For the New York Yankees, with their Fort Knox payroll of nearly $207 million this season, the window to the World Series is always wide open.
For mid-market teams like the Rockies, with an $83 million payroll, the window remains open for only so long.
That’s what bugged me after watching their futile effort in a 1-0 loss to the Mets Tuesday night that not only cost Ubaldo Jimenez a chance to improve to 18-2, but was the lastest pratfall in a season full of missed opportunites.
I fear the Rockies’ wonderful window of opportunity is closing. Who knows when it will crack open again?
This was supposed to be the Rockies’ year. Knowledgeable folks, including ESPN hardball guru Buster Olney, picked the Rockies as their World Series darling. We were all sucked in. I know I was. Most of you must have been, too. After all, the Rockies are averaging 35,392 fans a game at Coors Field, their best home attendance since 2001. TV ratings are up as well.
The Rockies were on the verge of being hip, cool, happening and exciting. They seemed to be heading for the playoffs for the third time in four seasons. They have a terrific trio of stars with Ubaldo on the hill, Tulo at short and CarGo the outfield. These three core players are young, exciting, dynamic and immensely likeable.
Heck, this whole team is easy to root for.
But the terrific trio’s supporting cast has been hugely disappointing. Veterans Aaron Cook and Jeff Francis have pitched like journeymen. Todd Helton’s career might be nearing its end, not with a bang, but sadly, with the occasional single.
Third baseman Ian Stewart, catcher Chris Iannetta and outfielders Brad Hawpe, Dexter Fowler, Seth Smith and Ryan Spilborghs are the poster boys of inconsistency.
Either this team isn’t as good as we thought at the beginning of the season, or they have regressed as the summer has worn on.
Either way, the window is about to slam shut on a golden opportunity. Who knows when another one will come along?
Trivia time
Heading into tonight’s game against the Mets, CarGo leads the National League in batting with a .326 average. The last Rockies player to win a batting title was Matt Holliday, who hit .340 in 2007. Before Holliday, who was the last Rockie to win the batting crown? (Answer below)
Polling
Our recent Post Poll asked readers if the Rockies need to make big changes in the offseason. With more than 1,000 votes cast, more than 70 percent said making changes is a “big-time priority.”
Quotable
In a comment posted on his Twitter account Tuesday, Miami Heat star LeBron James said: “Don’t think for one min that I haven’t been taking mental notes of everyone taking shots at me this summer. And I mean everyone!”
I guess that includes me. And Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan and just about everybody from Cleveland.
This guy has morphed from a terrific, likeable talent into another prima donna athlete. Remember when Tiger Woods admitted during his public apolgy that he felt he was “entitled.” Apparently, LeBron wasn’t listening.
Reader’s rant
“Maybe it’s time to realize some of our hitters have been figured out by pitching scouts and may not be major league caliber. That is why we are making so many pitchers look like Cy Young. Too bad (management) hasn’t come to that conclusion.” — Steve R, posting after the Rockies loss to the Mets Tuesday night.
In case you missed it
Raiders owner Al Davis — yes the original Darth Raider in a black sweat suit — is crowing about ‘Da Raiders.
“I really liken this team a great deal to the team of 1980, in which the great Jim Plunkett pulled us out of the doldrums, took us to the Super Bowl as a wild card, and we had so many great players who eventually made their way into the Hall of Fame,” Davis said in an interview with Sirius NFL Radio.
Davis even sees some of Plunkett in Jason Campbell, the Raiders’ new starting quarterback.
“I see this young Jason Campbell as a football player like I saw Jim Plunkett. He has everything. He was 13-0 in college, at Auburn, he can throw up the field, he can run, he’s big, he’s smart,” Davis told Sirius. “I really predict great things for him. I hope he doesn’t let me down. I don’t think he will.”
I hate to be the one to say this, but it sure wouldn’t shock me to see the Raiders finish above the Broncos in the AFC West.
Trivia Answer
Larry Walker, who hit .350 in 2001
Patrick Saunders’ Lunch Special runs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You can reach him at 303-954-1720 or psaunders@denverpost.com
