A Sad Reality?

Sometimes it's just hard to be a Rockies fan.

Just when the Rockies were just finally starting to be recognized as an actual MLB team by ESPN, they have come back to Earth with a thud.  Sports writers, besides the ones in Colorado, were actually talking about the Rockies...you know, that team that every other city forgot because they haven't mattered in 12 years.  Steve Phillips spoke about how he believed the Rocks were now contenders in the NL West (see "Fantasy vs. Reality" on ESPN's baseball page).  Some were just stating the facts about how the Rocks were the hottest team in baseball thus far in June.  But as it turns out, the ones that were spot on were those that called the Rockies' recent success a fluke.  Just when the Rockies were getting some accolades around the major leagues, they go out over the last four games and show the whole world why they were just that...a fluke.

This most recent loss is quite simply unacceptable.  You CANNOT lose that game after the offense rallies for such an amazing comeback...can't happen.  Unless, that is, that you are the Colorado Rockies.  The unfortunate truth is that every single die-hard Rockies fan that witnessed the blown save in Toronto was thinking to themselves, "Oh lord, here we go again" following the bloop single to lead off the bottom of the 9th right after Tulo just gave us the lead.  I know this because I too was one of those people. When that ball landed in front of Sullivan, I turned to my wife and said just that.

It is simply all too easy for this team to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

I tried so hard to agree with those that believed the Rockies were on track to contending in this division.  But the shiny new four game losing streak has once again removed those purple goggles.  The "fluke" writers were right.  Cook and Hirsh look completely lost right now, and Josh Fogg is still Josh Fogg.  I just can't see how this team has any chance to contend at all with the current starting rotation.  And ever since Jorge Julio opened his mouth about the bullpen being unbreakable they haven't been able to hold a lead.  All the offense in the world won't do any good when the pitching is not effective.

All this being said, I hope I'm completely wrong.  I hope this is rock bottom.  I hope everyone in the clubhouse can rally around Matsui and Fuentes and lift them up for tomorrow's game.  I hope these are all just the lingering negative thoughts from a game that stings so bad that it's just not currently possible to see any bright spots.  I will be watching again tomorrow...hoping they can start a new streak in the other direction.  Funny how just four days ago it didn't seem like "hope" was needed.

Sometimes it's just hard to be a Rockies fan.