TUCSON — And on the eighth day the Rockies rested.
Good idea.
They couldn’t lose.
They did lose a week’s worth of exhibitions before the offday Wednesday (although the other seven could be characterized as way-off days).
Truth is, they haven’t played very well.
“It’s only spring training” is the Rox’s Gregorian chant.
But it’s also only spring training for the teams that won. Games played in February and March do not count, but if the Rox play the same way in April and May, manager Clint Hurdle can quit counting. He’ll be gone.
Truth is, the Rockies have some legitimate excuses for the wretched 0-7 spring start.
The 8-6 loss to Milwaukee here earlier this week was a prime example.
Paul Phillips was the Rockies’ catcher. When a couple of Rockies fans sitting behind the first-base dugout asked who he was, I could only reply: “I’ve never heard of Paul Phillips,” which was an indictment either of me, or Paul Phillips. After looking up his bio in the Rox media guide, I decided it was an indictment of him. I do not keep up with 31-year-old career minor-league catchers who have played 62 games in the majors, all but four with Kansas City.
The Rockies’ lineup featured two probable opening-day starters — Ryan Spilborghs in center and Seth Smith in left. Milwaukee had a whole slew of starters.
Todd Helton, recovering from back surgery, hasn’t made an appearance. Brad Hawpe’s hand was stepped on at second base the other day, and seven stitches were sewn into his pinkie. Chris Iannetta is with the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic. Spilborghs was away briefly after the death of his mother.
The Rockies have traveled to the Phoenix area for four games, and they usually don’t force Garrett Atkins, Troy Tulowitzki and Clint Barmes to endure that monotonous five-hour round trip on a bus. Each has participated for a few innings in four games.
Ian Stewart hasn’t batted yet because of a tender left arm. Jeff Baker is out with swelling in an elbow.
It’s impossible to judge the Rockies’ batting order with most of the key parts not playing.
Smith is hitting .400, but most of the starters are struggling. The Rockies basically are playing with a Triple-A lineup.
Pitching is another thing. Seven pitchers, including four possible fifth starters, own earned-run averages of exactly 9.00. Greg Reynolds, Greg Smith, Franklin Morales and Jorge De La Rosa have looked shaky in seven total appearances. Jason Hirsh, another fifth starter candidate, has a 13.50 ERA. And Josh Fogg’s 36.00 doesn’t bode well for him making the team.
Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez, the top two in the rotation, have been fine, and Jason Marquis, No. 3, didn’t give up a run in his three innings of work.
The bullpen has been sketchy.
It’s only spring training.
There’s the template thing. Rockies hitters were ordered to take the first strike, and Rockies pitchers were commanded to throw fastballs and pitches out, then in. Obviously, opposing teams figured out what the Rockies were doing and adjusted.
Then there’s the crowd thing.
At the Rockies’ second home game at Hi Corbett Field, the attendance was announced as 2,900. That must have incorporated 1,500 birds and varmints. The ballpark was deader than the purple flowers on Picacho Peak. It was so quiet you could hear a 55-foot slider drop. People are not going to the Rockies’ games here, because of the economy, and because of the Rockies.
Then there’s the defensive thing. Nine errors in seven games, and several errant throws from the outfield, can’t be blamed on a template.
And there’s the Holliday thing.
Like or hate the deal, like or hate the Rockies, like or hate the ownership, the general manager, the manager or me, life its own self is not the same without Matt Holliday on this team.
He was a major presence at the plate and in the dugout and the clubhouse.
He is a major absence in Tucson.
He was always spittin’ seeds and hittin’ seeds.
Mr. Sunflower is gone.
He is missed. And nobody — Tulowitzki included — has taken over his strong, silent leadership role and spot in the batting order.
Finally, there is the prediction thing. If, after seven consecutive losses to begin the spring, anyone who can say now that the Rockies will finish with 74 victories (as in 2008) or 90 (as in 2007) should be attacked by a Gila monster. Who knows? We do know that the Los Angeles Dodgers just got a whole lot better by signing Manny Ramirez.
“Progress is slow,” Rox GM Dan O’Dowd said this week.
It’s only spring training.
Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com
