Jon Gray’s Strange Season Looks To Have Reached A Depressing End | Deadspin
After being left off the National League Division Series roster, it appears that the Colorado Rockies have decided to end Jon Gray’s season. After building block campaigns in 2016 and 2017, it looked like Gray would become a complete ace in 2018. While some metrics still suggest Gray had a solid season, it was undoubtedly not ace-like. The superb performances of Kyle Freeland and German Márquez easily shot them ahead of Gray in the rankings for earning the “ace” title.
What sealed the deal for the Rockies leaving Gray off the roster was likely poor performances in vital late-season games against the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals. Some point to Gray’s performance in the 2017 National League Wild Card Game against the Arizona Diamondbacks as the beginning of a downward spiral for Gray. Deadspin’s Tom Ley recaps the unusual season that the “Gray Wolf” has endured.
Cinderella story Johnson makes Rockies roster | Rockies.com
At the beginning of September, someone who was on no one’s radar to make a postseason roster was 29-year-old rookie relief pitcher DJ Johnson. After a successful run as the closer for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes in 2018, Johnson continued to show success in the Major Leagues as a September call-up. Johnson makes for quite the “Cinderella story,” as he was initially undrafted out of Western Oregon University and made his way through the independent leagues before reaching his ultimate destination. MLB.com’s Thomas Harding has more on Johnson and the breakdown of the Rockies’ entire 25-man NLDS roster.
BSN Rockies Podcast: Thomas Harding and Paul Klee talk NLDS and big Rockies takeaways | BSN Denver
In the latest episode of the BSN Rockies podcast, Drew Creasman is joined by Harding and Paul Klee of The Gazette “to discuss the current, past, and future state of the Colorado Rockies.” There’s a very real possibility that the Rockies’ season could conclude on Sunday, so talking about the future may be worthwhile.
Colorado Rockies: The Unexpected “Super Bullpen” | Rox Pile
When Rockies’ General Manager Jeff Bridich was envisioning his “super bullpen” prior to the start of the season, he was probably expecting Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee to lead the charge. They were the big offseason expenditures after all. However, the duo has pitched so poorly down the stretch that they haven’t even been included on the NLDS roster. Luckily, the Rockies had Adam Ottavino and Scott Oberg to lead the way heading into the postseason, along with trade deadline acquisition Seunghwan Oh. After struggles in the first half of the season, closer Wade Davis (the biggest offseason expenditure) has rounded back into form as well. Rox Pile’s Aaron Hurt details the “unexpected super bullpen.”
30 top prospects in the AFL - - 1 from each team | MLB.com
Jonathan Mayo, Jim Callis and Mike Rosenbaum of MLB.com break down the top players from each organization playing in the Arizona Fall League. For the Rockies, it is Sam Hilliard, who had a down year for the Double-A Hartford Yard Goats, but still inspires a lot of confidence from evaluators.
This hurts | Fish Stripes
With Giancarlo Stanton and Adeiny Hechavarria making the highlights for the New York Yankees and Christian Yelich becoming an MVP candidate for the Brewers (much to the chagrin of Rockies fans), Ely Sussman of Fish Stripes laments the loss of former Miami Marlins players now having success with playoff teams.
The Cubs should replace Chili Davis as hitting coach | Bleed Cubbie Blue
The Rockies got a firsthand look at the anemic offense of the 2018 Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card Game. Al Yellon of Bleed Cubbie Blue opines that hitting coach Chili Davis’ anti-launch angle philosophies have turned an excellent offense into a poor one.
People doubted the Rays, which is cute | DRays Bay
While the Tampa Bay Rays didn’t make the postseason, their 90-win campaign was surprising to most experts. Ashley MacLennan of DRays Bay highlights a video from the Rays’ Twitter account which throws shade at the doubters in delightful fashion.