After recent play, Rockies look like true contender | Mile High Sports
The Rockies are in the midst of a stretch of 14 victories in 17 games, dating all the way back to June 28th. Justin Michael of Mile High Sports suggests that the Rockies are capable of contending for the NL pennant in October. He talks about the fight this team has each time they go up to the plate, going 19-10 since June 15th and only giving up double digit runs twice - once against the New York Mets on June 18th and Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks. With a tough stretch coming up, the Rockies are finally coming to play and fighting their way into contention.
Rox undaunted as Dodgers add Machado | MLB.com
The topic of the day on Friday, besides the All-Star game for Trevor Story, Nolan Arenado, and Charlie Blackmon, was Manny Machado being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Earlier in the day, Dodgers reliever Ross Stripling suggested to the LA Times that the trade should be “demoralizing” for the rest of the NL West. Thomas Harding talked to many players in the clubhouse about Stripling’s comments and they echoed the same sentiments: Machado on the Dodgers doesn’t scare them. They just need to continue to do what they do and win ballgames.
Colorado Rockies: Three Possible Deadline Trade Candidates | Rox Pile
Trade season is upon us once again, and the Rockies are in a unique position of only being a few games out of the division lead. Paul Ashley names a lot of prospects that the Rockies could consider trading (there are plenty!), as well as possible targets for those candidate packages. He names New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom as a “true ace,” Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmute as a long-term solution behind the plate, and Cincinnati Reds’ reliever Raisel Iglesias to help the bullpen. deGrom and Realmuto are controllable through the 2021 season and Iglesias is controllable through 2022, but each would require quite a haul of prospects, but Ashley does a nice job of breaking down what each trade would require, even to the point of noting what the Rockies could give up for all three at once if Jeff Bridich could pull off “a miracle.”
Colorado Rockies: The potential impact of DJ LeMahieu’s injury | Rox Pile
This is DJ LeMahieu’s third time on the disabled list this year. Losing the second baseman to an oblique strain for what could be an extended period of time could be a big blow to this Rockies team, especially in as close of an NL West race as this. LeMahieu has always been a pillar of consistency within this organization and has been slashing .280/.326/.433 this season - low by past standards, but still solid numbers. The loss of LeMahieu also shifts the lineup. Charlie Blackmon will move back to leadoff, most likely permanently, but then Bud Black will have to play with the next few slots. Finally, the Rockies will have to find someone to replace him. They called up Garrett Hampson for his Major League debut last night, but depending on how he plays and the severity of LeMahieu’s oblique strain, they might have to rely on some other players to get the job done as well.