As more than 50,000 fans cram into Coors Field today for the season opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the expectations for the Rockies are a lot different this season. Which is to say, there are some.
Two scenes from the last week of spring training illustrated how much has changed.
Friday morning, upset with the previous outing, manager Clint Hurdle barbecued his players, challenging them to finish strong. In Saturday’s game, without prompting, several regulars spoke up on the bench as the Rockies fell behind to the Milwaukee Brewers.
It was a meaningless contest practically played in front of family and relatives, but the Rockies took it personal. Beginning with Todd Helton’s two-run home run, Colorado tattooed starter Dave Bush in the fourth inning.
“When I heard about what happened, that was a good sign,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said.
If Todd and The Toddlers are to become Big Head Todd and The Monsters, they need to gain traction early. A year ago, Colorado dropped 15 of its first 21 games and never sniffed a relevant stretch of the season. This season, the focus on this month is acute, with the Rockies openly pining for the best April this side of the IRS.
“We aren’t good enough to start like we did last year and come back,” Helton said. “I don’t have a number for you, but we need to be within striking distance.”
For a franchise that has posted five consecutive losing seasons, it’s impossible to overstate what this month means. It’s tied to season- and single-game ticket sales, both of which will remain up only if the team doesn’t fall early. It’s tied to the city, which, evidenced by the 1,000 or so season-ticket holders who showed up for Sunday’s workout, appears intrigued by this bunch.
“We need to send the message to the league that we are going to be around for a while, give teams a reason to take us serious,” cleanup hitter Matt Holliday said. “And we need to show our fans that we are fun to watch, get them back out here again to give us a big home-field advantage.”
The Rockies have produced a winning record in April only four times in 13 seasons. In 1995, they secured their only playoff berth, and two years later an effective launch produced 83 victories, the franchise’s high-water mark.
As owner Charlie Monfort admitted, “You can’t duck-hook your first shot into the condos.”
Golf is a fitting analogy to the Rockies’ situation. A tournament can’t be won on the first day, but it certainly can be lost. Of the 16 teams who were .500 or worse on May 1 last year, only three advanced to the postseason – the Yankees, Padres and Astros.
“Obviously, the other five months are important, too, but you make a statement when you come out and win early,” Rockies reliever Mike DeJean said. “It gives guys confidence, helps out the overall moral and makes a lot easier living environment in the clubhouse.”
Perhaps the biggest challenge for the Rockies is managing the pressure. They are still a young team and many of the players on the roster never have been on a winning major-league team, let alone a division champion, Monfort’s stated goal for this season. Leading up to opening day, Hurdle and O’Dowd have attempted to soft-pedal April expectations, providing a reminder of the broader picture.
“We want to get off to a good start, but if we don’t what do you do? Quit?” Hurdle said. “We understand the importance of it because they know all the clawing and digging we had to do the last four months just to come up with a paltry 67 wins. They plan on bigger and better things, and so do I.”
There was a feeling, before Hurdle’s speech, that the team might be a little tight. That concern dissolved with crisp play in the final two spring games. The Rockies should know by May 1 how much they have grown up. They have 12 home games – “We have to be much better there,” Helton admitted – and finish with a nine-game road trip through Philadelphia, Florida and Atlanta, traditional potholes.
“We just can’t bury ourselves like we did last year,” said Jason Jennings, today’s starting pitcher. “If we hadn’t done that, turns out we would have been in the race and that’s where we all want to be.”
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-820-5447 or trenck@denverpost.com.
