Troy Tulowitzki Benched after Grounding into Double Play—Seriously?

Troy Tulowitzki comes up to the plate in the eighth inning in last night's game against the Atlanta Braves.

Down 8-1 already, Tulo swings at a high strike, and grounds into a double play.

What does manager Clint Hurdle decide to do?  Bench one of the only bright spots on the team.

News flash, Clint: If the City of Denver could fire you as easily as you benched Tulo, we would've done it earlier.  

The Rockies are 15-23, and 11-and-a-half games out of the first-place Dodgers' grasp. 

Tulowitzki has five home runs, 13 RBI, and had an on-base percentage of .336.

Hurdle started shortstop Omar Quintanilla in place of Tulowitzki.  A slumping Garrett Atkins also received the start at third, despite a .192 batting average.  

Another great idea, Hurdle.  Let's start Atkins over a guy who has seven home runs and 20 RBI in Ian Stewart.

Honestly, this move baffles me.  Tulowitzki wasn't trying to be a rebel, or be a me-first thinker, if that's what Hurdle was thinking.  

Hurdle has been teaching the premise of swinging at smart, hittable pitches, and Tulowitzki's pitch wasn't even that bad.

This is the last thing the struggling Rockies needed.  Hurdle has gotten more than enough time here in Colorado.  It's time for change.