The “Let’s finish climbing our own Mountain before trying the N.L. West’s” Rockies Fan

Rockies fans are itching to see that first N.L. West division title for the franchise, yet they’ve been gridlocked by their team’s inability to decipher its own Rocky Mountain Range.  The team has shown spurts of competitive aptitude throughout its brief existence, but its inconsistency has a strong hold on the team’s ability to “grapple” consecutive productive seasons.

Coming off of their, now grown accustomed to, 73-89 “we’ve been headed for subpar since June” season; the Rockies will look to turn the puzzling switch back on in 2012.  Excuses could be granted to looming and unfortunate injuries, streaky run production or the lack of consistency from the starting pitching staff.  The loss of Del Rosa to Tommy John and Jimenez to the Indians managed to ultimately hinder an already thin staff.  Put that together with an ordinary run scoring line-up and you have the formula for inconsistent performance.  Unfortunately for Rockies fans, the mountain doesn’t listen to excuses; it just grows taller each time one is made.   Avoiding the familiar inconsistent outcome this season will be another monumental climb for the Rockies.

The Rox have been trying to orchestrate difference making changes this year in order to make the climb a little more feasible.   The big sign of the off-season, Michael Cuddyer, is the kind of the consistency the Rox need if they’re going to make it to the top.  They also add the a well-known former Hollywood divisional opponent, Casey Blake, which in the eyes of the rest of the MLB, is just one average player moving from one average team to another average team in the same division, most likely producing a similar result.

Although the Rox have found some ways to improve their line-up for the upcoming season, they still haven’t answered the questions most Rox fans are asking, “Where’s the pitching?”   I consider myself a fairly acquainted baseball fan, and I’m having trouble naming 3 pitchers on the team.  The Rox will need a pitcher or four to lift them out of N.L. West disappointment.  Maybe some apt use of Kevin Millwood this season would help them climb out of the “we can only win the wildcard” stage.