Once the envy of baseball as recently as two years ago, the National League West has lost its bite. The best players – Barry Bonds, Jason Schmidt, Mark Loretta, Eric Gagne and Todd Helton – are injured or experiencing a down season. The Padres roll into town this weekend as a first-place team in name only. San Diego is the only division leader with a losing record on the road (18-24)
A 22-5 run a few months back catapulted the Padres to the top, the perch becoming wobbly as a .500 record sneaks into sight. If they were a college team, they might not even be eligible for a BCS bid.
This isn’t to suggest they couldn’t be a hornet’s nest if they reach the playoffs. Pitching is the reason. Jake Peavy, one of baseball’s best-kept secrets, led the league in ERA last season. And a strong case can be made for Adam Eaton to be a National League all-star.
If that isn’t intriguing enough to head to the park, lean on sentiment.
Eric Young, back from a gruesome shoulder injury, might be making his last appearance in Denver – though he hopes not. Young’s preference is to finish his career as a Rockie, playing one game along side his son Eric Jr., a Colorado minor-leaguer.
“That would be a dream come true,” Dad said in spring training. “I wouldn’t even mind being with the Rockies and retiring to give him my spot.”
– Troy E. Renck
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
1. All the Nuggets’ jockeying for position for a shooting guard actually come to fruition on July 22.
2. Fewer than 15 pitching changes in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game in Detroit. Well, maybe leave one for the Rockies’ lone rep, Brian Fuentes.
WEAK IN REVIEW
1. So, it took Rangers pitcher Kenny Rogers a week to say he was “deeply disappointed and embarrassed in myself and my inability to rise above the situation.” Doesn’t seem like it would take seven days to figure that out and apologize.
2. Tour de France officials forced Lance Armstrong to wear the yellow jersey Wednesday despite his objections. Guess there’s a dress code in cycling after all.
3. Roger Federer is a great Wimbledon champion, but isn’t there at least one more great tennis player in the world? Laver-Rosewall, Borg-Connors, Sampras-Agassi. Tennis needs another great rivalry.
THE COUCH
ON: The climbing begins this weekend at the Tour de France. Saturday’s 143.8-mile leg starts with four quick, steep rides and ends with a long climb. Then, Sunday’s 106.3-mile test includes three grades of more than 6 percent, including the first Category 1 climb (5.9 miles up a 6.8 percent grade). The live feeds on the Outdoor Life Network start at 6:30 a.m. Saturday and 4:30 on Sunday. The replays are nonstop Saturday, but Sunday’s Stage 9 won’t be replayed until Monday’s rest day.
OFF: If you never have ridden 120 miles on a bike, the 17th annual Triple Bypass Tour on Saturday probably shouldn’t be your first try – especially because it’s schedule to climb 10,310 feet. But if you have put some time in the saddle this season, registration ($129) is still open for the legendary ride. Starting with breakfast in Evergreen and ending with barbecue in Avon, the ride goes over Squaw (11,140 feet), Loveland (11,990) and Vail (10,560) passes. The official start is 6:30 a.m., but the window to leave Evergreen is 6-7:30. For more information, go to teamevergreen.org.
AROUND TOWN
The parking lot at the Pepsi Center may be full, but not because of what is going on inside. The Dew Action Sports Tour fills the parking spaces around the arena with motorcycles, skateboards and BMX bikes filling the air. It will be a lot like the yearly Winter X Games outside Aspen, only with asphalt under foot instead of powder. For more information, go to dewactionsportstour.com.
