Colorado Rockies

Success for baseball players in Detroit isn't measured by placement in the final standings. It isn't measured in division crowns and pennant victories. 

No sir, baseball in this town is about one thing and one thing only: beating the Colorado Rockies.

The natural rivals share such a rich baseball tradition that it's impossible not to get drawn in by the allure of the games.

This is why I'm a baseball fan.

Troy Tulowitzki comes up to the plate in the eighth inning in last night's game against the Atlanta Braves.

Down 8-1 already, Tulo swings at a high strike, and grounds into a double play.

What does manager Clint Hurdle decide to do?  Bench one of the only bright spots on the team.

News flash Clint, if the city of Denver could fire you as easily as you benched Tulo, we would've done it earlier.  

The Rockies are 15-23, and 11.5 games out of the first-place Dodgers' grasp. 

The Detroit Tigers are exactly two ninths of the way through the 2009 campaign. Detroit is in excellent position to make a run in the month of May and gain some breathing room between themselves and the rest of the Central Division.

The Tigers have had four separate three-game winning streaks, but have been unable to win four in a row this year. On Tuesday night Detroit will attempt to end that trend as Dontrelle Willis once again seeks his first victory as a member of the Tigers.

The good will generated by "Rocktober" is officially over, at least for me.

After today's 11-4 loss in Pittsburgh, Hurdle's record as the manager of the Rockies stands at a paltry 530-619. That's a .461 winning percentage in 8-plus seasons at the helm since taking over for Buddy Bell 22 games into the 2002 season.

With only one winning season in that bunch, largely the result of the aforementioned run in 2007, it's time for a change in leadership. Pitching coach Bob Apodaca should be sent packing as well.

On Friday night in Pittsburgh, the Colorado Rockies embarked on a 10-game road trip that, in mid-May, would define whether or not they still had a chance at winning the National League West in 2009.

In the 2000 amateur draft, the Colorado Rockies selected UCLA first baseman Garrett Atkins in the fifth round.

With Todd Helton firmly entrenched at that position for the Rockies, Atkins converted to third base in AA in 2002 and continued there in AAA before being getting called up early in the 2005 season. He went on to finish fourth in the Rookie-of-the-Year voting that year after posting a .287/.347/.426 batting line with 13 HR and 87 RBI in 519 ABs.

Who has won the Matt Holliday trade?

If one were to look at just one of the prospects the Rockies received in the trade, Carlos Gonzalez, and viewed his Triple-A Colorado Springs stats, one could argue either way.

Gonzalez, an outfielder in the Rockies' farm system, has been absolutely tearing it up for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. And when I mean tearing it up, that might be an understatement.

Jorge De La Rosa's stats are deceiving.  His 0-2 record in five starts may look like he's struggling early on in the year.  He's posting a 3.90 ERA, and a 1.37 WHIP. He's only owned in 0.8% of ESPN fantasy baseball leagues.  However, De La Rosa is doing much better than what his stats are saying.

In his five starts on the year, De La Rosa has pitched 27.2 innings, and has struck out 23.  He's walked just 12 batters, and has given up just one home run in that span, in his last start vs the Padres.

Here we are on May 9 and the Rockies have once again found themselves behind the 8-ball in the National League West race, doomed by a chronic case of projectile dysfunction. 

If these symptoms persist for longer than four more weeks, please consult your physician, as side effects may include irritability, violent mood swings, and an early onset of Broncos fever.

At 11-17, the Rox find themselves 8.5 games behind the first place—and now Manny-less—Dodgers. 

With the 2009 season in full swing the Colorado Rockies have yet to show they are even a contender for the NL West.

The Rockies have a division worst 11-16 record, going 9-13 in the NL West for April, which is the teams longest stretch of division games.