A high school coach used to say something all the time. “Physical errors are going to happen, but there is no excuse for a mental error.”
That high school coach wouldn’t have liked the Colorado Rockies performance on Friday night. After four days off, the club returned to San Diego, where they ran themselves out of an inning and took terrible at-bats with great chances to score in two other innings.
The Rockies lost 4-2, but twice they had the tying run at third base with a chance to tie the game. Both times they couldn’t make it happen. In the 5th inning, the Rockies had DJ LeMahieu at the plate, Troy Tulowitzki at third base and Ben Paulsen at first and the count full. As is standard with two outs, the runner at first takes off when the full count pitch is delivered. That is what Paulsen appeared to think he was doing when Padres starter James Shields lifted his foot to pick off at third base. Paulsen was caught dead-to-rights trying to advance. In that situation, the Rockies first baseman should have waited until the pitch was delivered before he took off.
In the 7th inning, the Rockies had runners at first and third base with no one out and the Rockies down two runs, Carlos Gonzalez had a chance to score a run and get the Rockies going. Instead, he struck out in the big moment. Later, All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado got down in the count 0-2, then tapped a pitch to shortstop, resulting in a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
It may have only been the 7th inning, but in games played on the West Coast, in stadiums like Petco Park, there usually are only a few chances to win a baseball game. When the Rockies blew their golden opportunity, the game was all but over. With the failed at-bat from Arenado, the Rockies were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, making them 0-for-27 on the season with runners in scoring position in San Diego.
The Rockies looked like they were still mentally on their All-Star break. It looked like they were methodical and not focused. Their base running errors were a prime example of that.
For the Rockies, the second half of the season is going to test this team. It will show fans what the character of the current bunch of guys wearing purple pinstripes looks like. The ideal scenario isn’t the Rockies going to the playoffs, that is simply not going to happen. What the second half of the Rockies season should be about is the club figuring out what it takes to win baseball games and scratch and claw for victories.
It is going to take time for the Rockies to change the culture of their clubhouse. The mindset that seemed to prevail over the past few years was one of contentment and excuses. It didn’t matter if the Rockies were severely under-talented, the Rockies were very quick to make excuses and be fine with the idea of being in last place. At some point, the Rockies have to decide that they aren’t going to be the doormat of the National League before things can turn around. At some point, the excuses don’t work anymore.
The Rockies could make the second half of the season worth watching if they decide that they aren’t going to roll over. They must figure out how to squeeze out the negative culture that has impacted the club over the past four years.
One way to see growth, even amidst the losses, is to see how crisp the Rockies play. If they tighten things up, they are going in the right direction. If they continue to make terrible errors both on the bases and in the field, it might give some insight on the culture and leadership of the team.
Physical errors are going to happen, mental errors, however, are inexcusable.
