Is Rockies’ David Dahl on brink of stardom? His teammates think so | Denver Post ($)
According to Rockies manager Bud Black, and many other Rockies players, it’s David Dahl’s time to shine. From 2012 to 2015, Dahl was either number two or three on the list of Rockies top prospects (according to MLB Pipeline), and has carried the heavy burden of high expectations ever since, even through injury plagued major league seasons that saw glimmers of stardom.
Now David is finally healthy, putting on weight, and ready to put on a show in 2019 as the starting left fielder for the Rockies. Patrick Saunders of the Post talked to Dahl, his manager, and teammates, and though David speaks very humbly, the rest of them are excited for the Alabama product to finally prove himself to the rest of baseball. The opportunity is his for the taking, and by the sound of it, Dahl is ready to answer the call.
Rox’s Opening Day roster taking shape | MLB.com
Thomas Harding has an update to his Opening Day roster projection for the Rockies and, well, it hasn’t changed. This is in large part due to a wonderful lack of any relevant injuries occurring so far (knock on wood), and also there just aren’t very many question marks beyond the bench. To his credit, Harding had a very strong projection at the start of camp.
Still, to take a closer look, some of Harding’s highlights include the expectation that Mark Reynolds will make the team and back up Daniel Murphy (or start at 1B vs. LHP), both Ryan McMahon and Garrett Hampson are holding their own and will likely split time at 2B, and David Dahl is the heir apparent to replace CarGo’s once prolific bat in the outfield. Oh, and since his last projection, Nolan Arenado has tightened his grip on the starting 3B job a tad.
Rockies believe Trevor Story is their best athlete | 9News
Rod Mackey of Denver’s 9NEWS had one question for the Rockies—who’s the best? We’re not even talking just baseball here, but in general, who’s the best athlete on the team? It isn’t really all that surprising, but the overwhelming answer was Trevor Story. Trevor is a five-tool player, and anytime you have that kind of skill set (speed, strength, coordination), it’s bound to be able to carry over into other sports.
Mackey asked Story what sport he would play if he wasn’t in baseball, and the infamously proud Dallas Cowboys fan didn’t hesitate to say tossing the ol’ pigskin around. Also, Kyle Freeland threw some basketball-related shade at Trevor and his free throw abilities...
MLB Preview: Bold Predictions For The 2019 Season | Baseball America ($)
Baseball America decided it was time to make some “bold predictions” for the upcoming season and published their favorites to win each division and who would win the three major end-of-season awards for each league (MVP, RoY, and Cy Young). They picked the Rockies to finish 2nd in the NL West, but more importantly, with an MVP in our midst.
Yes, Baseball America says Nolan Arenado will win the Most Valuable Player award for the National League this year, though many might not find that prediction to be all that “bold.” Nolan has finished in the top 10 for MVP voting each of the last four seasons, and improved his ranking on that list each year (8th in ‘15, 5th in ‘16, 4th in ‘17, and 3rd in ‘18). Arenado will want to prove his 8-year, $260M contract is worth it for the Rockies, and an MVP award on the way to the franchise’s first ever division title would certainly do the trick.
Mark Reynolds is going to Denver… or he is going home BSN Denver ($)
Mark Reynolds will always hold a special place in my heart. On June 26th, 2016, when my daughter turned four months old and came with me to her very first Rockies game, Reynolds hit a walk-off home run against the Diamondbacks while we watched from behind home plate. I mean, it was an absolute tater of a dinger. She won’t remember it, of course, but it’s a family moment I will never forget.
And as Drew Creasman reports here, Mark Reynolds can’t help but think of the Rockies as family, too. Mark looks forward to helping this team make another run at the Postseason and possibly win their first NL West title. And if he’s going to keep playing baseball, Mark said, “I might as well do it with a team that knows me and I know them and everyone is comfortable with everybody... I’m here to get a ring, that’s why I’m here.” We’re as ready as you are, Mark.
Here are the top 13 sophomore seasons | MLB.com
Andrew Simon of MLB.com has some thoughts on the infamous concept known as the sophomore slump and the difficulties that plague rookies once their major league counterparts learn how to adjust. Some players have defeated the 2nd year struggles, however, and Simon compiled what he believes are the 13 best sophomore seasons so far.
This link wouldn’t be here if it didn’t involve the Rockies, of course, and you’ll find Kyle Freeland’s record-setting 2018 campaign ranked at number eleven. Kyle finsihed 4th in NL Cy Young voting a year after finishing 7th in the NL RoY award, and set a franchise record for ERA in a season at 2.85. More impressive, though, is he was even better at home—shoving a sock in the mouth of COORS trolls—where he posted a 2.40 ERA in 93.2 IP.
Bud Black on the Colorado Rockies catching situation, bench | Rox Pile
At his Tuesday morning meeting with the media, Bud Black discussed the potential of carrying three catchers on the 25-man roster (like he did for much of 2018), and Noah Yingling reports that the answer is a clear as mud, “Doubtful.” In short, Bud did it last year at times because he thought it made his bench the strongest it could be (please, send your complaints to Bud, not me), and this year there are many more options he’s comfortable with to round out the roster as back-ups and pinch hitters.
AP sources: MLB near deal for rosters to expand to 26 in ’20 | Associated Press
Lastly, Ronald Blum of the Associated Press is reporting that Major League Baseball and the players’ union are close to a deal that would, in part, help settle some of the tension between owners and players—specifically, capable free agents without job offers. Starting in 2020, rosters would expand from 25 to 26 players (with a limit of 13 pitchers) so that each team would have an extra roster spot to fill and influence front offices to add additional players to fill the vacancies. Job creation!
There is much more to the deal, of course, such as reducing rosters from 40 to 28 post-Sept. 1st, and increasing the injured list time minimum from 10 days back to 15 days for pitchers. What are your thoughts on all of the proposed changes?