The Rockies are currently in third place in the National League West and they are very fortunate to be where they are.
They have a 51-63 record, yet only are eight games out of the division lead. Clearly, that doesn't say much for the Rockies and the two teams ahead of them, The Diamondbacks and the Dodgers. It really speaks badly of The Padres and the Giants, the two teams looking up at Colorado. Let's face it, this division is one of the worst Major League Baseball has had in years.
Today, due to their geographical place in baseball alignment, the Rockies have an outside shot at winning the division. If their compass was pointed anywhere but the National League West, that would not be feasible.
If the Rockies were in the National League East, they would be in fifth place and would be twelve games out of first place.
If the Rockies were in the National League Central,it would even worse. They would be in last place, behind such baseball stalwarts as the 2008 Pirates and Reds and a mind-boggling sixteen-and-ahalf games out of the top spot.
However, there is really no point playing hypothetical games like this (other than it shows you, even if the Rockies have been dealt a tough hand with poor pitching and injuries, it could be a lot worse).
The Rockies have got to be upset with the way they have played, nobody, including them, will probably dispute that. Sure, if they hadn't suffered injuries to Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki, Matt Holliday, and Jeff Francis, they would be in a better spot. Then again, if Arizona didn't cool off as much as they did after their torrid April start, they would be running away with the division. Bottom line, neither issue can be changed and therefore, neither team has been eliminated from contention.
The issue that makes this all the more frustrating for the Rockies is that they know that no matter how weak the division winner may be, once you get into the postseason, it really doesn't matter. The Rockies were the last of eight teams to make the postseason in 2007 and were feared by nobody. They were seen as a team on a roll that would eventually be cooled off----and they were-----though, only after they advanced to the World Series. They know that it can happen again and their inability to keep pace with teams that sportall not so gaudy over records of 58-54 (Diamondbacks) and 56-55 (Dodgers) is not only embarrassing, it's frustrating, and causing them to lose ground in the Matt Holliday sweepstakes.
After all of the adversity they have gone through and the criticism they have taken, after all of the underachieving they have partaken in, the goal of winning the division.....is still...possible.
How? The Rockies have 48 games to play. They have 27 games at home where they have been pretty solid. Of their final 48 games, only sixteen are against teams with wining records. Who might all of those sixteen be against? Yeah, you got it. Nine with the Diamondbacks and six with the Dodgers. No better way to catch the leaders than to beat them. The Rockies will get their chance, the question now becomes, will they make the most of that chance?
-"z"
