MLB Power Rankings - Major League Baseball - ESPN
The Rockies have vaulted all the way up to No. 5 on the list. Rockies Zingers writer and frequent Purple Row commenter Eric Garcia McKinley wrote up the blurb on Colorado:
"The Rockies have as many days off this week (two) as they have had since Opening Day. No matter. The series loss in Cincinnati this past weekend was their first since April 11-13. The Rockies will have to sweep two in Kansas City and beat James Shields, for a winning road trip. It would be a nice boost before returning home to face the Padres and Giants."
Hochman: Troy Tulowitzki can carry Colorado Rockies a long way - The Denver Post
If Troy Tulowitzki can shoulder the load until the Rockies get some arms back into the rotation (whether it be the returns of Tyler Chatwood and Brett Anderson or the arrival of Jon Gray and Eddie Butler), the boys in purple could be headed for an exciting finish, writes Benjamin Hochman.
Streaking or not, Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado puts team first | Rockies.com: News
Thomas Harding profiles Arenado, who is coming around wonderfully in his second season in the big leagues. Of particular interest is that the dazzling third baseman has a little brother who is partially named after, of all people, Brooks Robinson.
Rockies Review - A Colorado Rockies Blog: Despite Sunday loss, Colorado Rockies still exceeding expectations at quarter mark
David Martin summarizes the Rockies at the quarter point of the season, mentioning better depth and production at the corners as two big reasons why the team looks promising entering what has historically been a crucial stretch of the season for them.
Yasiel Puig's amazing grand slam home run ... in a video game - SBNation.com
Boone Logan made just an awful pitch here.
Around the league
Jose Fernandez injury: Marlins' ace headed to DL, undergoing MRI - SBNation.com
This is just awful news for anyone who likes baseball. Fernandez, one of the brightest young stars in the game, will likely have season-ending Tommy John surgery. Ugh.
Miami Marlins' Jose Fernandez to disabled list with elbow injury - Fish Stripes
Full coverage of the Fernandez injury from SB Nation's Marlins community.
Baseball’s Most and Least Homerable Pitches | FanGraphs Baseball
Jeff Sullivan takes a look at the top (and bottom) 10 pitches in terms of effectiveness in preventing the longball. Offerings from a few former Rockies appear at various points throughout the article, but no current Colorado hurlers are included. That, of course, is both good and bad.
Patrick Saunders’ spotlight on Kansas City Royals RHP James Shields
Saunders has a few blurbs on Shields, a free-agent-to-be who has established himself as the Royals' ace. We'll have more on Shields and KC a little bit later today in Know Your Foe.