MLB’s awards season is so last year

The MVP, Cy, Rookie, Manager finalists are ... | MLB.com

Remember last year, when the Rockies had candidates for both MVP and Manager of the Year?

That was fun.

Nolan Arenado actually may have had a better year in 2019 than he did in 2018, at least based on this overly simplistic statistical comparison:

2019: .315/.379/.583 (.962 OPS), 41 home runs, 118 RBIs, 3 SB, 93 K

2018: .297/.374/.561 (.935 OPS), 38 home runs, 110 RBIs, 2 SB, 122 K

But I guess it’s hard to argue against Christian Yelich’s .329/.429/.671. Or his 1.100 OPS, 44 home runs and 30 stolen bases. Or his ability to run face-first into a wall.

As always, these awards raise a lot of questions:

Did Christian Yelich play enough games to win the NL MVP?

Did Mike Trout play enough games to win the AL MVP?

Should Pete Alonso be the unanimous choice for NL Rookie of the Year, or should pitcher Mike Soroka be getting more consideration?

Will deGrom win back to back Cy Youngs despite having the same number of wins in two years that Clayton Kershaw had during his 2014 Cy Young campaign?

And Justin Verlander or Gerrit Cole?

Offseason Outlook: Colorado Rockies | MLB Trade Rumors

Get ready for an offseason full of talk about all the nothing the Rockies are going to do.

“This team is equipped with high-end, in-their-prime talent on offense, stunning regressions to reckon with in the rotation, and an overpaid bullpen still one season from financial freedom.”

Yep, that’s the Rockies.

“It would not be easy to break up Arenado and Story, who make up, essentially, a perfect left side of the infield.”

Also true.

“It won’t be fun, but a Story trade might be what’s best for the long-term health of the franchise.”

Nope.

Rockies Believe Chi Chi Gonzalez’s Strong September Was Not Fool’s Gold | Forbes

Here are Chi Chi Gonzalez’s lines for September:

September 3 at Los Angeles: 6.1 innings, 3 hits, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

September 10 vs. St. Louis: 6 innings, 4 hits, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

September 15 vs. San Diego: 4 innings, 4 hits, 1 ER, 5 BB, 5 K

September 21 at Los Angeles: 5 innings, 2 hits, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K

September 28 vs. Milwaukee: 6 innings, 3 hits, 1ER, 2 BB, 6 K

Some may argue that Chi Chi Gonzalez (number 13 in our Ranking the Rockies series) found success in September due to diluted competition or waning effort, but it’s also possible that a small mechanical change turned him from fool’s gold into real gold ... or whatever the Forbes headline is trying to imply. True, his numbers on the year weren’t that impressive, but this September celebration of pitching has definitely earned him another shot.

Chi Chi Gonzalez may not be the pitcher Rockies fans deserve, but he’s definitely a pitcher who exists. And right now, that might be all we can ask for.

Automated strike zone to debut in Minor League Baseball in 2020, Rob Manfred says | The Athletic ($)

We all saw this one coming, right?

Rob Manfred assures us, “We have the technology.” He offers no additional details on how or where, but I can only assume that’s because they’re still working on making the robo-umps better, stronger and faster.

Nationals embraced by Trump at White House, where they can’t escape politics | Washington Post ($)

Here’s one everyone can get mad about, no matter their political views!