For the first time since 2009, the Colorado Rockies won't have a starter in the All-Star Game.
Colorado players were shut out in the fan voting, the results of which were released on Sunday night. Troy Tulowitzki, the starting shortstop for the National League in each of the last two seasons and three times overall, finished second in the voting behind Jhonny Peralta of the St. Louis Cardinals. Nolan Arenado, among the NL leaders in home runs and runs batted in, placed a distant fourth in the balloting at third base.
DJ LeMahieu, who played at an All-Star level for much of the first half, didn't finish in the top five among second basemen. That was the case for Rockies players at every other position, as well.
Tulowitzki and Arenado have a decent shot of being selected when the reserves are announced on Monday evening. MLB.com's Phil Rogers predicts the latter will be the Rockies' lone representative.
LeMahieu and John Axford could be in the conversation, as well, but it's doubtful that either player will be selected.
The reserves and final vote candidates for both leagues will be announced beginning at 5 p.m. MT on ESPN.
Links
'I'd rather just play': Arenado doesn't want day off | rockies.com
Arenado wants to play through a slump that has gone on through the last two series. Dude has no care whatsoever for taking days off.
Impatience growing among Rockies for pitching help; where's Jon Gray? - The Denver Post
Jorge De La Rosa has pitched well in his last couple of starts and Chad Bettis has been solid overall, but the Rockies lack much of anything behind those two. Troy Tulowitzki has one solution: bring up Jon Gray .
Baseball Prospectus | BP Top 50
David Dahl comes in at No. 26, Raimel Tapia at No. 27 and Ryan McMahon at No. 47 on BPro's Top 50 midseason prospects list. Yes, there is one rather notable omission...
Baseball Prospectus | BP Top 50
Gray was on the list prior this season and, really, ever since he became a pro. But a poor start to the season means he's been bumped out. From Jeff Moore:
Gray has been a rankings mainstay since being selected third-overall by the Rockies in 2013. His production since then has been nothing short of disappointing, though it’s his raw stuff that has taken a step back across the board and keeps him off of this edition. His inability to maintain velocity deep into games and the lack of bite on his once-wipeout slider have limited his ceiling until they return to form.
Gray's overall numbers combined with the Rockies' poor history of developing pitchers probably hurts Gray here. But it should be noted that the velocity thing hasn't been a problem lately. Neither has the slider, which drew rave reviews from scouts in a recent game -- one in which Gray performed rather poorly -- in Salt Lake City.
The Rockies' development strategy with Gray has made it seem like his stuff has taken a significant dip. But the training wheels are in the process of coming off, as noted by Albuquerque pitching coach Darryl Scott, and we're starting to see what Gray can do with a full arsenal.
Purple Row Prospects polling thread—Summer 2015 - Purple Row
Voting ends tomorrow! Get your stuff together and get your ballot up.