To steal an expression from South Texas, the Rockies are hotter than stolen tamales, becoming just the fifth team in the past 70 years to go 21-1 at any stretch of a season. And the Rockies have done it with their season on the brink for much of that span.
The only thing that seemingly could cool them off is not letting them play. And that’s exactly what is going to happen.
After completing their four-game sweep of Arizona in the National League Championship Series on Monday night, the Rockies won’t play again until a week from tonight in the World Series against Cleveland or Boston.
For the Rockies, facing an eight-day layoff could prove problematic. But during Monday night’s wild, champagne-soaked victory celebration, pitcher Josh Fogg dodged a question about whether the layoff will kill the Rockies’ mojo.
“There is no way I could possibly think about that right now,” he said. “The only thing I care about right now is right now.”
NLCS MVP Matt Holliday said: “Eight days, two days, it really doesn’t matter to us. We are in the World Series. We will deal with it the best we can. It’s been exhausting, because every out of this is so crucial. And emotionally and mentally, you are going through ups and downs. But at the same time, it’s a game. It’s been fun.”
Fun or not, recent history suggests the layoff will have an adverse effect.
Last season, Detroit was baseball’s hottest team in mid-October, sweeping Oakland in four games in the ALCS after taking the Yankees out 3-1 in a division series. The Tigers had to sit a week before playing the Cardinals in the World Series, who struggled to make the playoffs, then defeated the Mets in seven games in an emotional and grueling NLCS. But in the World Series the Tigers played sloppy ball, couldn’t regain their batting stroke and St. Louis won in five games.
“I make no excuse. We just didn’t play well enough,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said when he was asked if the layoff hurt his team. “There’s no excuse here. I don’t really know what the reasons were.”
Not all teams with long layoffs have struggled. The 1995 Braves beat the Indians, and the following year the Yankees beat the Braves – and both champions had six-day delays.
After taking Tuesday off, the Rockies are scheduled to work out this afternoon at Coors Field before getting another day off on Thursday. Rockies spokesman Jay Alves said there are no immediate plans to have the Rockies train at their spring training complex in Tucson before the World Series. However, if the weather in Denver turns bad, it’s possible the Rockies could head to Tucson to get in some work.
There’s a chance the Rockies could play an intrasquad scrimmage with live pitching. Colorado’s bullpen, so instrumental to the team’s miraculous run, could use time to rest and recuperate.
“I think the guys could use a little break,” reliever LaTroy Hawkins said.
Detroit outfielder Curtis Granderson, working as a postseason analyst for ESPN, said Tuesday the Rockies need to work hard and stay in a regular routine. He added that the Rockies must hit against live pitching, not just take their hacks in the batting cage, to stay sharp.
“It’s amazing, in two or three days you can be gone and then it feels like you haven’t picked up a bat forever,” he said. “My suggestion is go at it and go at it hard, even if it’s just for one hour or two hours. Then you can have the rest of the day to enjoy yourself.”
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
