(AP Photo/ Jack Dempsey)
It goes without saying that Rockies’ fans have had a tough year. Coming into the season this group was supposed to win the franchise’s first ever division crown, and, after the start they had in April, the expectations were only heightened. Now, just a few months later, the situation has become unsalvageable. Whatever glimmer of hope that was brought on by the second half has been completely obliterated by three straight losses. Last night’s beating left me feeling like Paul Giamatti in Sideways. Today, I’m still feeling a little sorry for myself and I think that means it’s time for another Blake Street Therapy Session.
The Rockies as a whole have been a collection of disappointing parts. It’s useless to try and point to any one area as the reason for their sub-par season. So, instead of complaining about one thing today, I’m going to gripe about five. Without further ado, here are the five most disappointing things about the Rockies’ season thus far.
GM
There is a reason why expectations were so high for the Rockies. Coming into the season, it didn’t seem like it would take much to put them over the top. However, one key spot that needed addressing was second base. Not only did O’Dowd fail to improve the position, the move he did make — Jose Lopez — actually made them much worse off. The addition of Mark Ellis was a big help, but it came way too late.
Now, O’Dowd is faced with the task of turning this team into a seller. If he’s smart, he won’t trade Ubaldo, but more on that in a bit. Whatever happens over the next month, it might be time for the Rox to go in a different direction at GM. For a very long time, O’Dowd has been getting by with mediocrity because he was supposedly building a top notch farm system. However, the system has not lived up to its billing. At some point, there has to be accountability for failing to draft impact prospects year after year.
Manager
Jim Tracy has micromanaged this team into the ground. He started over tinkering with the lineup in spring training and hasn’t stopped since. The list of players that he has given up on now includes Ian Stewart, Dexter Fowler, Chris Nelson, Eric Young Jr., and Seth Smith against lefties. The treatment of Fowler and Stewart is particularly frustrating. Fowler was providing value and never should’ve been sent down. Meanwhile, Stewart is just now getting a fair shake. Not to mention, Tracy has made some very curious substitution choices all year. And then there is the fact that he continually insists on playing Ty Wigginton in the outfield. Basically, he has become the complete opposite manager than he was when he took over in 2009.
Failure to reach potential
I gripe about Dexter and Ian not getting a fair shake, but it’s their fault too. Neither guy has developed into the impact player that they can be. However, it’s not just Dexter and Ian, this whole team has failed to reach its potential. And, quite frankly, so has the farm system. Prized prospect, Tyler Matzek, isn’t even with a team right now as he has gone home to work with his own personal pitching coach. Rumor has it that the Rockies messed up his delivery. Recently, in Keith Law’s updated top fifty prospects, the Rox only landed one player on the list and he’s still in Modesto. Underperformance has been an organizational wide theme this season.
Ubaldo trade rumors
I can’t believe we have reached this point. I still doubt a trade will happen, but the fact that it’s even being discussed is downright depressing. Denver has been waiting for an Ubaldo for almost twenty years and now he might get traded in his prime. Even if nothing happens, the team and especially Dan O’Dowd owe it to the Rockies’ ace to mend the fences. I don’t see Ubaldo as one to hold grudges, but, if any of this mess lingers over into next year, it’s as much the GM’s fault as it is Ubaldo’s. Certainly, this year has been pretty awful, but it’s important to remember how close this team really is to being legitimate contenders. Losing Ubaldo would put them much further away from that goal.
Dinger
When the Rockies are going well, I can mostly tolerate Dinger. However, right now, nothing drives me more nuts than having to watch the purple dinosaur dance behind home plate when the Rox are down by five runs — though the Toyota Talk scroll is a close second. Dinger continues to fail year after year. I wouldn’t mind seeing him gone in the off-season either.
Oh well, I guess there’s always 2012.
What’s your opinion? Who or what are you most disappointed in this season?
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10 comments
Ken
July 19, 2011 at 10:26 PM (UTC -6)
The news keeps getting worse! I’m away from the fair city of Denver for one more week and this saddens me to no end. May I propose a public execution of Dinger to brighten things up?
Aaron
July 19, 2011 at 11:37 PM (UTC -6)
It’s too late to make any significant moves. The Rockies should have made a move for someone on the Mets, Pirates, Indians, or Dodgers a month ago when the league wasn’t aware that we are desperate. Now we are dropping games and dropping value. No one is going to take Wiggington, Fowler, Cook, Giambi, or any real prospects off of our hands for anyone of value. Best thing we can do is try to develope our dead weight for the next 50 games and hope that we finish over 0.500. Disappointing, but there is always next year.
Simone
July 19, 2011 at 11:42 PM (UTC -6)
I live in New York City. I’m a Rockies fan due to the fact that I went to High School and College in Casper and got to see the Ghosts come to town and along came baseball to Wyoming (LOL!). I still remember the first game Ian Stewart played in the pro’s. Needless to say, i’ve been to 3 games this season in Denver and have traveled to Miami, Chicago, Phoenix, and Los Angeles to watch the Rockies play (I also went to Citi field to watch the Rox sweep the Mets).
What really kills me is the constant yo-yo Tracy does with the players. LET THEM PLAY for crying out loud!
Something needs to change with our pitching. We have Jimenez and Chacin…then? Nothing. You’re not gonna make the playoffs with 2 real pitchers.
Btw: Tracy seems to be in love with Wiggington…why? Are they having an affair or something? He’s not even good looking, the first time I saw him I said “Hey, who’s that guy that has a pig face”. He does, doesn’t he?
Jerry
July 20, 2011 at 7:23 AM (UTC -6)
Logan, take a deep breath. Relax. I figured it was time for an intervention when you started ripping the mascot. However, I’m in total agreement with your pointing the finger of accountability at the GM. It brings to mind a similar situation with the Detroit Tigers in the 90′s. The GM at the time, a guy named Randy Smith, continued to survive in his position despite fielding horrid teams by stressing how he was building the farm system and hyping all the alleged prospects that would soon be up with the big club. It never happened .. it was all a facade. It wasn’t until the owner canned him and brought in Dombrowski as GM did the team finally show improvement through a shrewd combination of free agents, trades and some developed talent. And, I agree with your comment about NOT trading Ubaldo … there’s still great talent and youth with him in the absolute key component for team success (i.e., pitching). The whole notion of trading him has been nothing more than an inane topic for the ‘cluck-and-yuk’ clowns of sports-talk radio.
James
July 20, 2011 at 9:33 AM (UTC -6)
So I think everyone is way to critical of Tracy. Listen, he is one of the most respected managers in the clubhouse. The reason he has gone through the gauntlet with the minor league system is because the “developed” players have not produced. Can you honestly defend Ian Stewart when he is hitting under .200 and committing numerous costly errors. And when Tracy has found someone who begins to shine, they end up on the DL, Charlie Blackmon and Jorge De La Rosa.
Ty Wiggington may not have the best face, but his bat and glove are reliable and he is versatile around the field. At least he is connecting at the plate and not dropping the ball repeatedly. Next to Helton, he is one of the seasoned veterans on the team who can provide guidance for all of the young guns who are up and coming.
As for the GM situation, if O’Dowd gets rid of Ubaldo, it will dissolve any hopes of building a successful franchise in Colorado. Ubaldo has the best numbers of any Rockies pitcher in team history. There was an article on espn.com that pro-rated his stats and he is ranked ahead of Verlander, Cain, Hamels, and Kershaw. If O’Dowd gets rid of Ubaldo, he should just start packing his bags himself.
Logan Burdine
July 20, 2011 at 9:45 AM (UTC -6)
If we are comparing gloves, Ian beats Wiggy by a landslide. Say what you will about Ian at the plate, but the man can flash some leather. Wiggy on the other hand is easily the worst defender on the team.
And I can defend Ian because of what he’s done in July. Not superstar or anything, but he saves runs at third and provides about the same amount of offense as Wiggy.
Also, I think Ty’s veteran leadership is an unmeasurable intangible that is vastly overrated.
James
July 20, 2011 at 10:59 AM (UTC -6)
I agree that Ian is a great glove but he has shown many weaknesses this year. I was at Sunday’s game and Ian got pulled after two errors, one he dropped on a routine ground ball. .172 is not acceptable in the MLB. He has got alot of heart, but it is not what the Rockies need. I watched Stewie in the minors when he first was drafted and when he was abck down abotu A month ago and he looked great. I just do not know what is happening when he comes up to the majors.
Logan Burdine
July 20, 2011 at 11:05 AM (UTC -6)
I’m tossing April and May out the window. So far in July he has almost as many plate appearances as he had in the seasons first two months combined. For the month, he has a .370 OBP. You can’t dismiss him based on forty spotty plate appearances over two months. He is a lot closer to the player he’s been in July than the player he was in April or May.
Ken
July 20, 2011 at 12:06 PM (UTC -6)
I’m in agreement with you, Logan. My opinion is that management needs to be changed, not Stewart. I have this gut feeling (supported by your OBP observation) that if some other team gets Stewart, they are going to end up with a fine third baseman.
James is right, though, about the system spitting out “developed” players that haven’t produced. Logan, if the rumor about the Rockies screwing up Matzek’s delivery is correct, and the system being vastly over rated by O’Dowd and the front office, I’d be curious to read more about how to correct these issues. This, to me, is this year’s worst and most depressing set of items to contemplate. Maybe you have some thoughts that can brighten my day?
James
July 20, 2011 at 1:00 PM (UTC -6)
That I do agree with. From day one O’Dowd has preached the farm system and how the Rockies organization wants to build up, but having these young players develop, but then he trades away this developed talent. I just do not understand why we have done this so many times over the years.