Monday Rockpile: The 2024 Colorado Rockies All-Star Snubs

Colorado Rockies news and links for Monday, July 8th, 2024

Major League Baseball announced the complete initial rosters for this year’s All-Star Game on Sunday afternoon. The Colorado Rockies have not had multiple All-Stars since they sent four players to the Midsummer Classic in 2019.

As expected, the Rockies once again have just one All-Star representative for the fourth consecutive season.

Third baseman Ryan McMahon has earned a well deserved invitation to the All-Star Game at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. He leads his team in most offensive categories, and is among the best the league has to offer in terms of both offense and defense across all of Major League Baseball.

Rockies fans have expected for months that McMahon—who is having a career season—would be the Rockies’ lone All-Star representative. However, several of his teammates definitely could have earned the nod.

While the Rockies are experiencing a franchise-worst season and are on pace for a team record number of losses, several players represent glimmering bright spots. These players all could have been named to the National League All-Star team to represent the Rockies

Brenton Doyle

It cannot be exaggerated just how much sophomore center fielder Brenton Doyle has improved from year one to year two of his career.

The 2019 fourth-round pick is hitting .272/.336/.440 through his first 85 games played in 2024 and has virtually met or exceeded all of his offensive numbers from his rookie campaign.

After making mechanical adjustments in real time during the 2023 season and continuing to work on his swing during the offseason, Doyle has more total hits and home runs in 41 fewer games while also being very close to his totals for doubles, triples, RBI, and stolen bases.

Doyle’s 63 point jump in wRC+ from 43 in 2023 to 106 in 2024 represents one of the biggest improvements in all of baseball this season, all while he’s continued to play stunning defense at a premium position. Although he does have a negative DRS, Doyle is one of the league leaders in UZR, UZR/150, OAA, and total defensive WAR among center fielders.

Doyle made an intense final push for an All-Star spot to start the month of July, going 11-for-21 over seven games with four doubles and four home runs. He also struck out just three times to his four walks drawn.

Cal Quantrill

Without a doubt, Canadian righty Cal Quantrill has been the gem of the Rockies’ offseason acquisitions. After a down year with the Cleveland Guardians, Quantrill was acquired in exchange for minor league catcher Kody Huff. Quantrill has since become the Rockies’ best starting pitcher and one of the key reasons they haven’t lost even more games in 2024.

Quantrill holds a team-best 3.77 ERA through a team-leading 18 starts and 100 ¹⁄₃ innings. He also has ten Quality Starts this season and posted a QS in eight of his first 11 outings. His 2.8 rWAR is tied for third best among all National League pitchers.

Like many Rockies pitchers, Quantrill struggled in the month of June with a 4.26 ERA over five starts. However, he continued to do what he’s done all season thus far for the Rockies: exhibit a no-quit, bulldog mentality while on the mound.

Quantrill has become known among Rockies fans for his gutsy starts and intensity. Even when he’s not at his sharpest, Quantrill fights for each inning. He has only failed to make it through at least five innings twice this season and has only given up more than four runs three times.

Perhaps the best example of this was his April start against the Seattle Mariners, during which he had to go into the clubhouse to throw up in-between innings multiple times due to a stomach bug. Despite this, he still managed to throw six shutout innings while giving up only three hits.

Ezequiel Tovar

The Rockies have firmly placed their eggs in the Ezequiel Tovar basket.

They signed the shortstop to a seven-year extension through 2030 with a club option for 2031 shortly before the start of the season after a promising rookie campaign where he was a Gold Glove finalist.

Although he definitely still has some growing to do, the 22-year-old shortstop has largely lived up to the hype this season. Tovar hit .285/.313/.472 through his first 82 games of the season while starting almost every single game. From the end of March through the end of June he hit 12 home runs, 24 doubles, and two triples with 37 RBI.

Tovar has also played some truly spectacular defense up the middle. He has the second most defensive runs saved and is tied for the second most outs above average among all National League shortstops, all while owning the best UZR and UZR/150 while being tied for best defensive WAR.

Unfortunately, a severe slump to start the month of July likely wounded his All-Star chances. Tovar is a painful 0-for-24 through the first seven games of the month and hasn’t drawn a single walk while striking out 11 times. He’s been especially vulnerable to breaking pitches low and away.

Tovar is the youngest of the Rockies’ would-be All-Stars and has plenty of time to turn things around, but he definitely has adjustments to make through the rest of the season.

Final Thoughts

It’s not impossible for Doyle, Quantrill, and/or Tovar to make the All-Star Game as a replacement, especially when the three have put up strong seasons so far. Rockies skipper Bud Black believes they definitely have a chance.

For now, they represent three snubs, but their time in the spotlight may come sooner rather than later.

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Weekly Pebble Report

The Weekly Pebble Report has moved! Starting this week the Pebble Report will be posted in a separate article on Monday mornings at 8am MT.

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Gordon flashes ‘ outstanding’ ability to attack zone in debut | MLB.com

Rockies rookie righty Tanner Gordon made his MLB debut on Sunday afternoon and was extremely impressive despite a somewhat lopsided line. Gordon pounded the zone with 78 pitches—65 for strikes—over 6 ¹⁄₃ innings of work and 84% of his first pitches were for strikes. Gordon will make his next start in Queens later this week.

McMahon earns ‘very deserving’ 1st career All-Star nod | MLB.com

Owen Perkins at MLB.com discusses the reaction to Ryan McMahon’s well earned All-Star nomination.

“What’s the saying, ‘Always a bridesmaid, never a bride?’” McMahon said. “I feel like I’m getting married finally.”

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