Morning Links: Rockies News 10/7

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

While we look on with interest at the results of the 2013 Divisional Playoff series and all the various Colorado Rockies connections therein, the off-season stories for the home team start to take shape. Todd Helton is gone, Carlos Gonzalez has to decide whether or not his right finger injury will require surgery, and the front office has some decisions to make. Here’s what else is happening with the Rockies and around the rest of Major League Baseball.

From Troy Renck: Rockies close on Walt Weiss’s contract, no front-office changes planned (Denver Post)

"The Rockies went 74-88 in Weiss’ first season, a disappointment, but a 10-win improvement from 2012. It’s possible Weiss, 49, will get a one-year deal with a club option that triggers early in the offseason to prevent speculation about his job security.“Weiss said at season’s end that he did not expect any changes in his coaching staff beyond replacing hitting instructor Dante Bichette, who left for family reasons. Double-A manager Kevin Riggs is considered the favorite to replace him. The Rockies were contending at the all-star break, 4.5 games behind the Dodgers. Colorado went 6-14 to begin the second half, falling out of the race, and prompting Weiss’ to call his only team meeting of the season. The Rockies finished 22-24 over the final 46 games and .500 (38-38) against division opponents.”"

From Tyler Conway: Cardinals vs. Pirates: Score, Grades and Analysis for NLDS Game 3 (Bleacher Report)

"The Pirates third baseman hit a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning, Russell Martin added an insurance run one batter later and Jason Grilli closed out the game in the ninth, as Pittsburgh defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 before a raucous crowd at PNC Park.“Alvarez’s and Martin’s hits came with one out off of St. Louis reliever Kevin Siegrist, who relieved pitcher of record Carlos Martinez. Grilli closed it out in the ninth by allowing a leadoff single and then retiring three consecutive batters, giving Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.”"

From Dylan Hernandez (via Twitter), on the moment when a silly talking point emerged from the Braves and Dodgers series.