Clips for 7-12-10
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
MEDIA CLIPS – November 9, 2016 Arenado makes Gold Glove history Rockies' star is first third baseman to win in each of first 4 seasons By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | November 8th, 2016 DENVER -- No third baseman in history has gloved as much gold as quickly as the Rockies' Nolan Arenado. Arenado on Tuesday became the first third baseman in history -- and the first National Leaguer at any position - to earn Rawlings Gold Glove Awards his first four seasons in the Majors. Arenado is the first third baseman to win four straight Gold Gloves since Scott Rolen had a five-year run (2000-04), and he joined outfielder Ichiro Suzuki as the only players to win the award in each of their first four seasons. Ichiro's run lasted 10 years, all with the Mariners. "It's an amazing thing," Arenado said. "I have worked really hard at my defense. This is something I take a lot of pride in. I have to thank God that I have been able to stay healthy, for the most part. It's a good feeling that your hard work pays off." Fellow Rockies DJ LeMahieu at second base and Carlos Gonzalez in right field were finalists for Gold Gloves. However, the second-base award went to the Giants' Joe Panik and the right-field winner was the Cubs' Jason Heyward. "I love playing defense," Arenado said. "Hitting is just so hard sometimes, but I want to impact the game someway, somehow. So defense is something I take a lot of pride in." 1 Managers and coaches for each club voted for players in their league, but were not allowed to vote for players on their team, to account for 75 percent of the selection process. The Society for American Baseball Research applies the SABR Defensive Index for the other 25 percent. Arenado led NL third basemen in total chances (490), assists (378) double plays (39), range factor per game (2.98), defensive runs saved (20) and defensive WAR (2.3) while ranking second in fielding percentage (.973) and zone rating (.824). Arenado became the 19th Gold Glove winner in Rockies history and joined Todd Helton for second-most. Outfielder Larry Walker has the club record with five. 2 Roster, payroll flexibility have Bridich optimistic By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | @harding_at_mlb | November 8th, 2016 SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich embraces his task: Build upon the hiring of Bud Black as new manager and a 2016 season that saw Colorado remain relevant in the standings until the final month. To do so, Bridich has a key element -- a payroll increase beyond the club-record $120.56 million the Rox spent in 2016. Bridich, heading into his third year as GM after the team went 75-87 under Walt Weiss in 2016, can address holes at first base and in the bullpen without feeling limited. And the optimism with which Bridich attacks setting his 2017 roster is even higher than the payroll. "I do believe that there is a groundswell of internal belief here that is real," Bridich said. "Our next step in addition to that, or with that groundswell, is actually being consistent and being competitive for six-plus months of the season and being a winning organization." The two areas of need are tangible areas to improve. Both showed up during a fade that saw the Rockies go 23-34 from Aug. 1. The bullpen finished the year with a Majors-worst 5.13 ERA that was 5.80 after Aug. 1. And although the Rockies' offense led the NL overall with a .794 on-base plus slugging percentage, their first basemen finished 10th at .751. A huge chunk of the issue at first was because Mark Reynolds (now a free agent) played in just 12 games after Aug. 1 because of two separate broken bones in his left hand. "If we can add an impactful bat at first base -- we still have not solved the post-Todd Helton era, large shoes to fill -- that's certainly on our mind," Bridich said. "And how can we upgrade the bullpen? I don't think it's going to be a bullpen overhaul in our future, but we're going to be strategic." The Rockies won't be unlimited in their spending. It's likely that the team's biggest payroll item will be Mets infielder Jose Reyes, whom the Rockies released last year. Much of the payroll increase will be arbitration-induced in the form of lefty 3 reliever Jake McGee (fourth year of arbitration), NL batting champion DJ LeMahieu, righty starter Tyler Chatwood (third years), and star third baseman Nolan Arenado and center fielder Charlie Blackmon (second years). But Bridich will be looking for smart ways to spend money to fill holes. The GM said he isn't necessarily looking for an established closer -- with righty Adam Ottavino an attractive internal option -- but he is keeping an open mind. Much of the improvement will hinge on returns to health by McGee (left knee) and last year's free-agent signings, Jason Motte (shoulder) and Chad Qualls (colitis), as well as younger relievers such as Carlos Estevez improving from a year's experience. Bridich said he has spoken to lefty Boone Logan, who had a solid 2016 after battling injury the previous two years, but Logan will be testing the free-agent market. At first base, Bridich said he is not limiting the search to right-handed hitters, even though the roster -- especially the outfield -- is lefty dominant, since talent is more important than left-right balance. Other areas to watch will be catcher and the bench. Veteran Nick Hundley is a free agent that Bridich is fond of, but he expressed comfort with 2016 rookies Tony Wolters, Tom Murphy and Dustin Garneau. Bridich also complimented the contributions of two other free agents -- lefty-hitting utility man Daniel Descalso and righty outfielder Ryan Raburn -- but whether they'll be re-signed is uncertain. 4 Nolan Arenado wins 4th consecutive National League Gold Glove award By PATRICK SAUNDERS | [email protected] PUBLISHED: November 8, 2016 at 2:41 pm | UPDATED: November 9, 2016 at 9:39 am The baseball rolls slowly up the third baseline, but like a flash of lightning, Nolan Arenado bare-hands the ball and throws a strike to first base, nipping the runner by half a step. The baseball sizzles toward left field, looking like a sure base hit, but Arenado is there to snag it, throw across his body and start a double play at second base. Game after game, the Rockies’ 25-year-old slugging third baseman pulls off another web gem. The spectacular has become routine, but not to be taken for granted. Tuesday night, Arenado won another Gold Glove, becoming the first third baseman in major-league history to win four consecutive Gold Gloves to begin his career. The only other third baseman to begin his career with three Gold Gloves in a row was the Red Sox’s Frank Malzone, who won from 1957-59. “Yeah, it’s an amazing thing,” Arenado said. “I have worked really hard at my defense. This is something I take a lot of pride in that. I have to thank God that I have been able to stay healthy, for the most part. It’s a good feeling that your hard work pays off.” Arenado was the only Rockies player to strike gold. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu was a finalist, but he lost out to Joe Panik of the San Francisco Giants. LeMahieu, who captured the National League batting crown this season with a .348 average, won a Gold Glove in 2014. Slugging right fielder Carlos Gonzalez also was a finalist, hoping to win his fourth Gold Glove, but he was beaten out by the Chicago Cubs’ Jason Heyward. Gonzalez previously won in 2010, 2012 and 2013. Arenado’s expertise is illustrated not only by the jaw-dropping plays he makes at third base, but defensive metrics. According to Fangraphs, the runaway National League leader in defensive runs saved with 20. Last month, won his second consecutive Fielding Bible Award, which picks the top player at each position regardless of league. The awards, 5 given by ACTA Sports, were decided by a 12-person panel of experts, who awarded the third baseman all but one first- place vote. “I love playing defense,” Arenado said. “Hitting is just so hard sometimes. But I want to impact the game someway, somehow. So defense is something I take a lot of pride in. “I will never forget what Tulo (Troy Tulowitzki) told me. He always said you have to take pride in your defense, because it can change games.” Arenado tied for the NL lead with 41 home runs and led the majors with 133 RBIs, but he is not one of the three finalists for the NL MVP, which will be announced next week. Colorado players have won 19 Gold Gloves. Outfielder Larry Walker has the most with five, followed by Arenado with four, while Gonzalez and first baseman Todd Helton are tied for third with three each. Managers and coaches for each club voted for players in their league, but they could not vote for players on their team, to account for 75 percent of the selection process. The Society for American Baseball Research applies the SABR Defensive Index for the other 25 percent. 6 Chad Bettis established himself in the Colorado Rockies rotation in 2016 The right-hander confirmed his place as a reliable, if not flashy, mid-rotation starter for Colorado.