Colorado Rockies: Time For Atkins To Take A Seat

In baseball, pitchers live by the same three words that real estate agents live by. Location, location, location.

Hitters have their own three-word motto: execution, execution, execution.

Those three words have been lost on the Colorado Rockies in 2009. The leader of the pack has been stumbling third baseman Garrett Atkins.

In Wednesday's crushing 6-4 loss at the hands of the lowly Astros, Atkins continued his terrible season by not only going 0-for-4 to lower his batting average to a stunning .188, but he also left six men on base.

The number of runners left on base by Atkins is not the problem. Even the greatest hitters have games in which they leave several men on base. The difference is how bad Atkins has been in clutch situations.

The differences between good teams and bad teams in Major League Baseball are the ability to come from behind and the ability to continue scoring to bury a team.

On Wednesday, the Rockies adhered to the first part, scoring three runs in the fifth on a tape measure shot to the right field upper deck off the bat of Ian Stewart to erase a bad start by Jason Marquis, who allowed three runs in the first.

In the following inning the Rox got the offense going again. Dexter Fowler led off with a double, then moved to third on a Clint Barmes bunt that went unfielded for a base hit. Then Todd Helton did what he has done so many times and hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Fowler. At that point, the Rockies led 4-3 with a chance to add on.

After an intentional walk to Brad Hawpe, Garrett Atkins promptly hit a ground ball to third base, which was thrown home to force Barmes out who was moving on contact.

In the eighth inning, Helton reached base on a double, representing the tying run. Instead of the Astros going after Hawpe, they chose to walk him even though he was the go-ahead run, deciding to take their chances with Atkins.

To no one's surprise, Atkins hit a soft fly ball to left field to end the threat and squander the squad's best chance of tying the game and starting a rally.

His struggle at the plate isn't the biggest issue.

His larger problem is his bad attitude that he has let get the best of him.

In 2006, Jeff Francis signed a long-term deal with the club that went through his arbitration years and one year into free agency. When Atkins was offered a long-term deal of his own he was quoted as saying that he did not want to sell himself short the way that Francis had.

Again, after the 2007 season, Atkins was approached by the Rockies about a long-term deal. Atkins made it clear the numbers the team presented were nowhere near what he had been expecting.

After a 2008 season in which Atkins' numbers dropped for a third straight season, the Rockies seemed poised to dangle the third baseman at the trade deadline to a team that would be in the playoff hunt.

With a year and a half left before Atkins could become a free agent, and a career .291 batting average with power, Atkins seemed like easy trade bait.

In 2009, Atkins struggled early, familiar to his normal April struggles. Now in June, Atkins has yet to turn the corner. His batting average stands at a paltry .188. He has only 17 RBI and three home runs.

The problem may not be physical for Atkins. Instead, it seems that the battle for more money has gotten the best of him.

Garrett Atkins does not care.

Throughout his struggles, not once has he thrown a bat or helmet down in disgust. Not once has he argued with an umpire or ripped off his batting gloves.

While some say showing anger is a sign of immaturity, it is also a sign of passion. When Troy Tulowitzki hurt himself by breaking a bat in '08, fans called him immature, but in the same breath never questioned his commitment.

There was a great example of Atkin's lack of passion Wednesday.

Immediately after failing to hit a ball into the air and score Barmes from third base in the sixth inning, Atkins was on camera laughing and smiling with Astros first baseman Lance Berkman.

It was a view that would never be seen by the likes of Todd Helton or Brad Hawpe.

While Atkins claimed Francis sold himself short with a long-term deal, he may be singing a different song if his season does not turn around. Francis, out for the season, guaranteed himself a larger paycheck just in case something like this happened.

Atkins, who is still making a handsome $7.05 million, may be the one who sold himself short. Hitters who have no speed, are marginal fielders, and do not hit above the Mendoza line are not known for scoring large contracts in free agencies.

The way Atkins is playing he may be un-tradeable. At this point, new manager Jim Tracy should take the opportunity to bench the heartless Atkins and play someone who actually cares about the game and winning.