I’m not gonna do…what everybody thinks I’m gonna do…and use that most overused cliché line of all time, derived from Charles Dicken’s famous piece of literature, Great Expectations.
Tulo & Co. have failed to live up to expectations. (AP/Will Powers)
I could, seeing as how the Rockies have had a roller coaster of a season, but I’m still not gonna use that line, gosh darn it.
I just want to talk about how the Rockies had great expectations going into the season, and now that they are mired in mediocrity at 45-50, that’s the main reason fans are so disappointed. The Rockies were expected to make the playoffs, and it’s going to take another historic push to complete that feat.
That’s the funny thing about expectations. They completely change perception. Ten years ago, if the Rockies were hovering just below .500 after 95 games, it would have been business as usual, and basically acceptable in the eyes of Rockies country. The Rockies used to be a team nobody expected to make any noise come playoff time, so mediocre seasons weren’t perceived as large disappointments.
But now, since the Rockies have been to the postseason twice in the last five years, and even made an appearance in the World Series in 2007, expectations have changed. The bar has been raised. The Rockies have gained national relevance. More is expected from them, and that’s why this season is both unacceptable and disappointing for Rockies fans.
Every team has the same goal – to win the World Series. But it would be foolhardy to say every team has the same expectations.
Lets scan around the league, and see how expectations differ.
Take the Yankees for instance. They are expected to win it all every year. Given the media scrutiny in New York City and their mega payroll, anything less than a championship is considered a failure. Bottom line. They are 55-37. Very respectable. Fourth best in the league in fact. But they are still in second place in the AL East, barely trailing the Boston Red Sox. That doesn’t get it done in the eyes of Yankees fans.
The Pirates, on the other hand, are in second place in the AL Central, and their fans are elated. At 49-44, they are on pace to have their first winning season in a mind-bogging 17 years. Pirates’ fans don’t expect their team to win the World Series. They are just happy to see their team contending. Clint Hurdle apparently knows how to put a team on the map.
The Diamondbacks are another team that is exceeding expectations. They were picked by many experts to finish near the bottom of the NL West. Instead, Kirk Gibson has them playing good baseball, and they are in the hunt at 51-44.
The Phillies are the National League’s version of the Yankees. With an almost unfair arsenal of all-star pitchers complimenting their potent line-up, they are pretty much expected to win every series. At 59-35, they are right where they want to be. But if they don’t win it all, the fickle Philly fans will be frowning.
How about the poor Cubs? At 38-58, its looks to be another season lost. But after over a century of disappointing seasons, North-side Chicago fans must be desensitized to losing at this point. You have to hand it to the Cubs fans though. They still show up in droves to support their loveable losers.
The Red Sox used to be in the same boat as the Cubs. They had not won the World Series since 1918. But they broke through in 2004, and have been a perennial playoff powerhouse since. After finally escaping the curse of the Bambino, the expectations for the Boston Red Sox have skyrocketed to championship proportions.
In a city like Cleveland, there are not championship proportions. The Indians haven’t won it all since 1948. But they are currently in a dogfight in the AL Central with the Tigers, keeping their fans enthused and excited.
For Rockies fans, it’s tough to get excited about a team five games below .500. But the rising expectations are a step in the right direction. They are considered underachievers at this point because they have achieved a good measure of success in the recent past. The Rockies are no longer an afterthought or a doormat. They are a legit team with a young core of talent, that should contend for seasons to come.
They have just not lived up to their great expectations this season. Damn you Charles Dickens.
Contact the writer, Zach Cohn, at zscohn@gmail.com.
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3 comments
Simone
July 18, 2011 at 5:59 PM (UTC -6)
Well, Tulo’s gone cold again…
I think it’s fair to say that this season is shot. Let’s try and build something decent for next year.
Adam
July 19, 2011 at 12:20 AM (UTC -6)
Great post Zach. Enjoyed it a lot.
I for one believe that maybe we overvalued our team. Was Ubaldo really ready to handle the increased hype, and publicity? Does he pitch with enough control to be considered an “elite” pitcher? How would Tulo and Cargo handle management’s faith in them? Are they good enough too carry a team through a season? Tulowitzki has been very disappointing this season, specifically batting. After the way he closed out the season last year and the september that he had I for one figured he’d be a 40 hr. .310 avg. lock. Obviously this isn’t the case (his defense has been fantastic as expected). Cargo obviously faced “great expectations” as well (competing down the stretch for the triple crown will do this). He’s showed a little more life this year then Tulo and has played great defense. I believe he will end the year hitting in the .290 – .300 range which is very disappointing considering his hr. numbers are down from last year. Plus neither has been great with RISP not necesarrily avg. wise (though I’d love Tulo to be a little more clutch with RISP considering the $$$ we pay him) but the inability to advance the runners with less then 2 outs. For briefer summaries Cook – atrocious, Iannetta- solid, Dexter-disappointing Smith- Good, Helton- Should have been an all-star. Stewart- Incomplete, Chacin-####### impressive De La Rosa- was our best pitcher in april/may. I believe Tracy mishandled the Stewart situation early in the season. I agree with Simone (? shocking) but maybe next year’s are year…
Oh and PLEASE Keep Ubaldo unless we can get a club to sell us their farm.
Dave S
July 19, 2011 at 11:15 AM (UTC -6)
I agree with Adam.
With the exception of Tulo and CarGo, the daily players really have played about to what you would think they should offensively. Stewart and Fowler have been less than expected obviously but other than them the team is more or less doing what it should realistically do. But with the top 2 guys in your lineup scuffling it’s hard to win ballgames.
The pitching staff has been hurt by the early troubles of Ubaldo, and losing De La Rosa. But with Chacin pitching well above his expectations and having Nicasio come in and do as well as he has straight from double-A almost makes up for that. With Ubaldo coming back into form, and Chacin and Nicasio pitching so well we have a solid top 3 starters. Hammel has been a solid 4th or 5th man but we severely lack right now for that other arm.