Tucson – Although they account for a mere 8.5 percent of the Rockies’ 2007 season, the first 19 games seem to loom extra large. All 19 are against National League West opponents.
The Rockies will quickly see how they measure up against the NL West’s top guns. In Monday’s season opener at Coors Field, the Rockies start Aaron Cook against reigning Cy Young Award winner Brandon Webb. On April 6 in San Diego, Rockies rookie Jason Hirsh is scheduled to face Greg Maddux, a four-time Cy Young Award winner.
After three games in sunny San Diego, it’s on to Dodger Stadium, where the Rockies’ all-time record is a woeful 40-64. In the Dodgers’ home opener April 9, the Rockies are scheduled to face former Giants ace Jason Schmidt. The next day they’re scheduled to face Brad Penny. All he did against Colorado last season was post a 5-0 record with a 2.67 ERA in six starts.
“It looks like we’re going to find out a lot in a hurry,” left fielder Matt Holliday said.
Then again, the season’s first glimpse can be deceiving. Last year, the Rockies went into San Diego early, sweeping three games. But later, when the Rockies sandwiched an eight-game losing streak around the all-star break, that sweep in San Diego was a hazy memory. That’s why the idea the Rockies must come out of the gate quickly to set the tone for their season doesn’t wash with players.
“That’s something coming from a newspaper guy,” said 42-year-old center fielder Steve Finley, who’s played on all five NL West teams. “Winning in April only means that you don’t have to win as many in September. So I think it’s making too much of it to point to the first 19 games.
“Obviously, you want a good start. You don’t want to get off to a 2-11 start or something, because then it’s an uphill battle.”
Pitcher Josh Fogg insists the beginning of the season is not as crucial as fans or media might think.
“I would suggest that you want to play your best baseball in September, at the end of the season, not at the beginning,” he said.
In April, the Rockies play 26 games: 13 at home and 13 on the road. The number of games against teams that were .500 or better last year is 14. That includes a three-game series against the Mets from April 23-25 at Shea Stadium, where the Rockies are 20-40.
Nine of the Rockies’ first 12 games are on the road, but Holliday said it shouldn’t matter.
“Even if we started out in Philadelphia, New York and Atlanta, we’d still have to go out and play good baseball,” Holliday said. “It’s about how we play; whether or not we play well enough to be a contender. It’s not about who we play.”
Finley, who has played in 12 postseason series, including two World Series, says the playoff formula is simple.
“Teams that win and make it to the playoffs play at least .500 on the road and they kick butt at home,” he said. “That’s what it comes down to.”
Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com.
