Rockies unlikely to be a factor at the trade dealine

(AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)

Yesterday, on a SweetSpot group collaboration, I declared the Rockies to be sellers. However, last night’s performance has some people a little excited this morning. Admittedly, it was nice to see them play such a well rounded baseball game right out of the break, but I still have a hard time getting worked up after one big win. After all, this team has had offensive outbursts before but failed to put it together for consecutive games. Plus, last night’s contest was a game they should have won. They had their ace on the mound and were facing the worst road team in the NL. When they perform like that in three or four games in a row, then I’ll get excited.

One of the other things that I mentioned in the SweetSpot second half preview was the need for the Rockies to put a little faith in Dexter Fowler and Ian Stewart. It appears that I will get my wish. Stewart had a terrific game last night and Fowler has been called back up. I dream of better days ahead where the Rockies are fielding a productive and defensively sound lineup. That means Ian Stewart is at third, Dexter is in center, Mark Ellis is at second, and Ty Wigginton is a source of depth. Other than Ellis — though I wish they did have him from the start — that is the team that many predicted would win the Rockies’ first NL West crown. It’s also the only lineup that gives them any hope of making another magical run in the second half.

With the trade deadline just around the corner, we will know very soon if the Rockies are sellers. Honestly, I doubt we will see any kind of trade activity. It’s been said that Dan O’Dowd will listen to any trade offer. If that’s true, he must be maddening to negotiate with because he doesn’t seem to make any deals.

I picture working with O’Dowd to be like working with the one really annoying fantasy sports buddy that’s in every league. You hate trying to make trades with him. He never proposes a fair deal and always makes absurd counters. At some point, you know you’ll never make a deal with him, but you still make proposals because it’s turned into a source of entertainment. I bet Walt Jocketty of the Reds called O’Dowd about Ubaldo just so he could have a laugh.

“Jay Bruce, Homer Bailey, Drew Stubbs, and Aroldis Chapman for Ubaldo? Seems reasonable, Dan.” Jocketty covers the phone as he bursts into uproarious laughter.

At the same time, O’Dowd turns to assistant Adele Armagost, and, with Kenny Powers-like obliviousness, excitedly whispers, “Ah, snap! Someone is about put together a blockbuster!  I’m gonna be on ESPN tonight, playa!”

Jocketty, hears this, and, unable to control himself, has to hang up the phone. For the rest of the day, the Reds’ front office dodges O’Dowd’s phone calls while they laugh hysterically at a recording of his proposal.

I’d love to be a GM. When the monotony of the job became a bit too much, I’d get O’Dowd on the line just to see if I could get him to ask for a front line MLB starter in return for Tyler Matzek.

Maybe I’m giving up on the 2011 squad too early, but this team, in its current state, doesn’t seem like a consistent winner. They haven’t been able to recover from the De La Rosa injury, have holes on defense, and wallow against left-handed pitching. If they made a dramatic move or two, it might make a difference, but what’s the price and who’s really available that could make that kind of impact? The current trade market does not look promising. So, while O’Dowd probably wouldn’t get it done anyway, if they don’t make a move, I can’t necessarily blame him — at least for this year.

Either way, I still think there is reason to watch the Rox. I’m strangely excited to see what they look like with the lineup they intended to have all along. Given how things have gone this year, Tracy might be done with Dex and Ian after twenty at-bats a piece, so make sure to tune in. We might be watching the final audition for several players.

Don’t trade Ubaldo!