The Rockies' center field and leadoff jobs are not likely to get locked down after just one game, but by giving those responsibilities to Charlie Blackmon in the season opener, manager Walt Weiss has given him the first shot to prove himself worthy of an everyday role.
Blackmon just may be better suited to the leadoff role than rival Corey Dickerson. In the minors, he was more proficient at drawing walks and stealing bases. Then again, Blackmon has piled up 481 major league plate appearances over the last three years, and he has just 13 stolen bases and 14 walks to show for it. He does own a .291 batting average, but he owes much of that to the otherworldly 31 percent line drive rate he posted in 2013.
Should everything break right for Blackmon -- a return to more prolific walks and steals along with a sustained high line drive rate -- he could produce enough to keep his job. He would also have a high enough batting average and run total to justify ownership in mixed leagues. I'm skeptical that this will happen, and Dickerson has enough power to wrest playing time from Blackmon in due time, even if he is not the best fit for the leadoff spot.