'Rocktober' Proves Fleeting Yet Again…

As another captivating ‘Rocktober’ comes to a close in the beautiful Rocky Mountain region, I feel as though I'm far from the only neutral observer left with a feeling of sadness and emptiness with what's transpired yet again.

Sure, the Phillies, Dodgers, Angels and Yankees provide us with great storylines:  The rematch of last year’s NLCS with the Dodgers looking to return the favor from last year’s failure; the game’s most expensive team representing its most successful franchise, as it looks to return to the promised land perhaps one last time for King George; and those steady Angels, the Yankees’ post-season kryptonite in recent years, employing a “Scoscian” style of play recognized by success in stealing the extra base, sacrificing, succeeding with RISP, all hallmarks of an Angels ball club that’s been as stoic and steady as any this decade.

Yet to me, it’s the Rockies that seem to generate the most excitement during post-season play in recent years.

Perhaps it’s the team’s exotic home base in the Rocky Mountains, an area far from the major media markets that's not exactly conducive to outdoor sports without a pigskin or skis.

Maybe it’s that “small-market” mentality, as the Rockies are a team not necessarily built with the greatest talent in the game, but one with a commitment to a fundamental, team-oriented, heart-on-your-sleeve brand of baseball.

Maybe it’s the late season magical winning streak the Rockies had in ’07 that’s seemed to reappear in ’09.

Perhaps it’s Todd Helton, one of the game’s most underappreciated players who provides the franchise not only with a consistently outstanding offensive output year after year, but shows a commitment to his Colorado ballclub and the region; plus, he sports a legendary mountain man beard which would impress even Grizzly Adams himself. Helton has become an ambassador to the area, and his calm, unassuming demeanor as well as his overall appearance transforms him into the ideal Coloradoan, perhaps a figure you’d encounter in a Coors ad.

Maybe it’s Jim Tracy, the once proud manager whose demise came at the hands of the Dodgers and the Pirates, more recently. Tracy’s reputation was all but tarnished after his horrendous tenure in Pittsburgh. After the team struggled mightily out of the gate, Clint Hurdle, the field sergeant presiding over the splendid run in ’07, was canned, and in came the all-but-forgotten Jim Tracy. Yet to the surprise of everyone outside of perhaps the team’s front office and Tracy himself, the Rockies went on a second-half tear that proved eerily similar to their ’07 run all the way to the pennant. The team went 74-42 after Tracy took over the reigns, and rocked and rolled its way into the postseason.

Like almost all clubs, the Rockies had their fair share of injuries. Ace Jeff Francis and team wins leader Jorge de la Rosa went down at critical junctures during the team’s season. Yet what makes Tracy’s success all the more impressive is that the offensive output aided by Denver’s 5280 foot elevation was put forth without a Matt Holliday in the middle of the lineup. Instead, names like Carlos Gonzalez and Dexter Fowler (5^th in SB and triples in the NL) aided the captain Todd Helton, and young star Troy “Tulo” Tulowitzki;  and while the Rockies won’t sport a player with 100 rbi’s or more, at least five will have at least 70.

In addition, the Rockies threw out a vastly improved pitching staff, as all five starting pitchers would garner at least ten wins or more, a rarity for any ballclub, especially one having to deal with the mile-high-air for at least 81 games per year.

It’s difficult to pinpoint one particular reason as to why we fall for the Rockies during this time of the year. Perhaps it’s a combination of everything I’ve mentioned above. Perhaps there are other reasons at play here. Will we pull for this club and this franchise if they’re ever a “favorite” come playoff time? Do we simply love them for their underdog, under-the-radar status? Are we afraid they’ll never win “the big one” as long as they’re forced to play in the unique mile-high elements?

Whatever the reason for our post-season love affair with the Rockies, I’m sad to see ‘Rocktober’ come and go without a trophy once again. The team and the city bring something unique to post-season baseball; they bring a breath of fresh air to the sport’s coastal dominance that’s difficult to describe.

But I guess there’s always next ‘Rocktober’…