News & Notes: Márquez and McMahon finalists for prestigious end-of-year awards

The ballpark on 20th and Blake is often referenced as being hitter-friendly. According to Monday’s list of finalists for the Silver Slugger Award, it wasn’t that kind to its denizens in 2021. 

Of the 31 names in the National League announced by Louisville Slugger, the only member of the Colorado Rockies is Germán Márquez, winner of the 2018 Silver Slugger Award at pitcher.

Should Márquez get the nod again, he’d join Mike Hampton for most at the position in franchise history. (Hampton won the award from 2001-02.) Amongst the 46 pitchers with at least 40 plate appearances, Márquez was 2nd in batting average (.264), 1st in doubles (5), tied for 2nd in home runs (1), tied for 1st in RBI (9) and 2nd in FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement (0.7). 

With rumblings about the NL adopting the designated hitter next season, Márquez has the opportunity to be the last pitcher to ever win the award. Tune into MLB Network at 4 p.m. on Thursday, November 11 to find out.

Coaching Staff Shuffled

On Tuesday, it was reported that Colorado Rockies bullpen coach Darryl Scott has been inserted as the new pitching coach, with Steve Foster taking over as the organization’s director of pitching. This follows the retirement of Mark Wiley who had been with Colorado in various stints since his initial hiring in October 1999.

Later in the day, minus an official announcement from the organization, it was also reported that hitting coaches Jeff Salazar and Tim Doherty were out.

With the Oakland Athletics and New York Mets as the only clubs without a skipper (now that Bob Melvin was hired as the San Diego Padres new manager on Thursday), the Rockies are in somewhat of a better position when it comes to filling vacant coaching positions as others around the game are still being settled as well.

Gold Glove Award Finalists

Rawlings announced the Gold Glove Award Finalists for all nine positions in both leagues on Thursday. While metrics show the Rockies as having one of the better defenses in 2021, only one player earned a spot amongst the final three at his respective position.

Ryan McMahon, along with former teammate Nolan Arenado of the St. Louis Cardinals and Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres, were named as NL finalists at third base.

McMahon spent much of the first two months splitting time between second and third base before permanently taking grasp of the hot corner once Brendan Rodgers returned from the injured list. And shine he did, tying Arenado for Baseball Savant’s Outs Above Average defensive metric. 

Sports Info Solutions announced Ke’Bryan Hayes of the Pittsburgh Pirates as the best defender at third base this season, snapping a streak of seven consecutive seasons by the duo from El Toro (CA) High School, Arenado and Matt Chapman of the Oakland Athletics. 

The hope is that another new victor will be announced on ESPN at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 7.

Arizona Fall League

Michael Toglia of the Salt River Rafters continues to hit for power after 22 home runs during the regular season. The first baseman connected for his third dinger on Friday night during a two-hit performance in AFL play. 

OF Ryan Vilade has yet to find his home run stroke, but has been effective with runners in scoring position. His seven runs batted in is second on the Salt River Rafters behind only Toglia (8). Third on the club with six runs batted in is SS Ezequiel Tovar who has struggled at the plate, batting .170 with solid to above-average defense.  

RHP Matt Dennis has the most innings among Colorado prospects (6.2) this fall and has taken two losses to go along with a 4.05 ERA. RHP Jake Bird and LHP Reagan Todd have thrown 4.1 innings with much more effectiveness. Bird has given up just one run (2.08 ERA), while Todd has yet to surrender one (0.00). 

Dominican Winter League 

LHP Ryan Rolison made his Dominican League debut for Tigres de Licey. Throwing 4.2 innings and giving up no runs, the 24-year-old gave up just two hits and struck out four with zero walks. C Brian Serven caught his Albuquerque Isotopes batterymate and contributed to the 9-1 victory with a base hit and two runs batted in.

Taking the loss was Estrellas de Oriente 1B Elehuris Montero, who singled in his first at-bat against his Triple-A teammate.