Blame it on “Rocktober.”
How else to explain the Rockies’ dogged belief that they have a legitimate chance to win the National League West?
How else to grasp the concept that the Rockies view a three-game set against division-leading Arizona, which begins tonight at Coors Field, as a springboard for another historic run?
“The three-game series is an opportunity for us to get things right,” manager Clint Hurdle said Sunday after the Rockies were drubbed 16-7 by San Diego. “And if it gets away from us then, we’ll know where we are at the end of those three games. It could be sobering, and it could be something to hold onto and look forward.”
The obstacles are daunting. The Rockies’ record is 53-67, and they have not been at .500 since April 20, when they were 9-9. On June 30, the Rockies fell 19 games below .500. The 1914 Boston Braves are the only team to fall as many as 16 games below .500 (12-28 on June 8) and come back to win a pennant.
But last season’s magical run, in which they won 21-of-22 games to reach the World Series, provided the Rockies with purple-colored glasses they still slip on when the going gets tough.
“Hopefully there’s still some magic left,” shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. “But as of right now, we haven’t done a good job of bringing it back to the table. We’re losing time, quick.”
The only reason the Rockies can see first place, without the use of a high-powered telescope, is because the rest of the National League West has been decidedly ordinary. The Diamondbacks had lost four straight until ace Brandon Webb rescued them with a superb start Sunday, winning his 17th game of the season as Arizona whipped Atlanta 6-1.
The Diamondbacks are 8-1 against the Rockies so far this season, and the Rockies are 12-26 vs. the rest of the NL West. Those facts add to the importance of this series.
“They’re pretty big games,” Tulowitzki said. “Arizona is the team we’re trying to catch, and we’re not doing a very good job of gaining ground, so we have to sweep.”
The Diamondbacks, who fortified their rotation by adding pitcher Dan Haren during the offseason, added slugger Adam Dunn to their lineup Monday. Arizona acquired the 28-year-old outfielder, who is tied for the major-league lead with 32 home runs, from Cincinnati for three prospects.
The Rockies aligned their rotation so their top three starters would face Arizona. Ubaldo Jimenez throws tonight, followed by Jeff Francis on Wednesday and Aaron Cook on Thursday. That looks good on paper, but the trio has gone 0-4 so far on a disappointing homestand that Hurdle called “one of the most difficult weeks we’ve had here in a long time.”
Asked if he thinks the Rockies still have a legitimate chance to make the playoffs, Francis replied, “Of course I do. That’s the reason we go out and play every night. I think everybody in this clubhouse feels that way.”
That optimism will be challenged over the next three days.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1428 or psaunders@denverpost.com
TODAY: Diamondbacks at Rockies, 7:05 p.m., FSN
Get a long look at Arizona’s Randy Johnson (9-8, 4.24 ERA). He will quite possibly be the last man to reach 300 wins, sitting just seven shy. Johnson’s back has held up this season. After a winless June, he’s 5-2 with a 2.91 ERA in his past seven outings. Right-handed hitters Garrett Atkins (.333) and Yorvit Torrealba (.316) have enjoyed mild success against the 44-year-old. Ubaldo Jimenez (8-10, 3.86) is looking to rebound from a season-high six walks in his last start. If Jimenez commands his fastball, he’s one of the NL’s most dominant pitchers.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Wednesday:
Diamondbacks’ Doug Davis (4-7, 4.75 ERA) vs. Rockies’ Jeff Francis (3-8, 5.81), 7:05 p.m, FSN
Thursday:
Diamondbacks’ Dan Haren (12-6, 3.00) vs. Rockies’ Aaron Cook (14-8, 3.87), 1:05 p.m., FSN
Friday:
Rockies’ Glendon Rusch (5-3, 5.22) at Nationals’ Tim Redding (8-7, 4.61), 5:35 p.m., FSN
Saturday:
Rockies’ Livan Hernandez (10-9, 5.94) at Nationals’ John Lannan (6-11, 3.40), 5:10 p.m., FSN
