Colorado Rockies Looking for More Mile High Magic

For the Colorado Rockies, there are six more games left in the regular season. Three games against the Milwaukee Brewers. Three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. For both of those teams, there is nothing to lose.

The Brewers are sitting 13 games back in the Central Division and 11 games back in the Wild Card race. With only six games left, the best the Brewers can hope for is to end the season on a winning streak.

The Dodgers have already clinched a Playoff Berth in the West. With an already guaranteed spot, their upcoming stand against the Rockies should not bother them.

The Rockies, however, have everything to lose.

Going into the next six games, the Rockies lead the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card but only by two games. 

The first obstacle the Rockies face is a home stand against the Brewers. Although the Rockies swept the Brewers in Milwaukee earlier this season, the key to winning these games comes down to the pitching success of Jason Marquis, Jason Hammel, and Aaron Cook.  

Pitching is not everything though. There must also be improvement by the Rockies line-up when runners are in scoring positions. The Rockies seem to have the bats to get on base, but have a weakness translating hits into runs.

The second obstacle may be the most difficult. The Rockies will be spending their last three regular season games on the road in Los Angeles, playing against a team they have already lost 12 games to this season.

Over the years, Colorado fans have seen it all. Eleven of the Rockies’ 17 seasons have been losing ones, with final records below .500. So far this century, the Rockies have only had two seasons above .500. If all goes well, this season will be their third season over .500.

Since 2000, the Rockies have spent many of their seasons coached by Clint Hurdle. It was under Hurdle that the Rockies made their first ever appearance in the World Series in 2007. They would go on to lose the series in four games against the Boston Red Sox.

But there has been a change this season. Hurdle is no longer the man in charge. Now the season’s success rides on his mid-season replacement Jim Tracy.

Each year the Rockies seem to go on big winning streaks and have plays that make the highlight reels. Each year the Rockies seem to crumble under varying degrees of pressure. Consistency has always been an issue with the Rockies, but will Tracy be able to get the boys under control and in line before its too late?

Winning the Wild Card is not impossible for the Rockies. In fact, they managed to win the Wild Card two years ago in spectacular fashion. Now, it is just a question of what the mile high magic can do for them this season.