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Reasons to Love Colorado, #46

And now for something COMPLETELY different (and I really mean it this time)....

For those who don't already know it, I'm a fairly rabid baseball fan. Forget the thugs in those other sports (and yes, I DID vote for the asterisk on Barry Bonds' baseball too, so there).

And while I'll root for the Broncos (and Jets, if they ever get a clue again), I don't go in for the downright disturbing Elway worship that STILL goes on here. (Have I ever mentioned that South Park episodes are SO much funnier when you live in Colorado and actually see what they're based on? They really WOULD sacrifice Butters to a 20-foot Elway statue.)

Besides, I always hated Ol' Horse-Face (aka the 20th-Century Peyton Manning) anyway. Don't tell anyone here that, though -- the Gena 6 would have an easier time getting justice.

Anyway, I continue to assert that the difference between baseball and football (or basketball, for that matter) is like the difference between The Brothers Karamazov and a graphic novel (sorry, byrnes).

And I LIKE 162-(or preferably more)-chapter novels.

Anyway....

Just before I left New Jersey, it was really nice to see the Mets organization finally get a clue and do something I'd been pleading for 5 years before that: Make Omar Minaya their GM. And in the few years since, they've actually become a real organization, made smart baseball decisions, won games, all that good stuff. (Not lately, but more about that later.)

And yet, there's a part of me that misses the longtime-lovable-losers-who-occasionally-pulled-off-a-miracle Mets. (Yes, my 1st baseball memory WAS 1969. Why do you ask?)

That's why it was so easy, upon touching down in DIA two-plus years ago, to embrace the Colorado Rockies.

These guys ARE the Mets of the 21st Century. Even two years ago, it was just FUN watching a young team play their hearts out, even as their hearts were getting RIPPED out night after night. But you saw a core of players who, if they came together, could really be SOMETHING.

Yes, to be more normally on-topic, it HAS been somewhat like discovering a great band at their first album then seeing them on the verge of finally cashing in.

And most of this year they've shown flashes of that. Despite losing 60% of their original starting rotation, they've managed to stay in the running -- largely because of arguably the best everyday starting lineup in the NL. Matt Holliday is MVP material, Troy Tulowitski probably IS NL Rookie of the Year, and, finally being rewarded for his years of patience after arguably a HoF career (OK, that $12-19 million/year is more than he's worth at this point, but still...)...

The Todd.

No, no.... THIS The Todd....

Diminished power and all, he's still one of the best pure hitters in the game, and a joy to watch. Good for him that he's finally playing meaningful games in September. Even better that he's making the most of them.

SO, to further confess, I'd pretty much given up after Game 1 of the Phillies series a few weeks back, when Clint Hurdle (ahem) managed to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory with some truly awful (ahem) decisionmaking. And they're still paying for that even now. Throw in their inability to finish off sub-.500 teams (while simultaneously sweeping the Mets, Yankees, and Brewers earlier this year), and the Rox seemed headed for a promising season nonetheless filled with head-scratching moments. And it may still wind up being that. BUT....

...thank God, after getting spanked by the Florida Marlins, the Rox have been playing the best teams in the league the last two weeks.

A 10-game win streak against their direct competition (including sweeeping the Dodgers & Padres -- just think, if they only played plus-.500 teams this'd be in the bag by now) has put them right back in the hunt. In addition to being neck-and-neck with the Phils, a game behind the Pods, and two behind the D-Backs, the Rox are now a game behind this season's obvious-favorite METS.

I am on the verge of being SO conflicted.

Or I can wait until the playoffs to feel conflicted. Either way.

In short, this is completely wild. 4 games -- 7 teams (the Cubs and Brewers are still fighting in the NL Central, too, you know, and mathematically those pesky Braves are still in it too, so arguably 8 teams) -- 4 slots.

THIS is why you have to read the WHOLE 162-chapter novel to appreciate it.

When the Rox pull into Arizona tomorrow, regardless of what happens today (although another sweep of the Dodgers WOULD be sweet -- and pretty critical), their fate is in their hands.

So I have to give Clint (known elsewhere as "The Sanjaya of Managers") THIS: He might just be the Herm Edwards of MLB (or the second coming of Dusty Baker, if you will): I.e., can motivate his guys but still not the guy you want to make a smart decision at a critical moment. The fact that the Rox are still looking up is proof of that (again, start with Game 1 of the Phils series and work back from there, and often). And again, the fact that plus-.500 teams seem to be no problem, yet the Marlins, Royals and Pirates beat their butts without an issue.

Still, he has to get some credit for the fact that these guys not only didn't give up, but are now playing on all cylinders. Just pray that no cylinders misfire in the next four games and he actually has to make an actual game-affecting decision.

So: The Pods get the Brewers, who still have a chance for the NL Central. The Phils have a historically huge gag reflex, so even though they're home against the Nats I'm still betting on that until further notice. The Mets and D-Backs are suddenly and mysteriously floundering. If I were a betting man.... well, I'd be having convulsions trying to figure out which way to go.

AND if all this were to play out to a one-game playoff at Coors, if the rotation holds as is, the Rox' starting pitcher will be.... perennial #5 pitcher Josh Fogg, pitching through a bad shoulder.

Who just happened to shut out the Dodgers last night.

I TOLD you this was crazy.

In short, I'm prepared to have my heart broken by a brand-new team. But I certainly have experience with miracles too (calling Calvin Schiraldi.... calling Bill Buckner....), so keep hope alive.

GO ROX!

Posted by: burninglight at 17:08 | link | comments (2)

Comments:

#1  02 October 2007 - 07:54

 

I rooted for you guys over the Padres, just because of you Carl! What a game! I loved your passion in this post by the way.
Monty

Anonymous

#2  02 October 2007 - 13:24

 

There were so many other good reasons, but that'll do. :)

What bad umpiring. The Rox should've won it in regulation (the Atkins homer-double), then win it on Holliday's race to the plate that he missed. But at least the team that should've won it when Corpas shut down the side in the 9th was handed the game in 13. :D

And records be damned, Trevor Hoffman is SUCH a choke. As down as I felt when Babyhead Jr. came in, AND promptly gave up two runs, I knew we had a chance.

The miracle continues!

burninglight

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