With yesterday's loss to the Nationals - brought to you by Gassy the Gas Can, official mascot of the Colorado Rockies bullpen - the Rockies have lost 25 of their past 31 games to drop their season record to 40-60. I'm not a math major, but I think that's a .400 winning percentage - at the beginning of this stretch a month ago, Colorado was 34-35. And really the Rockies are 14-40 in their last 54 games (h/t Tracy Ringolsby).
It takes an incredible amount of bad baseball to produce a 6-25 or a 14-40 stretch, but our boys in purple pinstripes were certainly up to the task. Heck, the current seven game losing streak the Rockies are on is the fourth four game or more losing streak during this 31 game stretch. Today's opposing starter - Stephen Strasbourg (not televised). Good luck with that, Rockies.
At least the Rockies have that beacon of all that is right with baseball, Troy Tulowitzki...
Rockies place Troy Tulowitzki on DL with hip flexor strain | Rockies.com: News
Nevermind. This season is stupid to the point where I've become numb to the losing, numb to the slings and arrows that are thrown our way, numb to the cavalcade of ill fortune and worse baseball. The Rockies recalled Yohan Flande to take Tulo's roster spot - that's almost as good, right? Tulo isn't supposed to be out long with the injury (where have I heard that before?), but the way this season is going I'm half expecting a hip specialist in Milwaukee to find a colony of fire ants inside Tulo's quad muscle next week.
Obviously, as Bryan said yesterday it's a big blow to any remaining hope that the FO and players had toward playoff contention (fans were done weeks ago), perhaps propelling the Rockies toward a selling position as the non-waiver trade deadline approaches next week. It's certainly going to be even tougher than it already has been this year to watch the Rockies slog through their schedule without their star shortstop.
Tracy Ringolsby: Injury bug taking big bite out of Rockies' season | Rockies.com: News
Ringolsby writes about the injury woes that have affected this team all year - mundane and extraterrestrial - leading to a league lead tying nine players making their MLB debut this year.
Are Rockies manager Walt Weiss and assistant GM Bill Geivett at odds?
Patrick Saunders writes his take on yesterday's big discussion point - namely, has Rockies manager Walt Weiss grown frustrated in his job because of philosophical differences with assistant GM Bill Geivett? Saunders reports that the personal relationship between the two men is positive but that Weiss may feel restricted given some of the club's philosophies that restrict starter pitch count.
Lyles on pace to return in early August | Rockies.com: News
On the plus side, per Cody Ulm, Jordan Lyles is on pace to return from his broken left hand when he's first eligible to come off the 60 day DL on Aug. 4 following a good bullpen session yesterday. Despite being out nearly two months, Lyles is still Colorado's most valuable pitcher this year and it will be interesting to see if he can find his early season form upon his return.
Troy Tulowitzki, a swing analysis
In case you were missing that sweet Tulo swing, Blake Thomsen breaks down what makes it so darn effective this year. It's a really neat read, but I won't blame you if you're too depressed to click on it.
Toughest jobs in sports: Pitcher for the Colorado Rockies | Big League Stew - Yahoo Sports
Jeff Eisenberg of Yahoo Sports writes about the difficulties of pitching at altitude for baseball's most geographically disadvantaged team as part of their "toughest jobs in sports" series. In the article are some notes about the team's search to find the right formula for success at altitude - and how they have yet to nail it down.
David Martin writes about the historically bad slide the Rockies have been on recently and Colorado's problems in developing MLB-caliber pitching.
Digging into David Dahl | Rockies Zingers Colorado Rockies Baseball
Scott Fults at Rockies Zingers breaks down the development and stats of highly touted prospect David Dahl, Colorado's 2012 first round draft pick and an outfielder in Low A Asheville. Dahl is a potential All-Star center fielder if everything breaks right, but he's at least two years away from Coors at this point.
Links from around baseball
A sad history of Chase Headley trade rumors - SBNation.com
In case you missed it, the Yankees acquired Chase Headley from the Padres yesterday.The Yankees have been after Headley for years, but as Grant Brisbee writes, they eventually acquired him for pennies on the dollar, which wasn't how it was supposed to be.
The Rays' 4-pound burger is impossible to eat - SBNation.com
This burger might be the most American thing.