Ian Desmond: Colorado Was "Number One" Choice for New Team
Formally introduced to the world as the newest member of the Rockies at Tuesday’s press conference, Desmond wasn’t shy when saying why he liked to now be calling Denver home.
“This is an opportunity that I wanted to seize. This was my number one. I wanted to come here last year,” Desmond said. “They had Trevor (Story) and I was still playing short so there wasn’t an opening. The opportunity arose this year and we pounced all over it.”
So after a one-year stop in Texas after seven seasons with the Washington Nationals, Desmond has signed a five-year deal and landed exactly where he hoped to be. With his wife and three young boys sitting front row and decked out in Rockies gear, Desmond talked about all of the good things about his new home team … and very little had to do with hitting the ball at altitude.
“One thing that goes unsaid is this. Yes, the ball does fly here. Yes, it’s a good place to hit. But one of the reasons I play well here is because I like coming here,” Desmond said. “I always enjoyed coming to Colorado. I always enjoyed this city and the people in this city. We’re from Florida in a small town. When you put your blinker on and you change lanes, the people behind you wave. That’s very common here as well. I have three little boys and I want to raise them in a place where there are common views.”
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Desmond said the people at Coors Field impressed him as much as his ability to send the ball deep.
“In 2012, my wife and I came here for her birthday. I was playing here (with Washington) but she flew out for her birthday without the kids,” Desmond recalled. “There was an older lady who works down in the tunnel. I’m pretty sure every home and visiting player had an encounter with her at some point. She was very sweet and always said hi. My wife said, ‘She was so sweet. People here are so kind and nice.’ It became a favorite of hers and a favorite of mine.”
Desmond knows he was brought to Denver to play first base, a position he said during his conference that he could never remember playing in a game. However, he shrugged off any thoughts that it would be a problematic transition for him.
“I respect every position on the field. I don’t think there’s an easy position on the field where you can go hide somebody. I don’t think that exists in baseball. Every position, I said it last year, has its own intricacies and demands its own respect,” Desmond said. “I’m going into this like it’s the hardest position and I’m going to train for it as hard as I can. That’s the hardest part of the 2017 season is the training and getting ready. I’m excited to see what it has in store.”
While many are focused on Desmond’s transition to first and his ability to rake at the plate (he’s hit 20 or more homers in four of the last five seasons), the 31-year-old was quick to point out he’s ready to run at Coors Field as well. He’s also stolen 20 or more bases in five of the last six seasons, including 21 last year.
“I don’t think there’s a bad spot. That’s the manager’s decision,” Desmond said of where he might hit in the 2017 Rockies lineup. “I think there’s room for improvement. Charlie (Blackmon) stole a lot of bags last year. I think there’s some room for improvement in base running. I think Bud Black brings a huge element with that to this team. In San Diego, they used to steal bags left and right. That’s something I can’t wait to pick his brain on and to push the other guys. I don’t want to pat myself on the back but, over the course of my career, I’ve rated a pretty good baserunner. I think that’s something I can provide and push some other guys in that direction as well.”