It’s hard to believe that already a week’s gone by since the abrupt ending.
There were the Rockies, literally a strike away from forcing a decisive Game 5 back to Philadelphia in the National League Division Series. There were the fans, 50,000 strong, manically swinging their towels and screaming so loud you could swear there was nearly an avalanche at Coors Field. There was Huston Street, Colorado’s clutch closer, staring down Philly’s slugger Ryan Howard at the plate.
And then, there was nothing.
As quickly and beautifully as Rocktober had come to Colorado, it ended just as harshly and abruptly when Street slammed the door—not on the Phillies, but the Rockies’ season—with his second blown save in as many nights.
Despite how abysmal the end to a magical season was, that bitter taste of disappointment will sooner or later be refreshed by one constant and undisputable truth: these Rockies are good.
The key to the future success of the Rox, though, doesn’t start with how many offseason moves they make or even who takes the field on Opening Day next season. If this franchise wants to be serious about their future, then all eyes should be focused on resigning one person: Jim Tracy.
The soon-to-be National League Manager of the Year, it’s no secret anymore about the kind of success Tracy had with this ballclub. In fact, what Tracy did is pretty historic. When he took over for the fired Clint Hurdle on May 29, the Rockies sat in the basement of the NL West, 13 and a half games behind the Dodgers and 10 games under .500.
From then on, the Rox went 74-42 for the rest of the season—and that’s not even the impressive part. In the 127 years Major League Baseball has existed, no manager had ever taken over a team that was 10 games below .500 and lead them to 20 games over .500 in a single season – until Jim Tracy. How’s that for a turnaround?
How Tracy was able to captivate the team is no real secret, either. The skipper simply respected his players and earned their respect back. With that mutual relationship, Tracy was able to push all the right buttons at the right times, and still have the clubhouse on his side. For instance, when backup catcher Yorvit Torrealba replaced the ineffective Chris Ianetta, there was no dispute, no hurt feelings. Tracy took a clubhouse full of disgruntled players, untapped their talent, and ultimately turned them back into a team.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s no denying that the Rockies’ season ended too soon with too much disappointment.
But as long as Jim Tracy is around to captain the ship, Colorado fans should be able to expect many more Rocktobers to come.
