Colorado Rockies Descalso, LeMahieu unhappy with league's new sliding rules

Rockies middle infielders not pleased with new MLB sliding rules at second base - The Denver Post
Middle infielders Daniel Descalso and DJ LeMahieu less than thrilled to learn of the rule changes to close plays at second base, announced Friday in the name of player safety. Both Descalso and LeMahieu would have preferred to keep the status quo with baserunners’ hard slides into second in attempts to break up double plays. From their perspective, navigating men is simply a reality of the play, and everyone has a job to do. It’s understandable to a degree, and both may require some time to adjust, but the MLB isn’t totally wrong for intervening. Revisit this video of chief offender, Chase Utley’s take out of Ruben Tejada from game 2 of the NLDS. The collision broke Tejada's right fibula and shut him down for the remainder of the post season. Was Utley just doing his job? Let us know your take on the new rules in the comments below.

Parra thrilled to be reunited with Young- Rockies.com
Spring Training workouts have only just begun, but Rockies newcomer Gerardo Parra is already feeling at home on his new team. As Thomas Harding of MLB.com writes, much of Parra’s enthusiasm comes from a second opportunity to work with Rockies first base coach, and former Minor League outfield coordinator for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Eric Young. Young took to Parra as a prospect coming up in a very deep organization. Parra credits Young’s influence as the best the game has given him, and hopes to add a third Gold Glove Award this year, as a Rockie.

The 2016 Fan Excitement Ratings - FanGraphs
A recent poll run by Jeff Sullivan of FanGraphs, revealed some unsightly results for the Colorado Rockies. Not one fan base is less excited for the 2016 Major League Baseball season than Rockies fans. I get it, the offseason was slow -- with the addition of guys like Mark Reynolds and Jason Motte -- and the starting rotation is more "let’s just try this again" than upgraded. But really? It’s February 27th and people aren’t champing at the bit for baseball? Maybe the Broncos' Super Bowl win made committing entirely to football fandom seem like a rewarding endeavor. Or perhaps those formerly known as Rockies fans have realigned themselves with Rockies’ minor league affiliates such as the Hartford Yard Goats and Albuquerque Isotopes, of which they are so excited about. Whatever the case, we hope you'll come around before Opening Day.

2015 Positional Ball-in-Play Retrospective - FanGraphs
Nolan Arenado is dubbed "the slightly lesser NL version of Machado" in Tony Blengino’s ball-in-play breakdown of the game’s third basemen. Though, to be fair to both, Blengino does see Arenado’s low walk rate and pull-side tendencies as the only things standing in the way of perennial MVP candidacy for the 24-year old All-Star and three-time gold glover.