Morning Links: Rockies News 3/29

The Rockies wrapped up the Arizona part of their spring yesterday with a 6-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. In the meantime, Jorge De La Rosa finished up Spring Training with a minor league start against the Diamondbacks. The team is off today and then takes the field Saturday in Salt Lake City against the Seattle Mariners before the regular season finally starts. Here’s what else is happening with the Rockies and around the NL West.

Colvin and manager Walt Weiss. Image: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

From Patrick Saunders & Troy Renck: Rockies’ Nolan Arenado demoted after losing bid for starting third-base job to Nelson (Denver Post)

"And on the day the Rockies played their final Cactus League game of spring training, they finalized their 25-man roster. The club chose Yorvit Torrealba over Ramon Hernandez as the backup catcher, rounded out the bullpen with 6-foot-8 right-hander Chris Volstad and kept Reid Brignac. But it’s possible infielder Jonathan Herrera might join them as the Rockies weigh their options with outfielder Tyer Colvin."

From Jack Corrigan’s Blog (850 KOA)

"The beauty of baseball is that no one can honestly predict what the 2013 season will bring expect for the usual surprises and disappointments.  Do I think the Rockies will be better in 2013?  Absolutely.  Can they contend?  Who knows.  As my 28th season in Major League Baseball unfolds, the only certainty I have about this year’s Rockies team is that they will be highly entertaining.  There will be plenty of offense—even on the road—and the pitching performances at times will resemble a roller coaster ride."

From Bryan Rosa: San Francisco Giants Extend Contracts Of Bruce Bochy & Brian Sabean Through 2016 (Around the Foghorn)

"Bochy has a career record of 1454-1444 during his tenures in San Diego and San Francisco, good for a winning percentage of .502. In San Francisco however, Boch has delivered far better results, returning a 503-469 record, good for a .517 winning percentage and of course two of those fancy shiny things you put on your fingers."

From Craig Calcaterra: 2013 Preview: what’s new in the new season? (HardBall Talk)

"With the Houston Astros going from the National League to the American League, giving us 15 teams in each league, it will now be required that, at all times, an interleague series be taking place. This contrasts with past practice of interleague series all occurring during specified blocs during the season. This will also lead to teams playing 20 interleague games a piece instead of the 15-18 interleague games in previous years. There will still be the old construct of “interleague rivals” which in good cases lead to series like Yankees vs. Mets and Giants vs. Athletics. And in bad cases lead to Pirates vs. Tigers and Astros vs. Rockies. Eh, this is where we are now."