ANAHEIM -- Rockies manager Bud Black returned for the series opener against the Angels on Monday after missing eight games while under MLB's COVID and contact tracing protocol. Black did not elaborate on his absence, but he pinpointed how odd it felt watching on television as bench coach Mike Redmond ran the club.

“On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the weirdest? Ten,” Black said.

Black stayed in contact with Redmond and his coaches, communicating as close as 15-20 minutes before each game. He also had daily conversations with interim general manager Bill Schmidt and talked often with Minor League personnel. Black also texted players or sent them messages through coaches.

The Rockies won two of their six games against the Dodgers, both in 10 innings, and split a two-game series with the Mariners in Black’s absence.

“From TV, in real time you see the pitch, you see the replay of the pitch, you see the result,” Black said. “In most cases, I don’t get to replay the game or see the game on video until well after, or sometimes even the next day.

“Being away and having the team on the field, it was just really, really bizarre.”

Try softer, become a harder out

Charlie Blackmon entered Monday's game with a strikeout rate of 12.5 percent, the lowest full-season rate of his career.

Controlling strikeouts is an interesting paradox for the athletic mind. The most helpful thoughts are positive, aggressive ones -- something the athlete aims to do, rather than avoid. But in this case, not striking out is a negative-sounding thought, but a positive outcome.

Blackmon realizes not swinging at balls simplifies his task. And batting in the middle of the order, Blackmon’s discipline is challenged because he receives fewer fastballs than when he batted leadoff. He has found a more positive thought -- something he can do, as opposed to not do -- in the box than mere avoidance.

“It’s effort management,” Blackmon said. “My leg kick is a little smaller. My head is a little more still.”

McMahon sore

For the second straight game, infielder Ryan McMahon was held out of the lineup on Monday due to left leg tightness.

Trying to catch up

Right-handed-hitting Joshua Fuentes, who started at third for McMahon on Monday, entered the contest hitless in 13 plate appearances over five games. Fuentes is in an adjustment period, having dropped the leg kick he had been using for several seasons for a toe tap -- a setup he used in Double-A.

“I’ve been thinking too much about what my body is doing instead of trying to hit the pitch,” Fuentes said. “It’s taken some adjustment. I’m trying to simplify so there’s not so much thinking involved.

“These guys are Major League pitchers and they’re carving me up right now. But it’s not over.”