Weekend Links: Rockies News 6/23

Entering Sunday’s contest with the Washington Nationals, the Colorado Rockies are clinging to a .500 record at 38-38. Jhoulys Chacin pitched a gem yesterday, while this week we wondered if we had seen the last of Jeff Francis (we hadn’t), whether Dexter Fowler can continue to play with one hand, and how Eric Young will look as a member of the New York Mets. Here’s what else is happening with the Rockies:

From Brent New: Heroes Classic softball game aids wildfire efforts (MLB.com)

"Jerri Marr, the face of will and perseverance in these times of wildfires, looked into the stands at Security Service Field — home of the minor league team for the Colorado Rockies — and let out a gusty sigh.Then, she smiled.The 46-year-old forest supervisor for Comanche National Grasslands and Pike and San Isabel National couldn’t believe the unity she saw Saturday night. A year after the Waldo Canyon fire and days following the Black Forest fire, she joined local celebrities and former Major League players as well as Colorado Springs police and firefighters to help raise money for firefighting efforts by playing in the Heroes Classic softball game.”"

Tulo. Image: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

From Troy Renck: Rockies realize that replacing shortstop Troy Tulowitzki isn’t easy (Denver Post)

"Set aside the statistics for a moment. What the Rockies miss is Tulo’s edge. He’s a Gold Glove shortstop who hits cleanup. He is like a quarterback, capable of camouflaging other weaknesses. He’s not the most-liked guy. And that’s one of the reasons he’s the most valuable. He brings energy to stretching, to batting practice, to the seventh inning with a runner on first and a double play is necessary with a missile throw. He makes others around him better — especially Carlos Gonzalez, as the left fielder has admitted on numerous occasions.”"

From Will Carroll: Tulowitzki, Kinsler and More: Why Ribs are the New Black in MLB (Bleacher Report)

"…This year, it seems to be rib injuries that are the hot new thing in training rooms around the league.But why?Anatomically, there’s no difference. Ribs are ribs, and we have to assume that in almost all cases, MLB players have normal ribs in structure and strength. The game is also much the same—at least in terms of the stresses that it places on the ribs.”"

From Tracy Ringolsby: Argument against DH doesn’t hold up (MLB.com)

"Does the pitcher hitting really create more strategy?It doesn’t seem like it. All it does is create an easy excuse for NL managers to bunt — even with one out — when a pitcher comes to the plate with a runner on first.The only overwhelming contrast in terms of sacrifice bunts between the NL and the AL is the No. 9 spot in the order. This season, the No. 9 hitter in the NL has been asked to put down 275 sacrifice bunts compared to 66 sacrifice bunts out of the No. 9 hole in the AL.”"