fancy living room, they're all wearing fancy suits, everybody has their hair done except for Charlie, of course and you have a rose to give out, but just one. One rose for your all time favorite player, who gets your rose.
Speaker 2:Oh, my goodness, why.
Speaker 1:For those at home. She is really stressed about this decision as if it's going to matter. This is real life.
Speaker 2:If it's based off of my all time favorite player and not like who I want.
Speaker 1:However, you want to qualify it, however, you decide who gets the rose.
Speaker 2:Oh, I got to go. Clint Barmas, I think still. Yeah, he just was my all time favorite and just an awesome person. I'm not surprised. I think that's who I would have guessed, yeah.
Speaker 1:Now you have to have the eight awkward conversations with the other guys. No, I'm just kidding, I'm so sorry. Those are always so funny. It's like they're like why didn't you choose me? It's like do you really want me to tell you? All right, so we're going to play another game. The Bachelor Rose kind of eases us into our next game, which is I normally do a name match, like kind of a mash up, but as I was doing my research for today's episode, all the bachelors seem to have just names. That did not work for my game. So we're kind of doing a different sort of game called matchup, where you're going to match the Rockies player that has the same first name with a bachelor. Oh right, I will give you clues. You get three clues. If you get it on the first clue, you get three points. If you get it on the second clue, you get two points. If you get on the third clue, you still get one point, and if you don't, then you're just not a super fan, I'm not a fan, like I thought I was.
Speaker 1:So matchup? The first matchup is this bachelor was the bachelor for season seven. I don't know if you're familiar with the season non-approves, but I'm expecting those not to be very helpful for you. This Rocky is a four time all star. So any guesses after the first clue. And it's okay if you don't, because they're designed not to be that helpful.
Speaker 2:Yeah, okay, I don't know.
Speaker 1:Second clue this bachelor is brother-in-law with Rebecca Romain, famous for being in an X-Men movie. Oh, and this Rocky made his MLB debut in June of 2011. Now remember their first names match. Do you have any idea for the bachelor or the Rocky?
Speaker 2:I'm just trying to think.
Speaker 1:It's like my two favorite worlds colliding, and my brain is but I purposely sell out these clues that you're not going to get it right away.
Speaker 2:So don't feel bad, I'm not going to say anything right now Okay.
Speaker 1:I don't got it, so the third clue this bachelor is the younger brother of actor Jerry and they have the same last name. And this Rocky is well known for his beard and mullet.
Speaker 2:Troy Tulaewiski. What Beard and mullet.
Speaker 1:I think so oh.
Speaker 2:Charlie Charlie.
Speaker 1:Why did I not get that? Do you know the bachelor?
Speaker 2:No.
Speaker 1:Well, obviously his first name is Charlie.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's what I was trying to think.
Speaker 1:Charlie O'Connell was the bachelor. Okay, he is from season seven. Jerry O'Connell, who's a famous actor, is his brother and he was married to Rebecca Romain. I did not know, so zero points on that one.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I've really failed that first one.
Speaker 1:We're just getting warmed up. We're getting warmed up. This one I have no doubt that you're going to get. This bachelor was the bachelor on season 11 and 15. That should be a pretty big clue, because I think he's the only one that's done it twice, and this Rocky was a one-time All-Star. Know the bachelor that's done it more than once.
Speaker 2:Is he the only bachelor to do it more than once?
Speaker 1:To be the actual bachelor, is he? It wasn't like he was a contestant on Bachelor. He was the legit bachelor twice. Oh, my goodness, I know. Imagine my surprise. Oh, man, oh.
Speaker 2:Second clue Okay.
Speaker 1:This bachelor's favorite book is to kill a mockingbird.
Speaker 2:Oh no, I got it. Yep, I figured.
Speaker 1:Well, I had to balance it out because I thought that first clue was so good.
Speaker 2:I know it is.
Speaker 1:This Rocky remember he was a one-time All-Star is a lefty. Just remember that very helpful clue. About to kill a mockingbird To kill a mockingbird.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I did.
Speaker 1:Third clue. I'm just trying to think of Third clue. This bachelor has a twin named Chad. Sorry, this Rocky has the last name of what a bunny does. Sorry, I couldn't say what I'm laughing at.
Speaker 2:I'm so dumb.
Speaker 1:What does a bunny do?
Speaker 2:Brad Hop, hey, yay.
Speaker 1:That was the worst clue I've ever given.
Speaker 2:Oh, Brad.
Speaker 1:Do you know who the bachelor is? First name Brad, obviously.
Speaker 2:I don't remember his last name, but I can picture him.
Speaker 1:Brad Womack was his name. Oh, yeah, yeah, brad Womack. So good, you got one point for that one.
Speaker 2:Finally, thank goodness your clue was so good.
Speaker 1:All right, this bachelor was the bachelor on season 20. This Rocky made his MLB debut in September of 1999. So we went old school with the Rocky. Second clue, yep, yep. Second clue this bachelor co-owns a restaurant named Ash Cara.
Speaker 2:Ben Higgins hey, look at you getting two points.
Speaker 1:And do you want the second clue for the Rocky? Yeah, he is the author of a book called 40,000 to One. Now remember, you already know the first name.
Speaker 2:Yeah, ben, benjamin, ben oh, shoot, is he a picture? Nope, oh, I don't know. Makes his majorly debut in 1999. I don't think we have him on our wall, do we?
Speaker 1:That's not just like a third clue. Yeah, all right, so you already know the bachelor he's from Denver. And then, unfortunately, this Rocky was diagnosed with Parkinson's.
Speaker 2:Oh, Ben Petrick.
Speaker 1:It was Ben Petrick. Oh gosh, how did I know? I know I said you mentioned him earlier.
Speaker 2:He's one of my top nine and I didn't say his name.
Speaker 1:But you got the bachelor on the second clue, so I'm going to give you two points for that one. Okay, all right, so see, you're warming up, that's right. All right, our last one. The bachelor was the bachelor on season 18. And then fun fact about this Rocky is that he never ages.
Speaker 2:Clue number two, please.
Speaker 1:Oh okay, this bachelor was a former soccer player.
Speaker 2:Juan Pablo.
Speaker 1:And this Rocky was a three-time stolen base leader.
Speaker 2:Juan Pierre.
Speaker 1:Hey.
Speaker 2:Yay.
Speaker 1:He's all over the place now. Very good.
Speaker 2:He does not age, that is true.
Speaker 1:He looked the exact same when he's a rookie to when he was 40 years old, or however he is now Definitely. So good job Thanks.
Speaker 2:You passed your bachelor and.
Speaker 1:Rockies matchup.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:So I know I said it before, but it's just so impressive how strong your fandom has been through all the many, many losing seasons they've had. You've stayed loyal and that is very impressive. So I tip my cap to your Rockies fandom.
Speaker 2:Thank you, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Speaker 1:So I'm hoping that you can come on and talk about other teams as well. Now that you'll be a returning guest. You can just talk about anything. You don't have to talk about your fandom. So we'll have you on again some other time.
Speaker 2:That sounds great Thanks for having me Bye.
