German Márquez Struck Out The First Eight Clowns He Saw | Deadspin
Deadspin’s Tom Ley pays tribute to German Márquez, who became the first Colorado Rockies pitcher to strike out 221 batters in a season. He’s done so in 191 innings pitched. And on Wednesday evening, Márquez struck out the first eight batters of the game, tying a Major League record for consecutive strikeouts. Naturally, Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Nick Pivetta was the first man to put the ball in play. He ended up reaching on a throwing error by Márquez.
It’s truly one of the most elite pitching seasons we’ve seen in franchise history, and Ley doesn’t mince words, putting the “ace” label on the Rockies’ right-hander.
“He’s so whippy.” How German Márquez breathed through a record-setting, strikeout-filled outing for the Rockies. | The Athletic ($)
Part of Márquez’s elite Wednesday performance can be credited to breathing exercises he underwent with his catcher Tony Wolters. Wolters says it’s important to get to a state of zen with Márquez because “When he relaxes, he’s so whippy.” Nick Groke of The Athletic has more quotes from Márquez, Wolters and Manager Bud Black, who is proud of Márquez’s transition from “thrower” to “pitcher.”
“This is a blast!” Kyle Freeland and his Coors Field dominance have Rockies on a run toward October | The Athletic ($)
Also from Groke, just like their fans, the Rockies are having a good time right now. For Kyle Freeland, the Denver native who has been a Rockies fan his entire life, the exuberance is even greater. Nolan Arenado is very proud of the team’s pitching staff, starting with Freeland. In the past, pitchers from other organizations have joined the Rox and complained about the pitching elements, says Arenado, but that’s not the case with this team.
BSN Rockies Podcast: The art of pitching at altitude with Mark Knudson | BSN Denver
In the latest episode of the BSN Rockies podcast, Drew Creasman is joined by Mark Knudson, who was a Rockie for 5 2/3 innings during the team’s inaugural 1993 season. Knudson analyzes the season of Freeland and the entire pitching staff, and looks ahead to just what the team can accomplish in the postseason.
Max Scherzer likely to pitch Sunday against Rockies if season finale has postseason implications | The Denver Post ($)
The starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals on Sunday is still up in the air. If the Rockies have yet to clinch the National League West, it appears that Nats will send ace Max Scherzer to the hill. It will be the closest thing to a postseason atmosphere that Scherzer will get to pitch in this season. Kyle Newman and Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post provide this story, as well as injury notes on a recovering Tyler Anderson. Jon Gray also talks about his start against Stephen Strasburg, noting that he isn’t feeling any nerves.
Carlos González, on the Rockies’ playoff push: ‘the deeper you go, the hairier it’s going to get’ | Mile High Sports
Carlos González has a message for the younger players on the Rockies- be prepared because it gets “hairier” the deeper you get into the postseason. CarGo spoke with Mile High Sports on Tuesday and you can listen to the entire conversation by clicking the above link.
Rockies Insider: This is what Colorado’s 25-man playoff roster should look like | The Denver Post ($)
Newman and Jeff Bailey of The Denver Post make their picks for the Rockies’ 25-man postseason roster.
I personally think good choices were made here, though I’m not sure they’re what I would predict to happen. From what I’ve come to expect from the Rockies’ organization, I would personally speculate that the catching trifecta of Chris Iannetta, Drew Butera and Wolters all make the roster, leaving Ryan McMahon without a spot. It also seems likely to me that Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee would be members of the relief corps, given their contracts.
Let’s talk about Grover Lowdermilk | Twinkie Town
The Minnesota Twins have been utilizing the “opener” concept and Gabriel Moya became the first pitcher to start four times against a single team in 10 days since something called Grover Lowdermilk in 1918. Twinkie Town’s RandBall’s Stu profiles Lowdermilk, because how can you not?