Circle Change: Rockies Rookies and Barriers to Greatness | Baseball Prospectus
Between the Subaru Strike Zone and the screen shots on Twitter, you surely know by now that it feels like the Rockies never get borderline strike calls and the opponents always do. Interestingly, they are indeed getting fewer of those calls, and as we have already known to an extent, a big part of the problem is bad pitch framing from the catchers. At least a few pitchers, mostly rookies, have made some adjustments in response.
Whether knowing it or not, a number of guys have started throwing fatter strikes. German Marquez is leading that group, and it might explain the home runs he has been allowing lately. This trend raises some interesting questions about the remainder of this season and the importance of improved pitch framing from the catchers in seasons to come.
“I need to be in the lineup,” Carlos Gonzalez says. He is earning it for the Rockies in a new way. | Denver Post
Finally, those hits have been louder. With home runs on back to back nights, CarGo is backing up the talk in this article in which he insists he play a big role for the Rockies in a playoff race.
All I know is that his home run off Yu Darvish in Friday night’s win was special and not many guys can do that. Hopefully Gonzalez can find more swings like that this month.
Remembering Don Baylor might have just shaken up the NL postseason race | BSN Rockies
Speaking of CarGo and his recent hot streak, he is definitely hitting the ball harder and a change in his grip might explain why. Drew Creasman looks at what CarGo learned from Don Baylor in this regard and how he’s applying it right now.
Keri the 10: The biggest turnaround team, Philly's youth movement, more MLB notes | CBS Sports
Among the notes here are observations about the red-hot Arizona Diamondbacks and the struggling Los Angeles Dodgers. As for the latter, yes the Dodgers look more normal and beatable, but it’s worth noting that they are still a scary team looking ahead to the playoffs.
Why isn't every starting pitcher turning into Alex Wood? | ESPN
Sam Miller takes a look at an interesting question with those short starts that then hand things to the bullpen, which is not an insignificant question for the Rockies and those “bullpen games” that are apparently part of the plan this month.