The Rockies all-time low shows that major changes are necessary

An embarrassing three-game sweep in San Diego shows just how far Colorado has fallen, a point where a major shakeup is the only answer

BY JAMES MERILATT

May 20, 2021, 6:28 AM Updated: 7:07 am

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The Rockies are awful.

This isn’t a groundbreaking statement. Everyone knew that would be the case heading into the season.

After Nolan Arenado was traded to the Cardinals during the offseason, it was apparent that the team would take a downward dip. Losing one of the best players in the game, without getting anything of substance in return, will do that to a franchise.

But I’m not sure anyone saw this coming. The Rockies are an embarrassment of epic proportions.

On Wednesday, they lost a matinee to the Padres. The 3-0 loss in San Diego gave the home team a series sweep.

That’s not the bad part. It’s the way the Rockies lost that should have them hanging their heads in shame.

During the three-game set, Colorado offense generated:

* 1 run
* 12 hits
* 44 strikeouts

That’s it. In 28 innings of play.

They were shutout twice. They lost the other game in extra innings on a wild pitch.

This stuff can’t be made up. The Rockies seemingly find a new way to lose on a daily basis.

And that’s no easy feat. After all, they’re 15-29 on the season, on pace to finish 55-107. That’d be the worst record in franchise history by a mile. That’s a lot of losses.

They’re also 2-17 on the road. That’d be hard to do if they were losing on purpose.

As a result, no one is paying attention. Normally, the Rockies at least provide hope until Memorial Day, when their June swoon hits. On occasion, they’ll be interesting until the All-Star break or the start of Broncos training camp. And once in awhile, which means less than 20 percent of the time, they’ll stay in the race all season.

This year, they weren’t interesting for a month. Heck, it might not have been a week.

No one cares. No one is watching. No one is going. No one is talking about the Rockies.

Quick, go around the horn and name their starting infield. Too tough? Fine, how about their top three outfielders?

The Rockies have been bad before. In fact, they’ve had a lot of losing seasons during their 28 years of existence. But they’ve never been this irrelevant.

There are only a couple of well-known players on the roster, both of whom are having down seasons. There aren’t any top prospects that look like stars of the future, as their farm system is ranked 27th out of 30 MLB teams. There isn’t anyone posting crazy numbers, even in losses.

There’s nothing. Zilch. Nada.

Sports are entertainment. Winning is the best form of it. Stats are the next best thing. The Rockies don’t do either.

They’re bad. And they’re boring.

In all honesty, that’s probably an understatement on both fronts. They’re much worse.

The Rockies are abysmal. And they’re hopeless.

That’s a nasty combination, one that is adding up to the worst season in franchise history.

Jeff Bridich has already been shown the door. The general manager who built this grotesque team is gone.

But that can’t be enough. More change is needed.

Blaming Bud Black seems unfair. After all, what button is he supposed to push? They all add up to a losing combination.

Firing the manager would have about as much impact as shooing away some hapless usher. The retiree who mans a post atop section 140 is as much at fault as Black for this mess.

The only change that would matter is a sale of the team. Dick Monfort has to see the writing on the wall.

I’ve defended the Rockies owner at times. He’s spent as much as could be expected, given Colorado’s market size in a non-salary capped sport.

But this isn’t about money. It’s about decision making. It’s about priorities.

It’s about being delusional enough to think this year’s team would be competitive. It’s about promoting from within because looking outside the organization is too daunting.

It’s about pride. It’s about competitiveness.

The Rockies need someone who doesn’t hope to win. They need someone who expects it.

Anyone who oversees what went down the last three days in San Diego isn’t it. That was the last straw. It’s time for a change.