“Never tell me the odds”

Charlie Blackmon, with his gnarly mountain-man beard, sing-along walk-up song, and Chuck Nazty hustle, has become a Rockies icon.

He’s had a remarkable career since making his debut on June 7, 2011, just shy of his 25th birthday. But he’s only been to the playoffs twice, in 2017 and ’18, and another trip to the postseason seems light years away.

The 36-year-old Blackmon has watched some of his closest friends leave Colorado for greener baseball pastures; places where winning is not just a wish, but an expectation. Nolan Arenado is in St. Louis, Trevor Story is in Boston, and D.J. LeMahieu, Blackmon’s former roommate, plays for the mighty Yankees.

How does Blackmon feel about that?

He paused for a long moment before answering.

“Baseball careers are fragile,” Blackmon said. “You just don’t know what one bad season, one injury, one change in the clubhouse — you just don’t know what that’s going to bring. There is uncertainty with that.

“So I certainly enjoy being here and really enjoy being around the people here.”

Blackmon paused for another moment before continuing.

“There are different reasons those other guys left. It doesn’t mean they didn’t like playing here. They were certainly making what they thought was the best decision at the time, and I did the same thing. I certainly don’t regret any part of that.”

But what about the Rockies’ lack of success? They’re mired in a fourth consecutive losing season and entered the weekend in last place in the National League West with a 45-55 record.

“Never tell me the odds,” Blackmon said. “If I had worried about the odds, I probably wouldn’t have even played college baseball.