From movie set to World Series, Dave Magadan will force a needed new philosophy as Rockies’ hitting coach | The Athletic ($)
New Colorado Rockies’ hitting coach Dave Magadan will attempt to train Rox hitters in the art of situational hitting for the 2019 season, writes Nick Groke of The Athletic. After the Rockies lost the National League Division Series in 2018, center fielder Charlie Blackmon did not mince words about the offense’s overall lack of mental preparedness for the kind of at-bats that postseason matchups would task them with. Magadan says he will not preach a philosophy of launch angle, but rather grinding out good at-bats and getting into good counts, with a focus on not trying to hit home runs when a productive out will do.
BSN Rockies Podcast: Are the Rockies staying silent or waiting to pounce? | BSN Denver
In the latest episode of the BSN Rockies podcast, Drew Creasman ponders the possibility of the Rockies becoming active on the free agent or trade markets. There’s also a discussion of the young talent on the team and Creasman believes all signs point to Ryan McMahon being the opening day second baseman in 2019. But would Nolan Arenado be more open to signing an extension if the Rockies brought back his friend DJ LeMahieu?
Can Giants’ Madison Bumgarner regain a tick or two with velocity? | San Francisco Chronicle
John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle offers the latest from the Rockies’ Bay Area rivals. The main focus is on Madison Bumgarner, who didn’t seem quite like himself in 2018. Giants manager Bruce Bochy blames Bumgarner’s loss of velocity on a broken left hand that he suffered towards the end of Spring Training. Clayton Kershaw is another NL West ace who experienced a velocity drop in 2018. Both Bochy and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expect their star lefties to light up the radar guns again in 2019.
Perhaps an even more interesting note from Shea is a report that the Dodgers are open to trading Yasiel Puig, perhaps even to the rival Giants. Farhan Zaidi, San Francisco’s new general manager, is reportedly very open to deals with his former employer.
Here’s how prospects are faring in winter leagues | MLB.com
Rockies’ prospect Yonathan Daza is batting .309 in Winter League ball in Venezuela. MLB.com’s Mike Rosenbaum details how he and other prospects from around the game are performing around the globe this winter.