"WINNING THE WEST ROCKIES TOP PRIORITY"

By Mark Knudson

Back about this time in 2006, I went out on a limb and picked the Colorado Rockies to break through and win their first National League West Division title. I based that pick on the mediocre status of the NL West at the time, plus the Rockies strong nucleus of young players and some momentum built up at the end of the 2005 season.

When the dust settled, the Rockies finished 76-86 that season. They did not win the west, nor even make the play-offs. Fans like me remained frustrated, wondering when – if ever – the breakthrough would occur.

We only had to wait one more season for the magical run of 2007, and the Rockies first trip to the World Series. Three years later, the Rockies have made the play-offs twice in three seasons, and talk of the post season is serious around here, rather than hopeful. Still, something is missing.

That elusive NL West crown.

Both times the Rockies have made the play-offs this millennium, it’s been as the NL Wild Card entry. No division titles as of yet. You can look at this two ways. You can say, ‘Hey, the Florida Marlins have never won the NL East, but they’ve won two World Series titles. I’ll take that any day,’ or you can look at it and see the Marlins chief rival in those days, the Atlanta Braves, won multiple division titles, and a World Series, but never had the rollercoaster ups and downs that those Marlins did.

During their unmatched run of success, the Braves won 14 straight division titles, five NL pennants, and the 1995 Series. The Marlins made the play-offs twice as the Wild Card entry, and rode their magic to those two World Series titles. It’s the only two times the franchise has made the post season. The year after they won their first title, they lost more than 100 games, and lost 98 games the year after that. It’s a franchise that has repeatedly gone through major roster turnover.

So Braves or Marlins?

I’m pretty sure the Rockies brass would much rather emulate the consistency of those Braves teams. When this franchise was in its infancy, they looked at the Los Angeles Dodgers under the steady ownership of the O’Malley family as their model for success. Being in contention every single season was – and is – the goal. That way, the fans are always interested (and filling the seats) and players view your organization as one they would be glad to play for. (Look at the Dodgers now – a nasty divorce is paralyzed the teams ownership, and will have a bad effect on the team.)

It’s not realistic to believe you’re going to win titles of any sort every year. You never know when injuries are going to occur, or players are going to have off years. But if you’ve built a strong foundation with a good farm system and a steady stream of young talent coming up through that system, you can endure the loss of a quality player through free agency or trade, and overcome a few injuries to stay in contention. Those years when things break right, everyone stays healthy and players get hot at the right time, you can end up in the World Series…and it’s not a shock. As great as “Rocktober” 2007 was, at this point, the Rockies would rather it not be a surprise when they’re playing in October, but rather the culmination of a solid season that met expectations.

It all starts with consistency, and consistency in baseball means winning your division. It means being the best team over 162 games, and not having to rely on a miraculous season-ending winning streak to make the post season. It means having the staying power to endure losing steaks and overcome injuries. Being able to plug in a young player just up from Triple A and not missing a beat.

These Rockies should be at that point now. They have all of the above mentioned qualities. They are a popular pick to win the NL West – finally – and no one would be stunned if they got back to the World Series. It won’t be the same as that first “Rocktober” three years ago…it will be better. The next parade won’t be because the Rockies MADE the World Series, it will be because they won it.