After Rockies’ Losses, Finding a Glass-Half-Full Perspective

Any discussion of the Colorado Rockies’ recent performances is inevitably framed within a good-news, bad-news formula. First, the bad news. The Rockies dropped two of three games to the lowly Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend, prompting some to wonder what happened to the hottest team in baseball. Sunday’s 4-3 loss at Coors Field was frustrating. Pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez led the team into the 6th inning up 3-0, then promptly walked two batters and gave up a homer to the the next batter (via The Denver Post). Arizona’s first hit of the day tied the game 3-3, and the Rockies went on to lose. They will start a three-game home stand tonight against another lowly team, the Washington Nationals (6:40 p.m., Fox Sports Net). InDenverTimes speculates that although the Rockies’ pitching staff is stuffed with talent, the real problem is a lack of coaching, specifically from pitching coach Bob Apodaca. Now for the good news. Right fielder Brad Hawpe and pitcher Jason Marquis were named to the National League All Star Team yesterday. Purple Row notes that Hawpe (pictured) leads the Rockies in most offensive categories this season, and Marquis was the National League’s first 10-game winner this year. This is the first all-star appearance for each. Great work by those two–another glass-half-full perspective for Rockies fans.