The line of players stretched for several yards on the outfield warning track, all throwing shirts and sheepishly waving goodbye Wednesday afternoon.
The Rockies were ushering out their home season, thanking their fans. An apology seemed more appropriate. The Rockies commemorated fan appreciation week by posting the worst homestand in franchise history. Seven games, seven losses, many red faces.
“This is tough. Really, really tough. It hurts,” manager Jim Tracy said after the Rockies fell 4-0 to the San Diego Padres. “They are as good a group of fans as I have ever been around. We let them down.”
The juxtaposition between the players’ final lap and opening day was striking. Outside the stadium Wednesday, three hours before first pitch, not a single person was waiting to buy tickets.
Inside, the crowd was late arriving, many sections empty as Aaron Cook took the mound at home for likely the last time as a Rockie. The start was a thank-you for his accomplishments, for posting more victories than any other Colorado pitcher.
April 1 felt like six months and forever ago.
The Rockies began the season with wild expectations, playing before a standing-room-only crowd against a homecoming opponent, the lowly Arizona Diamondbacks, who are now on verge of winning the National League West.
“I am sure we feel like they did at the end of last year,” said shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who played five innings to test out his sore left hip, his first action of the homestand. “A lot of things have gone wrong. But it doesn’t mean we can’t bounce back.”
The challenge is daunting given the team’s free-fall. The Rockies had the best record in baseball through 13 games and are now facing a first-to-worst reality in the NL West if they stumble on a season-ending seven-game road trip through Houston and San Francisco.
“This year hasn’t gone like any of us expected,” Cook said. “My shoulder was hurt in spring, then I broke my finger and I never really pitched like I thought I would.”
He’s one of many players who underachieved. Many of the team’s productive players were were slowed by injuries over the past week, including Tulo. Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez played one game on the homestand before reinjuring his right wrist, and Todd Helton remains unavailable because of a stiff back that an MRI showed has no structural damage. It’s possible that neither will play again this season.
The Rockies were outscored 49-19 in the seven losses to the San Francisco Giants and last-place Padres, who sit just 2 1/2 games behind the Rockies. An ugly first inning spoiled Cook’s start. The Padres tagged him for four runs on four hits before he got back on track, holding San Diego scoreless over the next four innings.
“I hope it wasn’t my last start here. I said before I would like to be a Rockie for life,” Cook said. “But I know it’s a business.”
Cook struck out eight batters, his most ever at Coors Field. It was another surreal statistic in a season covered in them. Pinch-hitter Ty Wigginton struck out looking in the ninth. He has just 18 hits in 112 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
Before the game, an animated Tracy talked about how the players need to learn from their mistakes and adopt a better hitting approach. During the game, it was more of the same ineptitude that has plagued the team all season.
Seven games remain. Avoiding last place is the only attainable goal left.
“It does leave a sour taste in the mouth,” Tracy said. “It also spurs you on. We need to fix what we think is not right over the winter and fix it very quickly because of the fans and their support.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
