Kyle Freeland’s season deserves more attention | NBC Sports
Bill Baer of NBC Sports gives Colorado Rockies’ starting pitcher Kyle Freeland some much-deserved national attention for what has been one of the best-pitched seasons in Rox history. Baer refers to the common bias used against hitters who play half of their games at Coors Field, and the fact that Freeland has pitched even better at home (2.21 ERA) than on the road (3.51 ERA).
Colorado Rockies get no respect. Why is that with this team? | Rox Pile
Rox Pile’s Lucas Coryell follows a similar path, discussing the Rockies not getting much respect from the national spotlight. The team certainly has its stars and the Denver market is not small, so what will it take to change things for the better? It will probably come down to being consistent winners in the postseason. If the Rockies make the postseason in 2018, it will be the first time in franchise history that they have done so in consecutive seasons.
Rockies used a homestand to make a move, but the NL West could still join the classic three-team races | The Athletic ($)
The Rockies’ series win over the Arizona Diamondbacks established some breathing room in the National League West, as the Rox and the D-Backs seemingly took their seasons in opposite directions. Via Nick Groke of The Athletic, Rockies manager Bud Black is quick to point out, however, that he still believes there is a three-horse race for the NL West title. Don’t count out the Snakes just yet!
BSN Rockies Podcast: Confident Colorado hits road riding high | BSN Denver
In the latest episode of the BSN Rockies podcast, Drew Creasman discusses the resurgent Rockies’ offense, led by a slump-busting Nolan Arenado. There’s also a focus on Freeland’s Cy Young candidacy.
Ranking all the possible NL Wild Card matchups | MLB.com
MLB.com’s Will Leitch ranks all the possible National League Wild Card Game scenarios. If they don’t win their division, the Rockies could take on either the Los Angeles Dodgers, St Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, or have a rematch with the D-Backs in a one-game playoff.
These are MLB’s most improved sluggers in ‘18 | MLB.com
A 102-point increase in slugging percentage for Trevor Story from 2017 (.457) to 2018 (.559 entering Friday’s action) ranks among the game’s biggest gains. David Adler of MLB.com breaks down Story’s season and the slugging improvements of 12 other MLB players.
Who is every club’s September hero? | MLB.com
MLB.com’s Thomas Harding picks the franchise “September hero” for the Rockies. It’s Matt Holliday’s 2007 that saw him hit .365 with 12 home runs. Troy Tulowitzki’s 15-homer September in 2010 gets an honorable mention.
The city of Chicago’s prohibition on Friday night games at Wrigley is antiquated and needs to end | Bleed Cubbie Blue
The city of Chicago has an ordinance that prevents the Cubs from playing games on Friday nights because of a belief that nearby restaurants would have their business be hurt by a game going on at Wrigley Field. Meanwhile, there have been multiple concerts held at Wrigley on Friday nights in 2018 that were evidently not an issue. While I’m a fan of having at least one day game on Fridays (which this ordinance allows us to often have), the Cubs are unreasonably forced to play road night games on Thursdays prior to a few Friday home day games on the 2019 schedule, as Al Yellon of Bleed Cubbie Blue details.