Rockies enter break on four-game skid after Mets sweep

By Tracy Ringolsby, Rocky Mountain News

Published July 13, 2008 at 8:45 p.m.

Text size  

• 9 Comments
• Email
• Print

Photo by Ed Betz © AP

Rockies pitcher Mark Redman stands on the mound as the Mets' Carlos Beltran rounds third base after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning of New York's win over Colorado on Sunday at Shea Stadium in New York. The Rockies have now lost four games in a row heading into the All-Star break.

The Rockies cannot complain about the All-Star break taking away their momentum.

They don't have any.

In a season in which they have clung to hope because the rest of the National League West has been bad, the Rockies stumbled into the break Sunday, suffering a 7-0 loss to the New York Mets.

It was the Rockies' final scheduled game at Shea Stadium, where they were three-hit by Dwight Gooden in the first game in franchise history, on April 5, 1993.

The Mets will move into a new ballpark next year.

The Rockies are looking to renew their season right now.

"We've got three days to feel better ourselves," manager Clint Hurdle said. "We have to come back and play with a sense of urgency."

The Rockies go into the break on a four-game losing streak, 81/2 games back of first-place Arizona and 18 games below .500 (39-57).

Only twice in franchise history have the Rockies been further below .500 at the break - 31-56 in 2005 and 22-54 in 1993. And only twice in their previous 15 years have the Rockies cut games off their deficit in an attempt to get to first place after the break.

They went from 8 1/2 to seven games out in 1997. And last year, when the Rockies won their first NL pennant, they went from 5 1/2 games out at the break to one-half game back of division-winning Arizona. That required them to win 14 of their final 15 regular-season games.

"We need to make a statement a lot quicker than that," Hurdle said.

The Rockies were silenced in the series by the Mets, who allowed them one run - a Brad Hawpe home run - and 10 hits, holding the Rockies scoreless for the final 22 innings. The Rockies scored only twice in their four-game losing streak.

And to think, five days ago they were feeling good about the future. They started July by winning seven of nine games, scoring 68 runs and hitting 19 home runs.

It is similar to late last month, when the Rockies lost eight in a row, rebounded to win 12 of the next 15, then went on another eight-game losing streak to end the month.

"We've constantly gotten in our own way," Hurdle said. "What's behind us is behind us. We can't change that. What we can do something about is what is ahead of us."

Mark Redman, given a second chance to prove he belongs in the rotation, would like to forget his 3 1/3-inning effort against the Mets in which he gave up five runs.

Carlos Beltran provided the early stagger with a three-run home run, only the second he has hit off a left-handed pitcher this season.

Meanwhile, Mike Pelfrey allowed six hits in eight innings, continuing what has been as good a roll as any pitcher has been on in the past month.

He has won his past six starts, two against the Rockies, who have been held scoreless in 13 1/3 innings by him.

The Rockies are at the opposite end of the spectrum. Their season has been filled with unmet expectations, punctuated by injuries to key players, including currently disabled first baseman Todd Helton, left-handed starter Jeff Francis, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and outfielder Ryan Spilborghs.

"It's good to get three days right now to take some time for the guys who are dinged up to heal, and the guys who are hurt to get closer to coming back," Hurdle said.

It's also a time for a realignment of the rotation, which won't be easy. All-Star Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez are set. Glendon Rusch, who allowed one run in six innings Wednesday in his first start since being called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs, has perked interest.

But left-handers Redman and Jorge De La Rosa are in limbo. Redman allowed 11 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings of three starts since returning from the minor leagues. De La Rosa has allowed 18 earned runs, 31 hits and eight walks in 18 1/3 innings his past four starts.

Other than the hoped-for return of Francis - which will require De La Rosa or Redman to make at least one more start - the Rockies' only other option is Kip Wells, who has struggled to get out Triple-A hitters on his medical rehabilitation assignment at Colorado Springs.

He is 0-3 with an 8.84 ERA for the Sky Sox, but Hurdle has said Wells will get a chance in the major league rotation after one more start, with Double-A Tulsa on Thursday.

"We've got some issues to address and decisions to make," Hurdle said.

• July 13, 2008

  9:01 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  fastnloose writes:

  Just to put this series in clear perspective for you.I could take the first 9 men who walk into my local grocery tonite.Fly them to New York,play a three game series against the Mets.We would score only one less run over the 27 innings played,than our Rockies scored!PATHETIC, PATHETIC,PATHETIC......

• July 13, 2008

  9:44 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  SabrinaR writes:

  39 wins so far? For all you Hurdle supports, admit Clint is what is wrong with the Colorado Rockies. If the Monforts don't fire him as soon as the all star game is over, they (the Monforts) are as stupid and clueless as they look.
  I've been quiet so far this season, giving Hurdle the chance to prove me wrong with my opinion of his managerial skills, guess what? That is just one more thing he has failed in life at.
  This team has far to much talent to only have 39 wins. Don't even try to use the excuse well there have been injuries. Yes there have been injuries, but when a winning combination was found what did Clint do? He messed it up.

• July 13, 2008

  9:55 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  SDcat writes:

  The Rox were playing better until they ran into the streaking Mets. To be fair, the Mets pitching has been stellar for their past 9 games. I would say lets hold the judgment until the first series after the All Star break.

• July 13, 2008

  9:57 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Chadley25 writes:

  Glad to see Mr. Ringolsby pointing out that Helton and Tulowitzski might be back soon to provide a spark. You know, because they've certainly been doing SUCH a great job when they've been in the lineup.

  Hurdle and O'Dowd must go. This season is even more painful than all the other losing seasons we've endured under these bozos because we got a brief taste of winning for three short months last year. Though it pains me to say it, I'm so glad I didn't shell out big bucks for season tickets this year -- I almost did, but held back. Obviously, in retrospect, that was a good decision.

  And fastnloose, it's actually worse than that... the Rockies have scored only TWO runs over their last FOUR games combined. How is that even possible? You're totally right though. I could pick nine men, field a team, take Hurdle's place in the dugout, and hardly fare any worse than the Rockies have lately.

• July 13, 2008

  10:54 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  RDenver writes:

  Two straight shutouts? 22 innings without scoring a run? 11 hits in 3 games? Two runs in 2 games? It's obvious that the players have quit playing for Hurdle. Hollidays body language during the game says it all. They have quit on Hurdle. How in the world can ownership, including O'Dowd not see this? If this guy is allowed to manage this team after the ALL STAR, it sure will convince the fans of their total ineptness at running a Major League baseball team. What an absolute disgrace!!

• July 14, 2008

  1:46 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  fastnloose writes:

  Last year was a joy on one hand,a disaster on the other.The hot streak bought Hurdle a contract extension and covered up our long term coaching problem.Clint is not the only problem,but at this point, the easiest to solve.I wish we had gotten Joe Girardi to manage when he was available.At least he has some fire in his pants and coaches with a sense of urgency.
  Clint seems to be to buddy,buddy with his players.Example-He was batting Helton 2nd in the lineup,yet never asked him to sacrifice a runner over,or hit and run with him.Then why bat him second, if you are going to let him swing from his heals? He's afraid to make the hard decisions.I know Clint is a great guy,but as he has said himself many times."It's not a try hard game,it is a get results game".

• July 14, 2008

  9:07 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  dakar writes:

  This team may have stopped trying, its hard to say. They've made 4 good, but not great, non all-star pitchers in a row all look unhittable. Even Holliday only can manage a couple infield hits. The Rockies pitching on Mon & Tues was actually good. You can't just blame pitching. And I really don't think the players have a problem with Hurdle, I haven't seen anything to indicate that and when a player screws up Clint will publicly say something like he did about Tulo hurting his hand and players standing watching a popup hit the ground. He has been switching players around and doing different things but still getting the same results. So regardless how many must feel, you don't get rid of a mgr or gm the year after they make it to the WS. Now next year if their in this boat, you get rid of everyone just start over.

• July 14, 2008

  12:27 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  fastnloose writes:

  dakar,look at the big picture.Before the 6wk run last year,and the first half of this year,what is Clint's record with this team?We all know the answer to that question.I watch the rockies play many,many more innings of baseball than I should.Just ask my wife.I really,really want them to succeed,so I say this from my heart,Hurdle needs to be changed.Waiting another year might be good for Clint, but it puts us another year behind.
  People are already losing interest in this team,look how few post you see on this article, the day after the game.

• July 14, 2008

  2:01 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  craig7078 writes:

  Hurdle throwing his players under the bus to the media is a weakness. How would he like it if the players did the same to him? 7 years and 80 games under 500 for his career and that's with 90 wins last year. I'm betting that as long as he is the manager the Rockies will never sniff the playoffs again.

Featured

• Denver turns 150

  

  Read about the city's history, look at old photos and see a list of influential Denverites.

• Mount Crushmore

  

  Which four Broncos greats should be immortalized on Mount Crushmore? Vote here.

• Winter Escapes

  

  Your insider’s guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.

• Rocky Multimedia

  

  The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.

• Weekend plans?

  

  Figure out things to do this weekend with the help of our entertainment calendar.

• Bronco Dean's rant

  

  Listen to Bronco Dean's pregame rant on the Raiders.

• Season To Share

  

  The Post-News Season To Share campaign provides grants to area nonprofits.

• The Rocky @ 150 Years

  

  The Rocky was there when Colorado became a state in 1876. Read our coverage.

• A Dozen on Denver

  

  And the winner is... Robert Ziegler! See the whole fiction series by clicking here.