aaron_cookWe watched the Rockies end the disappointing 2008 season with an unspectacular 2-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. This year begins with another loss to the Diamondbacks–by a score of 9-8 yesterday. Offense wasn’t the problem, with home runs from shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, catcher Chris Iannetta, and outfielder Seth Smith.

Instead, the issue was all too familiar: pitching. Rockies ace Aaron Cook was lit up for six runs in 2 1/3 innings, his shortest outing since August 2004, when he almost died at Coors Field because of blood clots in his lungs, according to The Denver Post.

But there are some positives: All nine players in the opening day lineup were drafted by the Rockies and raised through the team’s farm system, something no other team can claim, writes Tracy Ringolsby at Inside the Rockies. But will Colorado make a run at the division title? Probably not, according to 5280’s Robert Sanchez.