McMahon provides stability with 'Gold Glove caliber' defense

SAN DIEGO -- The Rockies, as a young team still in transition, are prone to extreme ups and downs. But they do have some constants.

Third baseman Ryan McMahon is one. More specifically, his defensive abilities.

The Rockies had one of their downs on Sunday afternoon at Petco Park, dropping a 10-2 decision against the Padres in the rubber match of the three-game series. But McMahon’s glove was as constant as ever.

"Gold Glove caliber," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "He and [shortstop Ezequiel] Tovar on the left side -- I can’t think of a better shortstop/third base tandem than those two guys. I challenge anybody to show me a better pair.”

In the early innings, when the game was still close, McMahon made two plays worthy of a highlight reel.

In the second inning, he had a difficult play when Ha-Seong Kim expertly placed a bunt on the left side of the infield with runners on first and second. McMahon hesitated in case he needed to cover the third-base bag. When starter Cal Quantrill also hesitated, McMahon quickly adjusted, barehanded the ball and fired a perfect throw to first base while off-balance.

Two innings later, McMahon made a classic reaction play to snare a line drive off David Peralta's bat.

When Black calls a third baseman “Gold Glove caliber,” it should not be taken lightly. He played with two Gold Glove third basemen (George Brett and Matt Williams) and managed two others (Chase Headley and Nolan Arenado).

“Range, arm, instincts -- all kinds of plays,” Black said of his current third sacker.

The metrics support Black’s Gold Glove assertion. McMahon came into Sunday tied for the NL lead with 5 outs above average at third base, alongside reigning NL Gold Glover Ke’Bryan Hayes of Pittsburgh. McMahon is first among NL third basemen in fielding run value (+4) and third in defensive runs saved (5). Among traditional numbers, he was No. 1 with 234 assists.

But voter inertia is real, and Hayes has the advantage of incumbency. Additionally, Milwaukee’s Joey Ortiz is a defensive wizard new to the scene. And Arenado and Manny Machado are still lurking.

One thing’s certain: McMahon’s not going to campaign.

“I don’t really care about that award,” McMahon said.

He does care about taking the field every day and giving his best effort for the team, regardless of its position in the standings. McMahon has started 106 of the Rockies’ 113 games this year, and he played at least 151 games in each of the three seasons prior.

“He’s playing great defense; he always has,” Quantrill said. “He’s sturdy back there. He’s consistent. He’s playing every day. You can’t ask for much more than that.”

“That’s all I know," McMahon said. "My job is to show up and play baseball. I’m going to keep doing that.”

McMahon’s glove has remained constant even when the hits are harder to find. The 29-year-old has become a consistent offensive player on the macro scale, good each year for an OPS of around .750 or more and a home run total in the 20s. His overall game brought him All-Star status for the first time.

But McMahon’s offensively in a rough patch at the moment. In 31 games since June 26, he has a .189 batting average and two home runs. You wouldn’t know it from watching his approach or his focus. There’s not a moment when the last at-bat is on his mind when the glove goes on.

“That tells you about the overall maturity of not letting the offense affect the defense,” Black said. “Often, you see players let their offense affect the defense. Mac will never let that happen.

“He’s a guy who takes a great deal of pride in his defense, and he can separate the two. He’s frustrated with the offense lately, but he’ll rebound. These are the peaks and valleys of a long season from a guy who grinds it out every day.”