when will the rockies get their acts together?

The Colorado Rockies are not a good team this year. Statistically they can be found in the bottom four of such team offensive categories as runs, home runs, RBIs, and total bases. The diminish of what was once a powerful line-up is the number one reason the Rockies fail to compete in the woeful National League West division.

Let's check the stats

• Amazingly, the Rockies are number 2 in the NL with 192 walks and THIRD in On Base Percentage (OBP). This team is getting on base but thanks to: (1) Garrett Atkins' Adrian Beltre type collapse (more on this later) and (2) Todd Helton losing all of his power : the Colorado Rockies cannot seem to give any sort of run support to a surprisingly decent pitching staff.
  

• The pitching has been typical Rockies. Second in last in ERA (4.69), and no one has struck out less batters then the Colorado pitchers in the National League this year. Again in the bottom four in such categories as ERA, Walks and Hits Per Inning (WHIP), and Opponents Batting Average.
  

So lets go around the horn and get a better idea of the cast of characters that make up this Rock Pile. And to make it a little interesting, I'll supply some grades to you know, let you know what I really think.

Taveras CF : Batting .306, Fast Wily has alarmingly only 4 extra base hits this year. All four being doubles as well. Also unspectacular is his 10 stolen bases, (Kaz has 7 in half as many at bats) and his average defense. Ladies and gentlemen : YOUR BIG OFF SEASON ACQUISITION 2007 1st Quarter Grade : C

Tulowitzki SS: Now we're talking. Great defensive shortstop with a spark plug bat and a persona that screams winning. If he had a better bat he would be Nomar Garciaparra in Colorado. Could improve his range and when his bat gets going Troy is a keeper for sure. 2007 1st Quarter Grade : B- (wait 'til his bat improves.)

Holliday LF: The real deal. The guy whose going to represent the Rockies in the All-Star game for the next 7-10 years. Fantastic in every sense, have I told you how much I love Matt Holliday. He's in the highly exclusive allowed to sleep with a not so close relative club. 2007 1st Quarter Grade : A

Atkins 3B: 2007 winner of the "Worst Time On Having A Bad Season the Year After Your So-Called Breakout" Award. Garrett Atkins, what can you say? Batting .226 with only 15 extra base hits (a pathetic 3 homers may I ad.) Last year Atkins put up 120 RBIs with a .330 average. The ghost of Adrian Beltre haunts you, THE GHOST OF ADRIAN BELTRE HAUNTS YOU!!!
Seriously though at this time I would like to commend the front office for waiting before paying the man 10 million for the next six years. Garrett Atkins, it was nice knowing yah. 2007 1st Quarter Grade : F

Todd Helton 1b: Yes I know he's second in the NL in batting but listen, Todd Helton is on pace to hit 20 HRs and 80 RBI. Not exactly what your looking for from your cleanup hitter. I like Todd but seriously the time has come to realize that he's not the Helton of old. He still has the touch and contact but the power has disappeared. And that's fine! As long as your willing to admit that he's a number 2 hitter not a clean up. He gets singles and walks, he's a glorified Kevin Youkilis who gets paid like a Carlos Delgado. But it's OK because Todd Helton has an awesome beard. 2007 1st Quarter Grade : B (inflated by his BAA)

Quick Shots:

Hawpe RF : Where have you gone. Last year you were a fantasy steal, this year...the epitome of mediocre. 2007 1st Quarter Grade : C.

Carroll 2B: Our Second Baseman weighs more then his batting average (.185). 2007 1st Quarter Grade: F

Iannetta C: From SI Cover Story to a whole lot of blah, I don't see the hype around a catcher who hits below the Mendoza line. 2007 1st Quarter Grade: F

Pitching: They all stink, seriously. You don't believe me? Watch the Rockies try to keep a 3 run lead in the 7th. 2007 1st Quarter Grade: F

Overall: A truly unspectacular season thus far. I was fortunate enough to be part of THE game (Tulowitzki triple play and Matt Holliday walk-off against Atlanta). Besides that, it's amazing to me how a team can fail to compete in this division. We're one big bat away from being able to do a little damage but I seriously doubt ownership's commitment to spending some bucks. I am sad to say this is probably 5 years away from baseball leaving Colorado. Attendance is down, and the Rockies have settled for being the 4th team in Denver. If we had any brains we would bring every sinkerballer in baseball to this organization, as it seems to be the only real remedy for pitching in Denver. Generation R must stand for Really Bad because there's no other adjective that starts with the letter R that could possibly describe this team or its future. I do believe we have what it takes to lose 100 games this year but unfortunately Greg Oden doesn't play baseball. Thank god I have the Red Sox. Otherwise this would be a sad summer for a rabid baseball fan.


2007 1st Quarter Grade: F