Cincinnati – The Rockies’ surprising first half has left them in position to end two notable streaks – five consecutive losing seasons and three years without adding a significant player at the trading deadline.
How they perform over the next 11 days will help the Rockies’ management decide what pieces to add, if any. The Rockies (44-43) trail the San Diego Padres by 3 1/2 games in the National League West and sit 1 1/2 games back in the wild-card race.
“There’s nobody really out there in a trade that we have (pinpointed),” Rockies owner Dick Monfort said. “I think it’s a little early. But in the right situation and if it didn’t cost us our future, we would make a move. I can’t see any situation where we would be dumping salary.”
At this time a year ago, the Rockies were in the final stage of shedding contracts and filling multiple holes by trading cleanup hitter Preston Wilson and starting pitchers Shawn Chacon and Joe Kennedy. Only pride was at stake in the second half.
This season, the Rockies view themselves as a legitimate contenders. They are considering acquiring an influential player for the first time since landing outfielder Jay Payton for pitcher John Thomson in 2002.
Monfort said he’s been pleased with the Rockies’ development, the three- game sweep by Arizona at Coors Field last weekend notwithstanding.
“You get a little screwed up if you look at the last three games,” he said. “But if somebody had told me in spring training that we would be above .500 at the break, I’d take it.”
That Colorado is floating near the top of the standings can be traced to shrewd offseason moves. The club prioritized adding bullpen depth, a fifth starter and a starting catcher. Only the catching position hasn’t been dramatically upgraded.
“The relievers have been good,” Monfort said of the crew, which ranks seventh in the National League with a 4.31 ERA. “(Starter) Josh Fogg has been fantastic. And while the catching hasn’t been what we expected, it has the potential to get there.”
Monfort suggested that the Rockies might be able to use their catching depth – Danny Ardoin is rehabbing an injury in the minor leagues and Miguel Ojeda was loaned to Mexico City – to help facilitate a trade. He said he’s not as worried about poor offense from his center fielders, praising the defensive skills of Cory Sullivan and Choo Freeman.
The cautious nature in which the Rockies are pursuing a trade – bullpen help is considered the most likely with pitchers such as LaTroy Hawkins, Roberto Hernandez and Elmer Dessens available – was apparent when Monfort said he thought the Rockies “have enough in our clubhouse right now” to win the division.
His biggest concern moving forward is improving against the West, particularly against the Diamondbacks and Dodgers. The Rockies are 15-21 in division play, including a combined 5-13 mark against Arizona and Los Angeles.
“We haven’t quite figured those teams out,” Monfort said. “Those are numbers we need to get turned around.”
Footnotes
Matt Holliday and Brian Fuentes were the only Rockies in the All-Star Game, but they won’t be alone in mementos. The pair combined to buy nearly $1,000 worth of souvenirs – shirts, hats and the like – for teammates and coaches. “We took good care of them,” Holliday said. … ESPN’s Make-A-Wish feature involving Andrew Pointer and Rockies first baseman Todd Helton will air tonight. Helton couldn’t find the words when asked what it meant to hang out with Andrew at Coors Field recently. Catcher JD Closser said, “Just thinking of how special that kid is gives me goose bumps.”
