Rockies Rumors: Will Colorado Trade Matt Holliday?

Not many saw it coming last September and October when the record-setting Colorado Rockies won the Wild Card and made it to the Fall Classic.

And not many would have expected to see the Rockies struggle this season, as the boys from the Mile High city are now dead last in the National League West.

In fact, the Rockies share the worst record in all of baseball with the equally hapless Seattle Mariners. Both clubs are 20-35.

Not only has it been a bad year for Colorado, the Rockies, losers of five straight, have seen a disastrous week.

Could anything top the events of the last few days?

On Monday, the Rocks dropped a 20-5 decision to old-timer Jamie Moyer and the Phillies in Philadelphia. It was the first time Colorado gave up three touchdowns minus an extra point in nearly six years.

Okay, that one was a write-off. But how do you explain the Rockies falling behind 7-zip (yet another TD) by the second inning the very next night?

Then it was a night of firsts on Wednesday, when the Phils swept Colorado for their first sweep of the year. Philadelphia scored first in the opening inning--the third straight game the Rocks allowed the Phils to tally in the first--and gave Adam Eaton his first victory of the year.

By Friday, it appeared Colorado was going to break the ugly slide as it jumped out to a seemingly insurmountable 8-0 lead by the 4th--and 9-1 the next inning--at Wrigley Field.

But nine runs--including four home runs--in the sixth and seventh innings gave the Cubs a shocking 10-9 come-from-behind victory, sending the reeling Rockies to their fifth straight defeat.

It is Colorado's second streak of five or more losses in the month. The defending NL champs have 14th losses in their last 19.

And oh, have I mentioned that slugger Matt Holliday, suffering from a strained left hamstring, had been placed on the 15-day DL on Sunday? 

Thanks to the Arizona Diamondbacks' recent struggles--the D-Backs have lost five straight of their own--the Rockies still have a shot, despite being 10 games out.

Just ask the 1995 Mariners, 1993 Atlanta Braves, and 1978 New York Yankees, who all overcame deficits of 10+ games in winning their divisions.

But there've been rumors of the Rockies perhaps dealing Holliday away, among others, if the team continues to plunge further in the standings.

Less than a year after the miracle rise to the top, do the Rockies have another one left, a la the aforementioned comeback teams?

Or will Holliday be slugging for another team come the end of July?

On Saturday, the Rockies will attempt to end their losing streak as they continue their series against the Cubs.

It looks to be another tough battle ahead, as the Rockies bring their 8-21 road record to face Ryan Dempster, owner of a 2.56 ERA this season.

And oh yeah, the Cubs are currently baseball's best team at 34-21.

For now, Colorado will be without the injured Holliday, who hit a total of 70 homers the last two seasons. Perhaps they'll need to learn now how to go through life without their star, as he may be gone soon enough if the losing continues.