Shutting out the Colorado Rockies at home is not an easy thing to do, but Lance Lynn and the Cardinals bullpen showed it can be done.
On a night where the Rockies pitching had to be tight, they faltered once again and allowed eight runs. Jhoulys Chacin gave up five runs on only four hits, but he also allowed three walks and hit a batter. The trouble for Chacin was inconsistency inning to inning and he just couldn’t seem to keep momentum. Chacin was perfect the first two innings, but gave runs up the next three innings to allow the Cardinals to take an early lead.
The Rockies offense never stood a chance after that. Only three batters reached base in the game and only once did a player reach second base for the Rockies. There was no saving the sloppy pitching tonight and the Rockies were doomed from the start.
This team is faltering and there is no saving it. Yes, injuries have plagued the Rockies, but that excuse cannot be made year after year. For the Colorado Rockies it is all about the future and forgetting this season.
The Rockies will need to prepare their young pitchers this year in hopes that next year a strong five man rotation can be achieved. The pieces are there: Butler, Bergman, Matzek, Gray, Chatwood. Jorge de la Rosa and Jhoulys Chacin should also look to prepare for next year and remain healthy.
A miracle can save the Rockies, but no one should count on that. This team is playing lifeless baseball and will be lucky to not finish in last place again. The problem is how will the Rockies ever become competitive within the division?
This team needs to rebuild completely. Owners will need to go and someone who can run a baseball team will need to takeover. 2007 and 2009 will no longer protect the Rockies organization. It has been too few and too far between playoff appearances for the Rockies fans to be happy.
Until the Rockies start to play major league baseball year-in and year-out, Colorado sports fans will continue to stop following the Rockies come preseason football and from there until the end of the season the Broncos are Colorado’s team. And it’s only a fact. The Rockies never keep interest come August and September because they just never stay competitive. And once the fans leave, the team has nothing to play for.
Eventually, the Rockies will compete, but I wouldn’t count on it for at least a few more seasons. Sadly, this is not a club that can compete in the Major league without flukey seasons and that has left them as a bottom feeder in the NL west where they will remain.
