Sunday Rockpile: Rockies early May malaise uncomfortably familiar

A week ago the Rockies were down but not out in the division. Today they're probably both, or at the very least far deeper in the weeds than they should be two tenths of the way into the 2012 season. It seems to be a pattern of the team to drop off a cliff in late April and early May before regrouping (sometimes, not really last year,) later in the month. I'm not entirely sure why it seems to happen so regularly at the same time of the year for the Rockies franchise.

As such, moves like Tyler Colvin potentially taking over center field from Dexter Fowler don't bother me as much as they should. I think it's likely the wrong call given that Fowler's much higher career walk rate should ultimately translate to higher OBP given the two players' similar strikeout tendencies and the power discrepancy isn't as big an advantage for Colvin this season. The Rockies are trying to do something, anything, to jump start an offense by inserting those few players that have seemingly adjusted to hitting on the road before the season does spiral beyond the reparation point.

Which leads me to Jorge De La Rosa, who as you've probably read or will read in the Pebble Report, was pulled early from a start in Tulsa with left forearm tightness. Barring a setback with this latest injury, De La Rosa's return is being looked forward to by many in the organization as a balm for the team's pitching woes that have plagued much of the season thus far. Add JDLR to a stabilizing Juan Nicasio, who showed signs of the dominance that he's capable of last night, and perhaps young pitchers such as Christian Friedrich and Alex White (if they can consistently perform as they did in their season debuts,) and the Rockies will suddenly have a fairly solid rotation.

Jeremy Guthrie will remain a final conundrum who also should improve as the season progresses, but with Jhoulys Chacin and Drew Pomeranz wanting back in, the Rockies may have options to choose from should he continue to struggle, just not options for where to stash Guthrie.

Much like the game wrap last night, no jump today, as I'm late.