It's arguably the quietest sports day of the year today - so quiet that Baseball Prospectus has a round table discussion about the activities that should be happening today - but there's still some Rockies and baseball news to write about.
All-Star Game
MLB All-Star Game: Troy Tulowitzki doubles, swims into second base - Purple Row
There were two Rockies represented in last night's All-Star game, an affair won by the AL 5-3. Troy Tulowitzki started at shortstop and finished 1-for-3 - it's his hit and nifty slide that is captured in the above GIF by Bryan. Charlie Blackmon got two plate appearances but didn't reach either time for Colorado, who will have to win the World Series without home field advantage this year.
All-Star Game reminder: Vin Scully wants to lecture you about home-field advantage - SBNation.com
Speaking of home field advantage, Vin Scully has an opinion about that particular rule. Oh Vin, never change.
Baseball Prospectus | Pebble Hunting: This Time, We Count
In case you didn't notice, a certain Yankee Captain dominated All-Star game coverage. Sam Miller of BP counted the amount of mentions for each All-Star during last night's game and Derek Jeter had more than twice the mentions of any other player. Tulo actually fared pretty well with 15, while Blackmon got two mentions (one for each PA I guess).
Origins of the 2014 All-Stars: National League hitters - Minor League Ball
Jon Sickels of SB Nation blog Minor League Ball has a breakdown of the amateur origins of the hitters on the 2014 National League All-Star team. Unsurprisingly, a plethora of them came from the first round of the draft (like Tulo) or the second round (like Blackmon).
Hochman: Baseball the bond that ties us together - The Denver Post
Benjamin Hochman writes about watching a young boy's first All-Star game experience.
Rockies News
David Martin writes that what we're seeing from owner Dick Monfort isn't loyalty in his insistence on keeping the baseball operations team intact but blind stubbornness. It's hard to argue with his point - Monfort appears to be entrenched in his worldview even as his team progresses along in another lost year.
Dick and Dan and Accountability at 20th and Blake | Rockies Zingers Colorado Rockies Baseball
Ryan Hammon of Rockies Zingers attempts to evaluate Dan O'Dowd's performance with the team and comes to the conclusion that the time is now for him to leave.
Minor League Ball Top 75 Prospects: mid-season update - Minor League Ball
Sickels also posted his mid-year top 75 prospects list. The Rockies are well represented, placing four players in the list - all in the top 45. AA pitcher Jon Gray was 10th, low A outfielder David Dahl was 33rd, low A third baseman Ryan McMahon was 41st, and DL'ed major league pitcher Eddie Butler was 44th. Per Sickels, four other Rockies prospects received consideration - AA shortstop Trevor Story, low A outfielder Raimel Tapia, AAA outfielder Kyle Parker, and AA catcher Tom Murphy.
Speaking of Rockies prospects - look for the first installment of the 2014 Summer PuRPs list later today.
News from around baseball
At look at the National League going into the second half - The Denver Post
Nick Groke looks at a wide open National League race - unfortunately, this link is in the "news from around baseball section" and not the "Rockies news" section.
2014 Trade Value: #40 – #31 | FanGraphs Baseball
FanGraphs is rolling out their annual MLB trade value series. No Rockies have made the first two installments and Dave Cameron noted that Carlos Gonzalez, number ten on last year's list, would not appear on this edition.
The Problems Baseball’s Next Commissioner Will Face – The Hardball Times
Bud Selig's on his way out soon as commissioner. Alex Remington looks at what the new guy or gal will have to deal with on the horizon.
Saunders: Bud Selig hopes to put a stop to smokeless tobacco - The Denver Post
Speaking of Selig and problems, the commish and players association director Tony Clark are trying to eradicate smokeless tobacco use - a habit that led to the death of Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn earlier this year.