For your Colorado Rockies, April losses are as commonplace as April (snow) showers. In the club’s first 17 seasons, it’s had a winning April just five times. The franchise’s overall April record is 178-209 (.459)
But this spring, hope really is in full bloom, and not just because — on paper — the Rockies look like a contender. They have a favorable schedule, too.
ESPN’s Buster Olney did the legwork on all the team’s early-season schedules and the Rockies’ road doesn’t look rocky at all. In fact, they have the fourth-easiest early-season schedule in the National League. Again, on paper.
Writes Olney: “19 of their first 37 games are at home. Games against teams that finished over .500 in 2009: 15 of their first 37.
“Meat-grinder stuff: Colorado, like the Dodgers, has a very nice early schedule, with 14 of its first 37 games against the Nationals and Padres. But from April 30 thru May 9, the Rockies do have a classic NL West road trip that takes them through San Francisco, San Diego and L.A.”
Rockies manager Jim Tracy is acutely aware his team must get out of the gate quickly for a change. He addressed that very topic in The Post’s first addition of last month
“Driving that point home from Day 1 of spring training I think will help to create the mind set that we want to have on April 5th in Milwaukee,” Tracy said. “I think another goal for the spring is to make sure that when we near the end of it that our players have a good understanding as to their specific responsibilities going into the season. I really believe that that creates a comfort level for a player and allows him to relax. As a result, you see the best of his abilities come forth.”
Trivia time
April hasn’t been all bad for all Rockies. Name the Colorado rookie who hit .410 with four homers and 14 RBIs in April 2005. (Answer below)
Polling
Monday’s “Lunch Special” poll asked readers to select which Denver athlete should be the next to have his number retired. After nearly 500 votes were cast, it remained a tight race. Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar was No. 1 (35.4 percent), followed by Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe (28.8) and Rockies first baseman Todd Helton (22.1).
Polling II
Here’s an update on a poll we first trotted out last month. We asked you what position the Broncos should fill with their first-round draft pick. With more than 3,500 votes cast, 36.8 percent said the Broncos should pick the best player on the board, while 34.8 percent said the first-rounder should be a defensive lineman. Quarterback? 21.45 percent.
Quotable
“I can at least look out the window of this plane I’m flying on tonight and enjoy myself.” – Colorado basketball coach Jeff Bzdelik after
Blog spot
Chris Dempsey weighs in on how the Oklahoma City Thunder is a to the Nuggets’ championship aspirations. Check out his take on the “All Things Nuggets” blog.
In case you missed it
The woeful New Jersey Nets — they are 6-53 — are trying anything and everything to put some fannies in the seats. Their latest gimmick: free tax returns.
The Nets have combined with Roni Deutch Tax Center to offer a free New Jersey income tax return to state residents 18 years and older who attend their game against the Orlando Magic on Friday night at the Izod Center. According to The Associated Press, fans won’t get their state taxes done on the spot. They’ll be given a coupon for a free state tax return. The cost is usually $29.
This day in sports
On March 3, 1974, George Foreman demolished Ken Norton with a second-round knockout to retain the heavyweight title. Watch the destruction
Trivia answer
Clint Barmes, whose April heroics included hitting a walk-off, two-run homer off Padres closer Trevor Hoffman on opening day. Barmes became the first rookie in major-league history to hit a walk-off homer on opening day.
Patrick Saunders: 303-954-1720 or psaunders@denverpost.com Hungry for more? .
