Colorado Rockies: As trade deadline looms, they are buyers | Rox Pile
When a team is hovering near the .500 mark and around four games back in their division and the Wild Card race heading into the month of July, the decision of whether to buy or sell at the trade deadline is a difficult one. In the Wild Card era, most teams in this situation declare themselves buyers, which appears to the spot that the Colorado Rockies have found themselves in. So, who could the Rockies be looking to buy? Colin Gaiser of Rox Pile suggests offensive upgrades in Jose Abreu, Lucas Duda, Asdrubal Cabrera, or Matt Adams (if the Washington Nationals are looking to sell off some of their own assets). For the rotation, J.A. Happ, Marco Estrada, and Garrett Richards are listed as possibilities.
BSN Rockies Podcast: How the Rockies got back in the hunt for the NL West crown | BSN Denver
For a time in June, it was looking like the Rockies might be done for. In the latest episode of the BSN Rockies podcast, Drew Creasman details the stretch that got things on the right track for the Rockies again. Creasman ponders the potential for the starting rotation to continue its pace of solid performances, and what could become of 2018-2019 free agents DJ LeMahieu and Adam Ottavino.
Colorado Rockies: What Ian Desmond’s hot streak means for the team | Rox Pile
Also for a time, Ian Desmond was on pace to have the worst season in Major League Baseball history. Things have certainly changed for the well-paid Rockies’ first baseman who, entering Friday, has slashed .284/.370/.556 since June 9. Rox Pile’s Noah Yingling explores various scenarios in which Desmond and the team have success or failure, and what happens if the two sides have success cohesively or not.
To buy or to sell? Eight teams on the bubble going into the trade deadline | The Athletic ($)
Cliff Corcoran of The Athletic details eight “on the bubble” teams for buying or selling at the trade deadline. Among the eight is your Rockies, who only have a 6.7 percent chance of making the postseason according to Baseball Prospectus. In Corcoran’s view, these lows odds, along with the minus-35 run differential being produced by the team and “arson squad” of a bullpen, the Rockies should sell off short-term assets LeMahieu and Ottavino, and allow top prospect Brendan Rodgers to gain Major League experience as the team sets its sights on 2019.
Tyler Anderson’s homespun wisdom is working, as the Rockies’ rotation remains on a roll | The Athletic ($)
In his past two games, Rockies starter Tyler Anderson has been nothing short of impeccable. What has led to the turnaround for a rotation member who was rather underwhelming to begin the year? Anderson says himself that it has a lot to do with not being afraid of inducing contact. Even though Anderson hasn’t been “trying” to strike batters out, he was able to rack up nine K’s in his latest outing.
Colorado Rockies: Did sending down Jon Gray help the rotation? | Rox Pile
Rox Pile’s Olivia Greene considers how well the starting rotation has pitched since Jon Gray’s demotion to the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Triple-A affiliate of the Rockies.
Rosenthal: Playing by the rules, here are my (sometimes cringeworthy) picks for the All-Star teams | The Athletic ($)
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic revealed his rosters for the 2018 All-Star Game. Third baseman Nolan Arenado is starting of course, but shortstop Trevor Story doesn’t even make Rosenthal’s team as a reserve. Rosenthal prefers Brandon Crawford and Trea Turner, citing Story’s drastic home and road splits as a reason for being left off the roster. Ottavino and Kyle Freeland are also mentioned as “unfortunate omissions” to the National League pitching staff, though Rosenthal does praise their performances given that they have pitched at Coors Field.
The Defensive All-Stars: Assembling a team of the best defenders in baseball | The Athletic ($)
Mark Simon of The Athletic takes a different approach to the All-Star roster, choosing starters on merit of defensive prowess. Arenado again takes the cake for the NL at third base, while Tony Wolters is highlighted for the catching position. Story is again snubbed, with Turner, Dansby Swanson, Addison Russell, and Freddy Galvis receiving mentions, but not the Rockies’ shortstop.