Colorado Rockies: What the path back to Rocktober looks like | Rox Pile
For some teams, the All-Star break is a good chance to get some rest, have some fun, and gear up for the second half of the season. It’s that for the Rockies, but it came at a pretty rough time. They were on a strong tear, finally figuring themselves out as a team. They took 13 of their last 16 games, and they need to somehow regain that momentum as they start the second half with a pretty tough schedule. They still have plenty of games against division rivals, as well as many against teams over .500. Now, with Manny Machado getting traded to the Dodgers, things got even harder. One arguable upside is that the Rockies have a good number of games at home. Normally this would be a given, but it’s been a little rougher this year. If they can retain the momentum they finished up the first half of the season with, they might be able to reclaim some home field dominance. A month ago, the road to Rocktober looked nearly impossible to traverse. However, now they stand a chance. It won’t be easy, but they can certainly manage if they look like they have in July.
Colorado Rockies: Carlos Gonzalez outperforming contract | Rox Pile
Carlos Gonzalez has been a Denver staple for years. He signed a seven-year deal back in 2010, and he managed to produce quite consistently. Things became a little more up and down for CarGo, and 2017 was a big let down for him. The Rockies made something of a surprising move when they offered to bring him back for the 2018 season. CarGo struggled again at the start of the year, but in a June where the rest of the team lagged, CarGo shone like the star he is. He helped the Rockies turn it around and make a comeback in July. It’s tough to say what Gonzalez’s future with the team will bring, but it doesn’t seem like too much of a stretch to think he could be a big contributing factor in returning to Rocktober.
Manny Machado isn’t on the Orioles anymore, and that’s incredibly depressing | SB Nation
This season has not been kind to the Orioles, who are sitting at a paltry 28-69, and that’s with Manny Machado. The shortstop will now play with the Dodgers, which is good news for them, as Machado could possibly help them win the division. But now the Orioles are looking down a narrow, dark tunnel as the rest of their season is unlikely to be very productive. After handfuls of trade rumors floating around Machado, the dust has settled, and now we’ll see what comes of it all.