Rockies’ Daniel Descalso a vital veteran bat | MLB.com

Coors Field works wonders.

Descalso is hitting a remarkable .272 with an .820 OPS after hitting .205 with a .607 OPS in 2016. He credits his turnaround to a much-improved swing after studying reigning American League Most Valuable Player Josh Donaldson, Mookie Betts, and former Cardinals teammate Matt Carpenter.

“I just found a swing that I can repeat, and that I feel confident in,” Descalso said. “It has just allowed me to simplify my at-bats and just worry about getting good pitches to hit and putting good swings on it instead of worrying about what’s wrong with my swing and my timing. It’s just put me in a simpler mindset and simpler approach.”

David Dahl, Rockies outfielder, dealing with rigors of longest season of his career

Through it all, Dahl has played in 138 games, 19 more than he has during any other season in his professional season. And the 22-year-old outfielder is discovering the physical toll a full season can take.

“The last couple weeks, I’ve lost some weight, bat feels a little heavier, stuff like that,” Dahl said. “It’s just something that I’ve got to get used to, especially if I want to play here in the big leagues and play that long of a season.”

Dahl was out of the lineup for the third consecutive game Wednesday during the Rockies’ series final against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Rockies manager Walt Weiss said the rookie has been dealing with a slight left elbow issue, but he also acknowledged that he has been monitoring the fatigue factor as it relates to Dahl.

Famed MLB ghost hunter Jon Gray finally got to explore Milwaukee’s notorious haunted hotel

He ain’t ‘fraid of no ghosts.

In June, we had the opportunity to speak to Gray about his fascination with the spiritual world, and he told us he had long dreamed of exploring Milwaukee’s famed Pfister Hotel. Now, we see, he’s made that dream a reality.

Why would Gray be so interested in the Pfister Hotel? Well, it has something of a reputation:

The hotel, reportedly haunted by its original owner, Charles Pfister, has been compared to Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion by Giancarlo Stanton . Even players like Pablo Sandoval, Jason Heyward and Justin Upton have paid their own way to stay somewhere else.

Carlos Gomez has heard voices when he stepped out of the shower. Adrian Beltre’s TV and air conditioner kept turning on and off during his stay. Brendan Ryan saw a “moving light” going through the room

Rockies Look For Boost From Hoffman - BaseballAmerica.com

The Rockies already got a boost offensively from calling up top prospect David Dahl last month. Now, they will try and get the same type of boost to their pitching staff with Jeff Hoffman.

The Rockies will call Hoffman up to make his major league debut on Saturday against the Cubs, according to multiple reports. Hoffman, the Rockies’ No. 3 prospect at midseason and a Futures Game participant, was 6-9, 4.02 with 124 strikeouts and 44 walks in 118 2/3 innings pitched for Triple-A Albuquerque.

Trevor Story, probably done for regular season, placed on 15-day disabled list – The Denver Post

This stinks…and I don’t even have him on any of my fantasy teams.

But make no mistake: The Rockies, hoping to turn this recent summer surge into a fall to remember, felt subdued at the outset of a critical homestand. The news that star rookie shortstop Trevor Story probably is done for the season after suffering a tear to the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb dealt a blow.

“It’s terrible to hear that,” Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado said. “It hurts my heart for him. He’s having a good year, and you knew good things were going to happen still. It’s unfortunate.”

Wilmer Flores upset after homer is overturned | MLB.com

You don’t see this every day.

Rockies will promote prospect David Dahl | MLB.com

It might only be a short-term call-up, depending on trades and performance.

Rockies have several players who could be targeted for trade with deadline near – The Denver Post

The Tulowitzki trade last summer sneaked up on nearly everyone outside the GM’s office, including Tulowitzki, who was furious he was kept in the dark. But Bridich had that trade in the works for months. Trading Gonzalez could give a playoff-contending team a hearty slugger at an affordable price. His contract may be undervalued for his production.

“I’ve seen a lot of players that follow the money and they’re not happy,” Gonzalez told The Denver Post. “Money isn’t everything. You want to be in a place where you’re happy, your family is happy and it’s a place where you can succeed and contribute and reach your goals.”

Rockies’ Mark Reynolds crushes 484-foot homer | MLB.com

This is a giant-sized homer.

Jon Gray pulled for “arm fatigue” as Rockies look toward tough stretch – The Denver Post

“It’s been that way for a couple weeks,” Gray said. “It’s just now getting to a serious point.”

Already down an ace after Tyler Chatwood wrenched his back pitching in Miami during the weekend, the Rockies return home Thursday with even more concern for a suddenly hobbled pitching staff. Combined with lefty Chris Rusin, who’s on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation, the Rockies could be without their three best ERAs just when the schedule gets tricky.

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“His arm felt heavy,” Colorado manager Walt Weiss said of Gray. “He didn’t look good from the get-go. Fastball command wasn’t there. There are always concerns when you have to take a pitcher out of the game for physical reasons.”

Marlins, Rockies Set Curious Home Run Record

The Marlins ended up on the wrong end of history Monday.

They and the Rockies combined for eight home runs in Colorado’s 5-3 victory, making it the most runs ever scored in a major-league game in which solo homers accounted for all of the scoring.

Eight solo home runs is still ten short of the entertainment record held jointly by Elvis Presley and Mariah Carey.

Tyler Chatwood is starting to figure out Coors Field. | Sports on Earth

For outsiders, Chatwood is in the unenviable position of having the stuff to be one of the best pitchers in baseball yet the potential to be hamstrung by his own ballpark. But as Hundley notes, a lot of it is in your head when you’re on the mound in Denver.

“If you go out and try to control the atmosphere, the barometric pressure, the humidity levels, if you’re worried about that stuff, big league hitters are gonna eat you alive,” he said. “Tyler believes in himself and he believes in his arsenal.”

Rockies’ Jose Reyes designated for assignment | MLB.com

Reportedly still owed over $44 million.

The Colorado Rockies announced today that shortstop Jose Reyes has been reinstated from the restricted list and subsequently designated for assignment.

Yard Goats Facing Season On The Road

Things have gone from bad to worse for the Hartford Yard Goats this season. Now, the team’s scenario is careering rapidly toward the worst case.

Hartford mayor Luke Bronin at a Monday press conference on Monday announced that the stadium’s developers, DoNo Hartford and Centerplan Cos., were being removed from the long-delayed project.

The announcement came after the developer took issue with the team’s release of the still-unfinished items at Dunkin Donuts Park, which was last scheduled to be turned over to the Yard Goats on May 17 in preparation for a May 31 opener.

At Monday’s news conference, according to the Hartford Courant, Bronin revealed that the impetus for the decision involved an e-mail from the developers notifying him that the remaining work would take at least 60 days to complete.

Also at issue, Bronin said, was the concern from the developers that they might not have the funds to complete the project without requesting more money from the city. The stadium was already slated to cost the city $47,050,000.

How Nolan Arenado went from a raw prospect to the next Brooks Robinson - CBSSports.com

Jonah Keri’s examines Arenado’s path to superstardom.

Ackert: Reyes’ domestic violence suspension less than a PED ban - NY Daily News

The shortstop has rightfully expressed his remorse and agreed to not appeal the suspension.

“I want to apologize for everything that has happened. I am sorry to the Rockies organization, my teammates, all the fans and most of all my family,” Reyes said in a statement released by his agents. “I am happy to put this all in the past and get back to doing what I love the most, playing baseball.

“My wife Katherine has remained by my side throughout everything and for that I will be forever grateful.”

Jose Reyes’ suspension could be announced as soon as Friday | FOX Sports

An announcement on Jose Reyes’ suspension for a domestic-violence incident could come as soon as Friday, according to major-league sources.

The expectation is that Reyes will be suspended for at least 60 games, as previously reported by MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.

WHAT BAN MIGHT REYES FACE?

Jon Heyman breaks news on Facebook now?

Half a season with no testimony from his wife and no formal charges would be an extremely aggressive punishment. It will be interesting to read the explanation from the Commissioner and the MLBPA response.

Jose Reyes should hear his penalty from MLB for domestic abuse soon, and word is that it’ll be at least 60 games and perhaps significantly longer than that.

Eighty games, or about a half a season, may be a fair ballpark estimate, according to some.

While Reyes was not criminally charged for an incident involving his wife in Hawaii, there’s little doubt Reyes will receive at least double the 30-game ban imposed on Aroldis Chapman, who became the first MLB player to receive a ban since MLB installed a specific domestic abuse policy back in August with the union’s approval.

Reyes’ offense has been seen as more serious, as hotel workers at their Maui hotel reported that Reyes’ wife Katherine suffered injuries to her neck, wrist and thigh. Katherine did not cooperate with police, leading to charges being dropped. Nor has she cooperated with MLB.

Commissioner Rob Manfred has authority to impose bans for domestic abuse stemming from the policy done jointly with the players’ union.

The strange saga of Jose Reyes is nearing an end. But what then? - The Denver Post

“I’d like to know exactly what happened,” Monfort said. “It’s easy for us all to speculate on whatever happened. But until we really know, it’s hard. You’re dealing with a guy’s life.

“But if he did something wrong, he should pay for it.”

How many people don’t agree with his statement? The Commissioner’s Office will find that ascertaining exactly what happened will be difficult, if not impossible, when the witnesses don’t want to testify.

Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado puts on a show every game

I thought Arenado would be good, just not this good.

Rockies’ Trevor Story hits record 7th home run | MLB.com

This is great.

Rockies’ Trevor Story hits 6th home run | MLB.com

Wonderboy stays hot.

Rockies rookie shortstop Trevor Story became the fifth player in Major League history to homer in four straight games to start a season, and the first to begin a season with six in four games when he went deep twice in a 13-9 loss to the Padres on Friday at Coors Field.

“I never would’ve thought that I’d start out like this, but it’s been great so far,” Story said.

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are moving to San Antonio, Texas

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are moving to San Antonio, Texas.

Sky Sox owner David Elmore and San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor announced in a city council meeting Thursday that the Milwaukee Brewers’ Triple-A affiliate is headed to Texas for the 2019 season, according to the San Antonio News-Express.

The move is contingent upon a new downtown baseball stadium.

Keep the Isotopes in Springfield!

Rockies rookie Trevor Story HRs into records | MLB.com

This is a great way to start off your career.

Rockies’ Nolan Arenado always rakes in a never-ending Wiffle Ball game

Charming.

Arenado plays Wiffle Ball at the end of every summer for 2½ months. This major-leaguer, he’s still a kid.

For 16 years, the Rockies’ star third baseman, with his brothers and cousins and friends, wage a never-ending, always-rambunctious game of Wiffle Ball in Lake Forest, Calif. The game is always the same, now and forever. They just have to wait until after the 162-game major-league season.

“It’s what we do. We go play Wiffle Ball,” Arenado said.

He is 24 now and about to start a fourth big-league season. He was 8 when the Wiffle Ball game started.

When each regular season ends, Arenado said he is usually angry that it’s done “because we didn’t go to the playoffs and baseball is over,” he said. “So the only thing I look forward to is Wiffle Ball.”