Last September, the Rockies connected the common fan to baseball again. For six weeks, they were “Hoosiers.” They couldn’t lose. Even today, they are a source of inspiration. Teams such as the Marlins insist they are still contenders because of what the Rockies pulled off.
But as the Rockies begin a three-game home series tonight against Houston, they are a source of frustration for the man who assembled the team, general manager Dan O’Dowd. If the Rockies were even mediocre, they would be strong bets to still be playing in October. Instead, they are a few loose pebbles away from falling out of contention, strapped with a 66-75 record, six games behind the division-leading Diamondbacks with just 21 remaining.
“It has been tough to watch,” O’Dowd said. “But we deserve to be right where we are.”
The season-long disappointment will acutely shape the team’s offseason and spring training plans. O’Dowd said a back-to-basics philosophy will be emphasized throughout every level of the organization. The emphasis will be on improving the overall approach on offense, specifically with runners in scoring position, and having pitchers throw more quality strikes early in counts.
“Last year, for those final two months, we played the game the right way. This year, we lost that early on and never got it back,” O’Dowd said. “Our execution has been abysmal.”
The idea is to create a brand of baseball that goes beyond individual players. It’s perhaps convenient because the Rockies are almost sure to trade Matt Holliday or Garrett Atkins this offseason. But it is also consistent with their business plan, following a model created by the Minnesota Twins. The Twins traded Johan Santana, arguably the game’s top pitcher, and lost center fielder Torii Hunter, their heartbeat, to free agency over the winter, yet they begin play today 1 1/2 games out of first place in the American League Central, a division they’ve won four of the past six years.
“They have created a culture,” O’Dowd said. “It’s something we need to do because we are always going to have personnel decisions here depending on where players are in service time that are never going away.”
O’Dowd didn’t shirk blame for the team’s struggles. He quickly cited his misses on free-agent starters Kip Wells, Mark Redman and Josh Towers, who cost a combined $4.5 million and went 3-7, prompting O’Dowd to rush top prospect Greg Reynolds, who was later sent back to Triple-A.
“There was a residual effect because of the failure of guys we signed,” O’Dowd said. “(Reynolds) needed to build up arm strength, and calling him up set him back.”
Perhaps nothing has been as perplexing this season as the Rockies’ offensive issues. A year after leading the National League in hitting (.280) and ranking second in runs (860), the Rockies are hitting .266 and are on pace to score 100 fewer runs. Their problems are magnified with runners in scoring position. Colorado ranked fifth in the NL last season with a .276 average. They’re currently batting .254 in those situations.
Their internal charts show hitters who have become more pull-conscious and have not used the gaps as frequently as a year ago. The shift became noticeable early. In April, the Rockies had one sacrifice fly through their first 25 games.
“We are going to stress the extreme basics. How to lead off an inning, how to beat a certain pitcher any given night. Having a plan and sticking to it,” O’Dowd said.
Rockies players indicated that they have been “aired out” about their offensive failings by manager Clint Hurdle on more than one occasion.
And while the hitters acknowledge that the lineup has not functioned well, they also point to their own pitching as a reason for the team’s collapse. The Rockies have been outscored 192-153 in the first two innings of games. That leaves them playing catch-up and facing opponents’ top relief pitchers.
Regardless, the pitching has not lived up to expectations, starting at the top. Jeff Francis, a 17-game winner a season ago, has four victories. The staff projects to finish with 546 walks after setting a franchise-best with 504 last year. Pitching coach Bob Apodaca explained that the free passes aren’t his only concern. He wants his pitchers to get into better counts and improve on putting hitters away once they reach two strikes.
The overall inability to pound the strike zone has affected the defense — nothing kills rhythm like standing around — which already has committed nine more errors than it did all of last season.
“The way we have executed is unacceptable,” O’Dowd said. “It’s going to be our primary focus going forward, regardless of which players are here.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
Looking ahead
TODAY: Astros at Rockies, 7 p.m., FSN
Astros right-hander Brian Moehler (10-5, 4.02 ERA) has been an essential part of Houston’s surprising second-half resurgence. He just received a one-year contract extension, with good reason. He’s won five of his last six decisions, with a 3.16 ERA in that seven- start stretch. He got roughed up a bit in his last start, serving up a three-run, first-inning homer to St. Louis’ Rick Ankiel. But Moehler settled down and gave up just four hits from the second through sixth innings. Against Colorado, he’s 1-1 with a 6.11 ERA in six career games, including two starts. Rockies right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez (9-12, 4.19) has a wide array of pitches, but when he lacks fastball command, he struggles. That’s exactly what’s happened in his last few starts. Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
Upcoming pitching matchups
Saturday:
Astros’ Roy Oswalt (13-9, 3.91) vs. Rockies’ Jeff Francis (4-8, 5.14), 6:05 p.m., KTVD-20
Sunday:
Astros’ Wandy Rodriguez (8-6, 3.76) vs. Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (8-7, 5.23), 1:05 p.m., FSN
Monday:
Off day
Tuesday:
Rockies’ Livan Hernandez (11-11, 6.16) vs. Braves’ Jorge Campillo (7-7, 3.67), 5 p.m., FSN
