Rockies strike deal “in the 11th hour” to keep Coors Field as long-term home | Denver Post
Nick Groke reported yesterday that the Rockies have signed a 30-year lease to stay in Coors Field and Denver. The Rockies will pay a total of $200 million for the privilege. In the negotiation, they also received the right to lease develop a plot of land south of the stadium—the parking lot next to Jacksons.
Coors Field is already the third oldest stadium in the National League. With the new deal, Coors Field will be a stadium with the rare and precious opportunity to get old. Also, when the lease expires, Brendan Rodgers will be 50 years old.
Jon Gray finds his trusty slider, tunes up for season opener | Denver Post
Jon Gray pitched against the club’s minor leaguers yesterday. The big news there is that his foot wasn’t bothering him. He was able to toss 88 pitches. Gray’s excited and ready for Opening Day, which he’s likely to start, even though Bud Black has not yet made it official.
Nolan Arenado a prime candidate to win NL MVP | Rockies.com
Thomas Harding writes that Nolan Arenado is poised to compete for the NL MVP award, despite the Coors Field penalty writers tend to assign and assuming that the Rockies are competitive. He also speculates that Greg Holland has a shot at Comeback Player of the Year Award. If he wins it, he’ll get a $100,000 bonus.
Is Bud Black the ideal modern manager? The Rockies are betting on it | USA Today
Bob Nightengale offers a glimpse into what baseball managers and executives around the league think about Bud Black, as well as Black’s adaptability to a role unfamiliar to the managers he used to play for. Black is a relatively old dog who seems to be learning the new tricks that involve closer relationships with the front office.
The Rockies have bought into Jeff Bridich’s unique key for 2017 | BSN Rockies
Drew Creasman writes about Jeff Bridich and the word of the day, “versatility.” In Drew’s conversations with Rockies players, that word takes many forms. For some it means depth, while for others it means in-game roster flexibility. Whatever meaning they draw out, it’s clear that the team is confident heading into the season.
The 100 greatest Colorado Rockies: No 47, Dave Veres | Rox Pile
The 31 saves Dave Veres compiled for the Rockies in 1999 is the least compelling part of his story. Instead, it’s that he signed a minor-league deal with the Rockies in 2007 as a 40-year-old reliever who had last pitched in the majors in 2003 and was currently sporting a prosthetic hip.