Ownership and the front office keep talking how the Rockies are going to go on a tear in August and September this season. Right now the club’s record is 40-60 that puts the Rockies on pace to go 66-96 for the season. Looking back the Rockies have had two infamous runs in the second half , but history says that the chance of that is slime. Even if the Rockies played 500 with their current record they would finish the season with a 72-90 record. The Colorado Rockies have made two infamous runs that saw them go to the playoffs. In 2007 in middle August the Rockies were 68-68. In September the Rockies went 22-5 to reach the playoffs as the wildcard team. In 2009 the Rockies started off slow with a 20-28 record. Colorado went 72-42 the rest of the way to finish 92-70 and win the wildcard playoff spot. These two runs were great. However the Rockies have a history of collapsing after starting off good. So, I’m going to be taking a look back at some of the Rockies infamous collapses. I will also rank the collapses
- The 2010 Rockies. In the middle of September the Rockies were leading the wildcard race with a record of 81-67 record. It seemed like the Rockies were going to be a playoff team. The Rockies had a high powered offense and a decent starting pitching. However the last two weeks were a disaster for the Rockies. The team went 2-12 the last two weeks and saw their wildcard lead vanish to eventual winner the braves. The reason for the collapse was Street was the only reliable bullpen arm. Also the 5th starter spot was also to blame. Rockies manager Jim Tracy was also to blame as he provided no direction to the players as well as making bad moves, and the result was a blown wildcard lead. The Rockies finished with an 83-79 record and just missed the playoffs. This collapse is often pointed out by Rockies fans and writers the start of the decline. The Rockies have not had a winning record since.
- The 1998 Rockies. Colorado had just missed the playoffs twice in 1996 and 1997. At the halfway point in 1998 the Rockies had a record of 44-37. People were starting to talk about the Rockies being a potential playoff team. The Rockies were lighting up the scoreboards with their high powered offense. However the second half saw the Rockies fade as they went 33-48 in the second half. The offense could not do everything as pitching was the team’s weakness. The Team finished the year with a 5 ERA. The team finished with a 77-85 record and in 4th place. The second half collapse is what lead to Don Baylor’s firing.
- The 2013 Rockies. Colorado had been a surprise team in the first half with a 42-39 record. Many thought the Rockies had turned their disaster of a 2012 season around and were going to contend. The Rockies had 3 good starters in De La Rosa, Chacin, and Chatwood. However the back end of the rotation was a disaster as the 4th and 5th starters only won 18 games with different pitchers being used. The bullpen was also not very good. The team’s flaws caught up with them and in the second half they faded from contention. The Rockies went 32-49 in the second half struggling to a 74-88 record. The team went from 2nd place to last place in their division.
- The 2011 Rockies. Things were going great for Colorado as at the end of May the Rockies had an impressive 34-20 record. The team was doing so good and had the best record in baseball at that time. However the Rockies really collapsed in the month of June which set the tone for the rest of the season. The team went a woeful 39-69 the rest of the way. The Rockies finished with a 73-89 record. The team had injuries to the pitching staff is what set the tone, but it just seemed like the Rockies found ways to lose games due to errors. In addition, Tracy’s bad managing skills were also to blame. Tracy would sit players that were batting over 280 for hitters just hitting 200 among other bad calls.
- The 2001 Rockies. The Rockies in August were 60-60 and very much alive in the wildcard race as they were only 6 games back. The Rockies were lead by Todd Helton and Larry Walker. However, the teams pitching was its downfall as the team went 13-29 the rest of the way to finish with a 73-89 record. Mike Hampton who had been brought in found that his off speed pitches would not work at high altitude. Neagle another pitcher brought in could not stay out of legal trouble. Scott Elarton another pitcher brought in could not get his off speed pitches to work either. The Result was the team went from 3rd place in the division to last, and the collapse cost manager Buddy Bell his job in early 2002.
- The 2012 Rockies. Colorado decided they would remake their rotation. Hammel who had been a #4 starter in 2009-2011 was traded to Baltimore for Guthrie. Guthrie was supposed to be the ace of this staff. The team also brought veterans Moyer and Francis to anchor the rotation. The Rockies started off good with an 11-11 record for the first month of the season. However the rest of the year was a disaster. Cargo and Tulo missed significant time with injuries. Moyer and Francis showed their best days were behind them. Guthrie couldn’t pitch at Coors (though it is speculated he pitched bad on purpose to get traded) Regardless Guthrie was not an ace the Rockies hoped as he was 3-10 with a 7 ERA before getting traded away. The Rockies went a woeful 53-87 the rest of the season. The Rockies barely avoided 100 looses finishing the year 64-98
- The 1999 Rockies. Colorado started off the season very good with a 34-34 record just before the halfway point. The Rockies high powered offense and new manager Jim Leyland made many think this team was going to contend. However, that was not to be as the team went 38-56 the rest of the way. The team’s pitching was horrible as the pitching staff had a league worst 6 ERA. The team finished with a 72-90 record. Jim Leyland had enough and stepped down as manager. The Rockies also decided it was time to start all over after seeing two collapses in a row (1998). All Star players Vinny Castilla, Dante Bichette and Ellis Burks were all traded away.
- The 2014 Rockies their rank will probably be higher depending on their record on the final day of the season. The Rockies had a very good spring going 28-26 just 3 games behind the Giants for 1st place. Then the wheels have fallen off. The Rockies have gone a woeful 12-34 since that time frame. Injures were a factor but it exposed the team had no bullpen, and no pitching like they thought they would.
I am an adult who has Autism. I beat the odds earning my Bachelors and later Masters. I give credit to Jesus my savior and my parents for me beating the odds. I like baseball and have been a fan of the Rockies since 1993. In my spare time I also like to study weather.
Campbell
tornadocam 