Third place has become a familiar home to the Rockies, now over seven games back in the NL West. And it looks bleak for them to dig out any time soon based on what’s happening on the field. If their fortunes don’t change soon, it is going to get real uncomfortable around the clubhouse when people start disappearing post All-Star break. The local sports-talk radio station’s “Mike & Scott Show” brought up a really bleak prediction for what is to come with other teams gearing up for playoff runs and the Rockies looking like outsiders.
Sure, they could possibly get their late-season magic going, but I won’t rely on it and I sure as hell don’t hope that is what they are planning on trying to do.
I agree with Mike Evans and Scott Hastings from the radio show, that there will be guys who will be sale safe, but guys like Ubaldo Jimenez, Jhoulys Chacin, Jason Giambi and even Todd Helton could be in danger of having new homes before August 1.
Jimenez and Chacin have pitching talent and wouldn’t cost a ton of money. Giambi would be useful as an everyday DH on an AL team and Helton may be the most untouchable of the possibilities because his production is technically the most consistent on the team and he has been holding this team up quite a bit. Hopefully management would only let Todd go in the event there is a good deal with a team with serious playoff potential. I would hate to see him go, even for the “right” reasons.
It would alienate some of the Rockies fan base but would be a nice gesture to him if management decides to abandon ship, and there is a chance he could catch the championship boat going the other direction.
The revolving clubhouse door has been active again and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. Ian Stewart made his return after Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki went down in the same week to minor injuries. Jim Tracy said they have been out-manned against the Braves and that is the cold hard truth. Add to that Chacin, Aaron Cook and Rex Brothers handing out of free passes at an alarming rate and it makes for a rough end to a very self-defeating first half.
There is a high probability that the Rockies will be holding a yard sale at Coors Field if management doesn’t believe they have a chance at October.