Rant: Do the Rockies Have a Plan?

At the mid-July All-Star break, which now seems like it happened about two years ago, the Rockies were a muddling 46-50, but still within fighting distance from first place in the equally muddling National League West division. With 10 straight post-break home games against the N.L. dregs, the hope was that the team could muster a run that would give them a legitimate shot at the postseason for the first time since 2009.

The talk at that time centered around whether the Rockies would be buyers or sellers before the July 31 trading deadline, and they were in an undeniably tricky position: decent enough to think they might slip into the playoffs this year, but not decent enough to mortgage the future to make a win-now deal.

Even when a disappointing split of those first 10 games after the break revealed the truth about the Rockies—that they’re clearly not a playoff team—they still had time to do something before the deadline to improve. Naturally, when faced with this choice, the Rockies behaved like all stagnant, medicore, and unimaginative organizations, and did nothing.

They didn’t offer 32-year-old Michael Cuddyer, in the midst of a career year and a barren market for power hitters, for two or three youngsters. They didn’t offer any of their solid bullpen arms for help down the road. They didn’t dump any salaries or do a single thing that might give Rockie fans the hope that their front office A) truly cares about winning, or B) has any idea how to make it happen.

Then they promptly left town and dropped nine of 10, tying the franchise’s worst road trip ever.

At what point, going on five years since their last playoff appearance, do the Monforts decide what they have isn’t working? They have some solid pieces, but when the main drama for the rest of your season centers around whether you can avoid going over 90 losses for the second straight year, maybe it’s time to start over from scratch. Ideally, that would involve someone—anyone—other than who’s pulling the strings now.

Rave: Denver Pizza Company Delivers a Classic New York Slice

A recent relocation meant I was able to discover one of the city’s best-kept secrets: The Denver Pizza Company’s 11th Avenue store—there’s also one at Hampden near I-25—is too small to dine in but delivers a very big New York-style flavor.

The pies vary from traditional combos, such as the Native (tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella) and the Cripple Creek (salami, sausage, and pepperoni) to unconventional offerings such as the Cease & Desist (BBQ sauce, bacon, chicken, and onions) and the East Colfax (green chili sauce, cheddar jack, tomatoes, ground beef, and green pepper), and the DPC also serves salads and pasta.

The pizzas themselves have some of the most authentic New York-influenced bites you’ll find in Denver: thin, hot, flavorful, and sinfully greasy. So with my cardiologist on speed-dial, I’ll venture forth and slowly (or not-so-slowly) work my way down the menu. You should, too.

—Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Follow 5280 articles editor Luc Hatlestad on Twitter at @LucHatlestad.