Jon Gray Optioned to Triple-A by Rockies with 5.77 ERA; Raimel Tapia Recalled
Jun 30, 2018
Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jon Gray works in the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants Thursday, June 28, 2018, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
The Colorado Rockies have optioned struggling pitcher Jon Gray to Triple-A and have recalled outfielder Raimel Tapia to take his place on the 25-man roster.
The team announced the transactions Saturday via Twitter:
Entering this season, Colorado had high expectations for Gray. He had shown steady improvement through his first three years in the majors, and he had a bit of a breakout campaign last season. He went 10-4 with a 3.67 ERA in 20 starts in 2017, missing two months in the first half because of astress fracture in his foot.
Thus far, he hasn't been able to build on that success.
The 26-year-old had a 5.77 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP through his first 17 starts this season, allowing 108 hits and 11 home runs in 92 innings. Among qualified pitchers, last year's National League Wild Card Game starter ranked third-to-last in all of baseball in ERA.
Of course, pitching half of one's games at Coors Field is no easy task. He posted a 5.64 ERA and a .297 average against while serving up six home runs in eight starts there. Then again, he had a 5.89 ERA and a .277 average against away from Denver.
Despite the ugly numbers, Gray has had some bright spots. The right-hander had five quality starts, having allowed one run or fewer in all five outings. But he also had 10 starts in which he allowed at least four runs.
Colorado is hoping a trip to the minors can get him back on track.
Meanwhile, Tapia is hitting .308/.353/.527 with 10 home runs, 25 doubles, seven triples and 18 stolen bases in 74 games at Triple-A this season. The 24-year-old is a career .321/.365/.463 hitter in seven-plus minor league seasons.
Rockies' DJ LeMahieu Placed on 10-Day DL with Left Thumb Injury
May 14, 2018
ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 10: DJ LeMahieu #9 of the Colorado Rockies at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 10, 2016 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Colorado Rockiesannounced they placed second baseman DJ LeMahieu on the 10-day disabled list Monday with a left thumb sprain and recalled Pat Valaika in a corresponding roster move.
The 29-year-old LeMahieu is in the midst of his seventh season with the Rockies after starting his career with the Chicago Cubs, and he has developed into one of the National League's best middle infielders.
He is hitting .279/.350/.457 with five home runs on the season, which comes on the heels of three productive campaigns.
Last season, LeMahieu hit .310 with eight home runs, 64 RBI and 95 runs scored en route to his second career All-Star nod.
In 2016, LeMahieu won the NL batting title by hitting .348 and also set personal bests with 11 home runs, 66 RBI and 104 runs scored.
The former second-round pick made his first All-Star Game in 2015, and he is among Major League Baseball's elite defensive players, earning Gold Glove awards in 2014 and 2017.
He is a valuable commodity for the Rockies largely because of his versatility. Not only can he do a little bit of everything on the field, but he can also hit anywhere in the lineup.
LeMahieu is vital since Colorado doesn't have much depth behind him. For as long as he is on the shelf, the Rockies figure to turn to the fairly inexperienced Valaika or Daniel Castro.
Regardless of who takes LeMahieu's place, it is unlikely that he will provide anything close to the complete skill set that LeMahieu brings to the table.
Colorado has some big-time bats in the form of Carlos Gonzalez, Charlie Blackmon, Trevor Story and Nolan Arenado, but without a player like LeMahieu to get on base and make opposing pitchers work, they become less effective.
LeMahieu has been durable in recent years, having played in at least 146 games in each of the past four seasons, which gives the Rockies some hope that he'll bounce back quickly.
Jenny Cavnar on Her Historic Play-by-Play Call: 'So Exciting, so Nerve-Wracking'
May 8, 2018
The club is a small one, but Jenny Cavnar hopes it doesn't stay that way much longer. Two weeks ago, Cavnar became the first woman in 22 years to call TV play-by-play in a regular-season Major League Baseball game, joining Suzyn Waldman, who called New York Yankees games on WPIX in 1996; Gayle Gardner, who filled in on a Colorado Rockies broadcast in 1993; and Pam Boucher, who did play-by-play in 36 games for Yankees TV in 1977. Cavnar called the Rockies' 13-5 loss to the San Diego Padres on April 23.
Bleacher Report caught up with Cavnar to talk about her historic broadcast, how she came up with her home run call and her play-by-play aspirations after her debut.
Bleacher Report: Where did your dream of becoming a sports broadcaster start?
Jenny Cavnar: I was in high school. It was probably 1999, and I remember watching Monday Night Football with my dad. Melissa Stark came on as a sideline reporter, and it was really kind of the first time that I saw someone that looked like me and talked like me and enjoyed talking about sports. That was the first moment it really clicked. That this was a job I could do. I just told everyone I wanted to be a sideline reporter because that's what you saw, you know?
B/R: When did you envision play-by-play as something you could do?
Cavnar: Really the play-by-play thing was never on my radar. Ryan Spilborghs and Cory Sullivan, who both played in the big leagues, are two of our analysts at our network, and they've really been pushing me towards it, like, "It would be so fun for us all to call a game and do it kind of non-traditionally." So for the last two years, we've been talking about the idea of it. Then at spring training, Drew Goodman, who typically does our play-by-play, had to take a last-minute game off, and they said, "Well, let's do it. Let's try it." And so that was my first go.
B/R: What role, if any, did the support and encouragement from Spilborghs and Sullivan play in all this?
Cavnar: I go back to that Billie Jean King tweet. She had the hashtag on there #HeForShe. It's nice for women to say we want to be in these positions, but sometimes a lot of males making the decisions don't want women in those positions. And I really do believe it takes a group effort of thinking and saying, "Let's do this, let's try this." And to be honest, one of our producers is a female, Alison Vigil, and she's been producing Major League Baseball games for the last three years. She's been instrumental in making sure that the people in the position to make decisions are looking at me. And then having your colleagues' respect, and for them to say: "You can do this. We love talking baseball with you, and we want to do that on a bigger scale." It means a lot to have that support.
B/R: How did you prepare for your historic regular-season play-by-play opportunity?
Cavnar: After I found out Sunday I was doing the game, that night I went home and my husband's like, "How about I play MLB The Show, and I'll play the Padres and the Rockies. You can call the video game." Besides spring training games I had done, I had minimal preparation.
B/R: What was going through your head when you were calling the game?
Cavnar: It was such a surreal experience. ... So exciting, so nerve-wracking, all the things that come with it. Before the game, I turned to Jeff Huson, and I was like, "Man, I'm nervous, I'm excited, I'm anxious. I have so many feelings." And he said, "Jenny, that's how you feel when you make your major league debut. That's exactly what a player is feeling." So it was kind of cool in that regard. I mean, I'm obviously not stepping in the batter's box by any stretch of the imagination, but just to understand all the emotions those guys go through...
Fire up the fountains! @jennycavnar's first home run call during a regular season Rockies game on TV. Nolan cuts it to 4-2 Padres. pic.twitter.com/dP1ZYrYwKl
B/R: Was there a specific moment during the broadcast where something surprised you and you had to adjust on the fly?
Cavnar: Going in, I knew what my home run call was going to be: "Fire up the fountains." The first home run [by a Rockies player, Nolan Arenado] was in the bottom of the first. When he hit the home run, it wasn't a no-doubter. It was pretty much a line drive, and I was freaking out in my mind. I had a quick second of, "Do I just go for it, or do I wait until it gets out? What if it stays in and I made it a home run call?" I'm going through all this stuff, then finally, I was like, you got to pull the trigger. That ball is going over. So that was kind of a fun moment.
B/R: There's been a ton of reaction after your play-by-play debut. What has been the coolest thing that has come out of all of this?
Cavnar: Hopefully there were some little girls out there watching that maybe they have the dream to be a play-by-play person or to be able to be an analyst during a game, because they saw and heard something that represented them. I felt like that was the coolest moment. I also got some amusing tweets and texts and emails from managers and big league players, and Billie Jean King sent a tweet the other day, which blew my mind, that she was talking about the job that I did.
Welcome girls onto baseball teams. Have them listen to @jessmendoza & @jennycavnar calling games. And if you’re a man in power @MLB, work hard to bring women out from back offices & into visible positions. You have to see it to be it. #HeForShe#equalityhttps://t.co/xrE24Qxwgg
B/R: Would you like to continue doing play-by-play full time at some point, or do you have big career aspirations beyond that?
Cavnar: We have an amazing play-by-play voice in Drew Goodman, and he takes 10 games off a year, and if a couple of those opportunities are thrown my way, I'll be pumped to try and get better and to try new play-by-play and keep doing it. But long-term, I don't know. I want to stay relevant in baseball, and I think that this is another way to do that.
B/R: What does it mean to you to have made history as one of the first women to do play-by-play on an MLB TV broadcast?
Cavnar: It's crazy. I think it's really cool, but I also think there's a lot of pioneers out there for women that I'm so grateful for. I'd never be in this position had Claire Smith not been an amazing baseball writer and worked her butt off and had all these other women starting back in the '60s not fought for their rights to get into a locker room to cover the game the same way their male counterparts do. I look back to when people used the word "pioneer" or "breaking the glass ceiling"—I feel like that's been done by some really amazing women that I would like to call pioneers. I just believe that I have the opportunity because of women like that.
Rookie Noel Cuevas Sent on Coffee Run for Rockies in Full Uniform.
May 2, 2018
Colorado Rockies' Nolan Arenado, left, celebrates with Noel Cuevas after the Rockies defeated the Chicago Cubs 11-2 in a baseball game Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Many baseball players dream about playing at Wrigley Field, given the history and the iconic ivy lining the outfield wall.
The trip to the Windy City is undoubtedly more enjoyable for veteran MLB players than rookies, though. Just ask Colorado Rockies right fielder Noel Cuevas.
On Wednesday, Cuevas—who was called up to the majors near the end of April—was tasked with a responsibility that many visiting teams hand their rookies in Chicago: a coffee run to the Wrigleyville Starbucks...in full uniform.
Charlie Blackmon, Rockies Agree to 6-Year, $108M Contract Extension
Apr 4, 2018
Colorado Rockies' Charlie Blackmon waits to bat against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, in Phoenix. The Rockies defeated the Diamondbacks 5-4. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Rockies announced Blackmon's six-year deal through 2023 that includes two player options.
Per NBC Sports' Craig Calcaterra, Blackmon will earn at least $108 million over the life of the contract and will have an additional $8 million in incentives.
Calcaterra noted Blackmon's contract starts this season. A $12 million base salary and $2 million signing bonus will replace the $14 million deal he signed in January to avoid arbitration.
Blackmon was entering his final year under team control. He finished fifth in NL MVP voting in 2017 after leading the league with a .331 average, 14 triples, 137 runs scored, 213 hits and 387 total bases.
A two-time All-Star, Blackmon will turn 32 on July 1. His new deal will run through his age-37 season if he exercises both of his option years.
The Rockies made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2009, losing to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL Wild Card Game. Blackmon was an integral part of that success, and the franchise rewarded him with a deal commensurate with his performance.
Carlos Gonzalez Reportedly to Re-Sign with Rockies on 1-Year Contract
Mar 8, 2018
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 06: Carlos Gonzalez #5 of the Colorado Rockies rounds third base to score a run in the seventh inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on August 6, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reported the outfielder will return to the club on a one-year deal.
Gonzalez struggled to maintain his All-Star form last season, as he hit just .262/.339/.423in 136 games. His 14 home runs marked his lowest total in a year he's played at least 100 games.
While Gonzalez's overall 2017 numbers left a lot to be desired, the 32-year-old did show dramatic improvement in the second half with a .314/.390/.531 slash line.
Entering the 2017 season, the outfielder bet on himself byrejectinga four-year contract extension from the Rockies. He comes with a lot of question marks as a player over 30 who has had durability concerns, but his post-All Star performance is an indication there's more left in the tank.
One other significant question Gonzalez doesn't have to answer by remaining in Colorado is how much Coors Field has helped him. His career OPS is 242 points higher in Colorado (.977) than on the road (.735).
The Rockies, coming off their first playoff appearance since 2009,will be hoping Gonzalez can be a solid middle-of-the-order bat regardless of what stadium he's in.
Even though the best version of him may be in the past, he's still at an age where he can be a productive big leaguer if he can stay on the field. That's a player worth taking a risk on, especially in a free-agent class lacking power bats.
The Colorado Rockies have unveiled a massive new scoreboard for Coors Field.
According to the team, the monitor is 258 percent larger than its predecessor at 8,369 square feet. For good measure, it's designed to resemble a mountain.
If the artist rendering is any indication, the scoreboard will be ready for April 6 when Colorado plays its home opener against the Atlanta Braves. The dazzlingly clear screen predicts a strong offensive performance and home run from third baseman Nolan Arenado.
The Rockies snapped a seven-year playoff drought last year but lost the National League Wild Card Game to the Arizona Diamondbacks. If they have this big a budget for stadium amenities, perhaps they can purchase a rotation upgrade to counteract Coors Field's hitting-friendly environment.
[Colorado Rockies]
Larry Walker Says Coors Field Is Hurting His HOF Chances, Compares It to PEDs
Jan 31, 2018
Canada's coach Larry Walker before an exhibition spring baseball game in Tampa, Fla., Thursday, March 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
After falling well short of Hall of Fame induction last week, former Colorado Rockies outfielder Larry Walker expressed his belief Friday that playing much of his career at altitude is hurting his chances.
Appearing on TSN Montreal 690 (h/t ESPN.com), Walker compared the perception of playing at the Rockies' Coors Field to using performance-enhancing drugs:
"I can't fault myself. I played for a major league team that happened to be in Denver. If that's a problem and if that's going to be an issue for them, then get rid of the team and move it elsewhere if it's going to be that big of an issue. No needles went in my ass. I played the game clean, but I played in the ballpark and it's almost like Coors Field is my PED."
Walker received just 34.1 percent of the vote last week, and he has two more years to get to the 75 percent threshold needed to become a Hall of Famer before falling off the ballot.
The 51-year-old Walker spent 10 of his 17 MLB seasons with the Rockies and enjoyed his most productive campaigns in Colorado.
In 1997, Walker was named the National League MVP after hitting .366 with a career-high 49 home runs and 130 RBI.
During his time with the Rockies, Walker hit .350 or better in a season on four occasions and hit 35 or more homers four times as well.
The five-time All-Star, seven-time Gold Glove award winner, three-time Silver Slugger award winner and three-time batting champion also spent six seasons with the Montreal Expos and parts of two years with the St. Louis Cardinals.
For his career, Walker hit .313 with a .400 on-base percentage, 383 home runs and 1,311 RBI.
While the Rockies have only been in existence since 1993, no player has gone into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a member of the franchise, and the Coors Field stigma could have something to do with it.
The likes of Walker, Andres Galarraga, Todd Helton, Dante Bichette and others benefited from the thin Denver air. Unless something changes drastically for Walker over the next two years, the Veterans Committee may represent his best chance at reaching the Hall of Fame.
Wade Davis, Rockies Agree on Reported Record Contract for Relief Pitcher
Dec 29, 2017
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 17: Wade Davis #71 of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field on September 17, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Cubs won 4-3. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
Jeff Passanof Yahoo Sports initially reported the news.
Per Passan, the deal is for three years and $52 million, and the $17.3 million annual salary is a record for MLB relievers.
Davis spent four seasons (2013-2016) with the Kansas City Royals and won a World Series during that time, but he was shipped to the Cubs in December 2016.
In 2017, the 32-year-old made 59 appearances and recorded a career-high 32 saves as the Cubs snared their second straight National League Central crown.
In 58.2 innings, Davis logged 79 strikeouts, good for a mark of 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings, which ranked as the second-best of his career. And while Davis' ERA was 2.30—marking the first time since 2013, when he was a starter, that it was above 2.00—he was still lights-out.
Specifically, Davis didn't blow a save until Sept. 23 after he started the year 32-of-32.
"He's a stud," Cubs second baseman Ben Zobrist said Oct. 3, according to the Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan. "He's a guy who has been through it. He has the postseason experience, and everybody knows he has ice in his veins."
With Davis locked up, the Rockies will hope he can continue to operate as a shutdown savant in high-leverage situations and solidify the back end of a bullpen that already added Bryan Shaw this offseason.
Davis' arrival also increases the likelihood that 2017 closer Greg Holland will depart in free agency.
Jake McGee Reportedly Agrees on Contract to Re-Sign with Rockies
Dec 13, 2017
Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Jake McGee throws to a San Diego Padres batter during the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, in Denver. Colorado won 6-1. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
McGee has been with the Rockies for the past two seasons, struggling mightily in 2016 before bouncing back in 2017 with a 3.61 ERA in 57.1 innings. He added three saves and 20 holds with only three blown saves. Factoring in the difficulties of playing in Colorado, he posted a well above-average ERA+ of 139, per Baseball Reference.
While he was significantly better on the road (2.64 ERA, compared to 4.73 at Coors Field), he remains an effective player.
The 31-year-old has also proved his worth in six years with the Tampa Bay Rays, tallying a 2.77 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in this span.
Unlike other lefty relievers around the league, McGee is also more than just a "lefty one-out guy." He has actually had more success against right-handers in his career than left-handed hitters, which continued last season.
While teams are always looking for a specialist, the Rockies have instead kept a valuable late-game reliever who can get hitters out on both sides of the plate. While the team has plenty of other decisions to make regarding the bullpen, this move will at least keep things steady going into 2018.
Closer Greg Holland is a free agent, and if the Rockies are unable to re-sign him, McGee could find himself in the closer mix for 2018.
