The Rockies, right now, are 18-11, 1st in the NL West.
Take a look at today's Confidence Poll. According to the numbers on SBNation Denver, the Rockies fan confidence is at a surprisingly low 77. I can't help but wonder why. Maybe it's Troy Tulowitzki's slump. Maybe it's Esmil Rogers and Ubaldo Jimenez' poor performances. Maybe it's Huston Street blowing the rubber game against the Diamondbacks.
The Rockies, right now, are 18-11, 1st in the NL West.
I guess it's high expectations. Denver fans are fickle - ALL OF US - and our mood changes with every soft goal, every missed free throw, every turnover, and every strikeout with a runner on 3B. I use the word "fickle" loosely, because Denver fans aren't going to suddenly become San Diego fans because the team is losing. The general Denver Sports fan will keep an eye on all the teams going at any particular moment - especially in September, when the Rockies are chasing the postseason, the Nuggets and Avalanche are in preseason, and the Broncos have just kicked off their season.
The Rockies, right now, are 18-11, 1st in the NL West.
It's tough to really gauge confidence in a town with expectations. No fan of any Denver team will roll over and say "well my team sucks". If one team is losing, they'll go find another Denver team who looks better at that exact moment. Remember the 2009 Broncos, who started out 6-0? They were unstoppable. Everyone loved them, that team was for real, etc etc. After that, they went on a 4-game losing streak and finished the season 8-8, out of the playoffs. How quickly did that tide turn?
The Rockies, right now, are 18-11, 1st in the NL West.
This isn't to say that the Rockies are going to end up a .500 team. It's just that keeping one's head up is even tougher with Baseball. When a team looks unbeatable and then has a sketchy string of games, the team that was most certainly a worldbeater and could not be stopped suddenly has become a team of crappy players who can't hit, can barely pitch, couldn't manage their way out of a wet paper bag, and will be lucky if they don't finish at 100 losses.
The Rockies, right now, are 18-11, 1st in the NL West.
After a blistering 11-2 start to the season, the Rockies were sitting pretty at 9 games above .500. This team was unbeatable, hitting on the road, amazing pitching, everyone was contributing and clutch and awesome and other good things. Fast forward to today, and the Rockies are 18-11, a pathetic 7 games above .500. They are suddenly no longer a good hitting team, the bullpen is shaky and untrustworthy, and the manager/coaches/staff are all running around with burlap sacks over their heads throwing darts at lineup sheets and pitching rosters.
Wait, their pace slowed 2 games and we're ready to cut bait? 7 games up from .500 and everyone's a flailing moron? Why, at this rate, the Rockies will be lucky to win 100 games!
The Rockies, right now, are 18-11, 1st in the NL West.
But Andrew, you clearly haven't watched them! The look absolutely sloppy, terrible, and not like a major league team!
Most teams do when they lose. For as much as other fanbases criticize the Rockies' schedule, eschewing the 18-11 nature of it, we basically are confirming everything they say the way we put this team through the shredder during losses.
Seriously, Denver, did we expect the Rockies to go 160-2? This is the best we've ever seen from the boys on Blake St., and we need to start treating it as such!
Here are the facts:
Record: 18-11 (.620)
Division Standing: 1st in NL West
With the Nuggets and Avalanche both finished in their respective seasons, we're entering that glorious time of year in Denver where the Rockies are the only game in town. Sure, this will open them up to more scrutiny, as all eyes are on Coors Field, but if they're the only thing to watch, how about we go cheer for the 1st Place In The NL West Rockies rather than start carving tombstones?
The Rockies, right now, are 18-11, 1st in the NL West, and until that fact changes, I'm going to savor the sweet sweet aroma of fresh air with nobody else's exhaust to breathe.