First-year manager Bud Black, who helped develop a group of rookie starters as he guided the Rockies to the playoffs for the first time since 2009, on Monday was named a finalist for National League manager of the year. The other finalists also come from the National League West: Arizona’s Torey Lovullo and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dave Roberts.
Two Rockies all-stars, however, were snubbed by voters from the Baseball Writers Association of America. Despite putting up historic numbers from the leadoff spot, center fielder Charlie Blackmon was not named one of the three finalist for NL MVP. Neither was third baseman Nolan Arenado, who continued his reign as one of baseball best all-around players.
The three MVP finalists are Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, Miami right fielder Giancarlo Stanton and Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto. The winner of the NL MVP will be announced Nov. 16. Manager of the year will be unveiled on Nov. 14.
Blackmon had a gigantic, historic season. He belted 37 home runs, hit .331 to win the NL batting title and set a major-league record with 102 RBIs from the leadoff position, surpassing Darin Erstad’s previous mark of 100 set with the Angels in 2000.
Blackmon’s 383 total bases were the most all time by a leadoff hitter in a single season, and he was only the third big-league leadoff hitter since 1914 to collect 85 or more extra-base hits.
Arenado, who almost certainly will win his fifth consecutive Gold Glove on Tuesday night, batted a career-high .309, mashed 37 home runs and drove in 130 runs. He became just one of eight players in major-league history to post at least three consecutive seasons with 35-plus home runs and 130-plus RBIs.
Final vote totals for MVP won’t be unveiled until next week, but it’s possible that Blackmon and Arenado split votes and that hurt their chances. In addition, Blackmon’s home-road splits probably cost him votes. Blackmon hit 24 home runs at Coors Field vs. 13 on the road. His home numbers — .391 (batting average)/.466 (on-base percentage)/.773 (slugging percentage) — were stunning. His .276/.337/.447 road numbers were not great.
Stanton could be the favorite, despite the fact he played for a losing team. He hit 59 home runs, tied with Babe Ruth in 1921 for the ninth-highest total in a season, while leading the majors in RBIs (132) and the NL in slugging percentage (.631).
Larry Walker, honored in 1997, remains the only Rockies player to win MVP.
