MIAMI — Nearly four hours before Thursday’s first pitch, Rockies’ players let out a mock cheer, thrilled that closer Brian Fuentes survived the trading deadline.
Their affection for him is genuine, his presence reinforcing that the Rockies’ front office believes they can win the National League West.
Then came the game. Or more accurately, the Rocky Jorge Pitcher Show.
The Rockies were mauled 12-2 by the Florida Marlins in a pitching performance that was gruesome and embarrassing.
Jorge De La Rosa lasted just five outs before manager Clint Hurdle mercifully pulled the ripcord. At least, it looked like De La Rosa. The notion that he has an evil twin is becoming more plausible with each appearance. In De La Rosa’s five wins, he owns a 3.07 ERA. In his six losses, he has a 10.10 ERA.
Few defeats have been as ugly or ill-timed. Needing to keep pace with the Diamondbacks and Dodgers, De La Rosa surrendered five hits and walked in two runs. With runners on base, his mechanics dissolved. He began dragging his arm in his delivery, aiming his pitches and sabotaging the command on all of his pitches.
By time he left the Rockies had no chance, down 7-0 against a Marlins’ team that impresses everyone in baseball except the locals (the picnic-sized crowd was announced at 13,634). Through four innings every Marlins’ position player but Wes Helms has knocked in at least one run.
De La Rosa’s meltdown underscores the importance of Jeff Francis’ return. Francis cruised through his final Double-A rehab outing Thursday — six innings, no runs, nine strikeouts on 101 pitches — leaving him in line to start Tuesday at Coors Field against the Washington Nationals.
“There’s no way (to underestimate) how much we need to get him back,” general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “We believe we can win but we have to be healthy and get our rotation straightened out.”
Even before De La Rosa threw a pitch, O’Dowd felt angst over not landing a fifth starter. He was rebuffed in his attempts to land Pittsburgh’s Ian Snell, Washington’s Tim Redding, Seattle’s Jarrod Washburn, Cleveland’s Paul Byrd and Cincinnati’s Josh Fogg. The acquisition price was extreme for Redding and Washington — top prospect Ian Stewart for Redding and multiple prospects and no salary relief for Washburn. Byrd was intriguing, but turns out his limited no-trade clause includes the Rockies. Surprisingly, Fogg wasn’t really available, the Reds reluctant to part with him until Aaron Harang returns.
There’s still a chance the Rockies can secure Fogg in a waiver-wire deal.
To have any chance of contending, the Rockies need better pitching from starters other than Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez, particularly on the road. Beyond those two, the rest of the rotation is 5-17 in visiting parks. Any chance of De La Rosa reversing that trend vanished with a six-run second inning.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
