ATLANTA — The sudden and furious swing grew out of nowhere, a Yunel Escobar three-run home run lash that turned the Rockies’ open wound into a permanent scar. Turner Field will be remembered as the place Colorado’s 2008 season went to die.
Life over as contenders even before a 8-4 trouncing by the Braves, completing a dreadful sweep, the Rockies will spend the next 17 days focusing on their future.
The shifted focus began prior to Thursday’s game with Livan Hernandez banished from rotation, replaced by rookie Greg Reynolds. Willy Taveras was also re-inserted at the top of the lineup as the Rockies determine whether he fits into their plans next year.
March and September are historically baseball’s most deceiving months when evaluating personnel, but added exposure for Jason Hirsh, Steven Register and Dexter Fowler can begin to provide some answers going forward.
It can be argued what was more damaging to this season: poor starting pitching or lousy clutch hitting. Tomato, tomatoe, both were issues. The Rockies put strong faith in Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales in spring training, conviction that went largely unrewarded. Morales didn’t pitch in the big leagues after April, and in two weeks will continue refining his delivery in the instructional league.
Jimenez performed with few shades of gray. His outings have been either brilliant or difficult, but rarely in between. The right-hander labored Thursday, needing 96 pitches to navigate five innings.
His development, in particular his response to adversity, represents progress. But with no big money free-agents on the offseason agenda, he needs Morales, Reynolds or Hirsh to join him as a rotation cornerstone.
The bullpen will also require adjustments with closer Brian Fuentes certain to leave as a free agent given the anticipated interest from the Cardinals, Indians, Mets and Tigers.
Matt Herges’ option for next season will not be picked up. The right-hander, so critical to last September’s run, has been undermined by a bulging disc in his back that has sabotaged his command. Escobar blasted Herges’ hanging changeup as part of the Braves’ five-run sixth inning. After the third out, Herges walked slowly back to the dugout as if it might be his last time on a mound.
Taveras went 2-for-4 with a walk and his 67th stolen base. He’s a candidate to be traded this winter if the Rockies’ conclude he can’t be a catalyst at from the leadoff spot. Taveras is in line to make roughly $4 million next season, a heady figure with Ryan Spilborghs, Seth Smith and Fowler as possible alternatives. Hurdle remains intrigued by Taveras’ “dynamic speed,” but wants a minimum of a .350 on-base percentage from the outfielder.
“I have shown I can stay healthy this year, but I haven’t hit or bunted as well as I would have liked,” Taveras said. “I want to be their leadoff guy here, or if not, then somewhere else. I know I can be successful at it.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
