Today marks the first day of the official 5280.com Fire Clint Hurdle Countdown. On what should have been a special night for Rockies fans, with Todd Helton belting his 2,000th hit, the Rockies got pasted again, falling 8-1 in Atlanta (via The Denver Post).

Helton’s stellar accomplishment notwithstanding, the Rockies are on pace to finish with a win total in the mid-60s (via Purple Row), and something’s got to give. Tracy Ringolsby, one of Denver’s most notable baseball writers, suggested firing the whole team, or at least shaking it up, a few days ago (Inside the Rockies), but that seems unlikely.

For our money, it’s easier to get rid of the under-performing, mediocre, perpetual nice-guy Hurdle. Let the countdown begin.