The Rockies are in third place in the National League West, but, if it’s any consolation, they lead the division, if not the major leagues, in closed-door meetings.
They’ve had four so far this season, the most recent coming last Tuesday. Why so many?
“Because it isn’t early anymore,” manager Jim Tracy said.
In fact, it’s later than the calendar claims. The clock is ticking on any number of Rockies players’ days in Denver.
This season, unlike so many others in recent Rockies history, isn’t about making a run in August and September. Because between now and then is a little matter called the trading deadline. That’s why Tracy put the players on notice again last week. If they don’t starting winning, and soon, some players don’t figure to be around in August. And they know it.
“This team is built to win now,” veteran Jason Giambi said. “If we don’t win, they’re not going to just sit there and watch. They’re going to make changes.”
Said shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, when asked if some of his teammates were looking over their shoulders: “They should be. That’s how the big leagues is. If you’re not playing good baseball, they’ll find someone who’s going to.
“It would be one thing if we were in a rebuilding process where getting better or playing .500 was acceptable, but we’re not that organization anymore. We have a lot of talent and a lot of expectations.”
What you have, then, is essentially two seasons: the one between now and the trading deadline at the end of July, and the one after the deadline passes. Yes, it would be out of character for the Rockies to make a big splash before the deadline — acquiring Rafael Betancourt in 2009 is the most significant deal they’ve made in recent years — but times, and expectations, are different this season.
Which means if the team continues to spin its wheels, general manager Dan O’Dowd could be in a proactive mode before the trading deadline.
“What it boils down to is this: Where does this all go between now and that time (the deadline)?” Tracy said. “Another X amount of weeks go by and now it’s post all-star break. Where are the Rockies sitting at that point in time?
“Instead of just having let-me-feel-you-out type of conversations when a guy calls, are we having something more substantial? Where we sit (in the standings) will go a long way in determining how intense those conversations become. We’ve got a window here where you have to find out.”
Roster has evolved
If only it were that simple. The Rockies not only need to get rolling, they’ll have to do it with a dramatically different team from the one that headed north from Scottsdale, Ariz., at the end of March.
Five players have been added to the roster in the past three weeks. Another, Clayton Mortensen, opened the season in Triple-A before being called up in May. That’s virtually one-fourth of the roster that wasn’t at Coors Field on opening day.
The Rockies have a new starting left fielder (Charlie Blackmon), a new second baseman (Chris Nelson), a new starting pitcher (Juan Nicasio) and a new lefty in the bullpen (Rex Brothers). But that only begins to tell the story. Carlos Gonzalez has a new position (center field) and a new spot in the batting order (leadoff). Todd Helton has a new position in the lineup (third) that isn’t so new at all.
Jhoulys Chacin, the No. 3 starter coming out of spring training, is the team’s ace in the aftermath of Jorge De La Rosa’s season-ending elbow injury and Ubaldo Jimenez’s precipitous fall from the ranks of the game’s elite starters. Jimenez may be the most popular topic of conversation among his teammates — and for all the wrong reasons.
Nicasio? A month ago, he was hoping for a promotion to Triple-A. Today, he has one more win in four starts (two) than Jimenez had in 12. Ian Stewart? Going into spring training, the coaches penciled him in for 20 to 25 homers. If he hits that many, it will be at Colorado Springs.
Changing mentality with new parts
Add it all up and the Rockies, simply put, are going to have to reinvent themselves as they muddle along.
“Yeah, you do it on the fly a little bit because the personnel has changed,” Tracy said. “Experience-wise, there’s going to be some time there that has to matriculate in order to allow some of these kids to grow.”
One of the Rockies’ quiet strengths in recent years has been the continuity on the roster, which has created an inherent trust factor among the players. But suddenly they find themselves playing with unproven players getting used to major-league pressure.
Said Gonzalez: “It’s really unbelievable what’s happened. You have to change your whole mentality. You have to make adjustments and play with a different group. It’s really hard. You have to learn how to win.
“When teams are going good, it’s because they’ve been playing together for a long time and they know how to handle the pressure. But we have to make adjustments if we’re going to put the team in a good position.”
All the new parts haven’t just changed who the Rockies are. They’ve changed how they approach the game. To wit: They had slowed to a crawl on the basepaths in May, stealing only 13 bases in 22 attempts. But with Blackmon, Nelson and occasionally Eric Young Jr. in the lineup, they’ve returned to their running ways, stealing 11 bases in six games going into the weekend.
The Rockies don’t know what the future holds, the near version or the distant one. Amid all that uncertainty, they have to find a way to starting winning consistently . . . or else.
“It’s been unexpected, what’s happened this season,” pitcher Jason Hammel said. “Obviously, we’re shocked, but we can’t let that affect us. Everybody has a job they’ve been told to do, and it’s expected for us to find a way to get it done.”
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
Twists and turns
The Rockies have had to endure several unforeseen developments that have contributed to their sub-.500 record:
1. Ubaldo Jimenez’s struggles
27-14, 3.34 ERA at Coors Field through 2010. This year? Try 0-5, 7.05.*
2. Jorge De La Rosa’s season-ending injury
Appeared headed for 16-17 wins, 200-plus innings.
3. Ian Stewart’s disappearing act
It isn’t injuries anymore. Struggles with inside pitches have kept him in minors.
4. Jose Lopez’s lack of production
Was worth the gamble, but Rox will eat $2 million-plus of his contract.
5. Dexter Fowler’s regression
Speed translates in the field but not in the batter’s box or on the bases.
*Going into Saturday night’s game
Jim Armstrong, The Denver Post
