Week(s) in review: Avs Continue Going Back to the Future, Rox Back to the Cellar

Ok, it’s not quite so bad as all that. And I know I’m behind a tad on the “Week In Review” - but I’ll keep the whining about life to a minimum and just whine about the things we all care about: Colorado Sports.

The Avalanche continued the Magical Mystery Tour by bringing the old coach in to be the new coach. Now it could be argued that this was how it should have happened… more time on the bench to learn the gig. I suspect the Avs just wanted something with stability. I’m honestly ambivalent about this choice. I think it could work remarkably well, and I think it could blow up in ol’ Francois’ face. Either way, I am much more concerned that Joe comes back. I think he will, but the day he finally announces his decision, regardless of which way he goes, will be the biggest news day in Denver sports this year.

The Rox continued their slide into anonymity and irrelevance. It pains me to say that, because those of us close to the team, who attend the games, and watch these guys day in and day out, know that this is a talented roster. Maybe last year’s run was a perfect storm, but that doesn’t diminish the talent it took to execute said run. But this year, between the injuries, the inconsistencies, and the statistical settling back into expected performance levels (I think they call that ‘regression to the mean’), things aren’t quite OK in Rockies-land. Over the last couple weeks, we’ve seen some offensive spark (Barmes anyone? I tell you, if he’s not playing 2B when Tulo returns, Hurdle needs a swift kick in the teeth) and some glimmer of hope from the youngsters (Jimenez - finally pitches a sweet outing, and they can’t come up with the W). So what’s going on with the Rockies? As Ian put it, what signs are there that they can at least make the next 4 months bearable?

Here are my top reasons why the Rockies don’t suck as much as it appears:

1. Barmes. Barmes. Barmes. Did I mention Barmes? Dude is a stud.

2. Atkins. Atkins. Atki– you get the point. I fear they might not be able to sign him to a long term deal, so enjoy him this year.

3. Cookie. The other pitchers will settle in. Outside of the 2 guys above, the offense is just not doing its thing. The pitching will resolve itself. Let me take this opportunity to say that anyone who thinks we need to trade Holliday mid-season for some “quality pitching” IS A FULL-ON RAVING MANIACAL DUMBASS. I’ve never agreed with the “trade him now because the season is wasted” mentality, especially with another year left on his deal. And the “quality pitching” trade never works out in favor of the team getting the pitches. Well, rarely. Who is really available? The only pitchers I would trade Matt for are untouchables to their current teams.

So that’s the last couple weeks in review. We’ll have to do this again someday.

Review What?

It’s been a quiet week on this here blog.

Of course, it’s been a solemn week here in Colorado sports land. I don’t even want to do a full week in review. I’ll keep this short and sweet (or bitter, as the case may be).

Nuggets found out how good they really are.

The Avs finally had time catch up with them.

The Rockies… well, the Rockies. What do you say? Can we have a re-do?

The Broncos made an interesting draft… but it’s hardly worth commenting on until training camp.

That’s all I have to say today. Later this week, I’ll post a write-up of my first ever Arena Football game.

Week in Review - April 14-20, 2008

This has turned out to be an eventful week on the Colorado Pro Sports scene. So here’s the recap…

We’ll start with the Rockies, who started the week in San Diego with another crushing defeat, this time at the hands of Randy Wolf and the Padres. Ubaldo melted down something fierce. The Rocks came back with a resounding 10-2 win on Wednesday, then on Thursday they played what amounts to an unscheduled doubleheader-and-a-half, an epic 22-inning, 6-hour-plus affair that finally ended in the wee hours of morning with Tulo doubling in the winner. So much has already been said about this game, so I recommend you just take a peek at the box score and enjoy. After the marathon game, the Rocks flew into Houston, and rather than come out flat, they dropped a couple solid wins on the Astros (with Kaz Matsui and his surgically repaired posterior in tow) including another solid outing by Aaron Cook. The week wrapped up with the Rockies dropping the final game of the set. This week, the Rocks come home for a pair of two-game sets (is there anything positive about that?) with the Phillies and the Cubs before hitting the road for a set of divisional matchups with the Dodgers and the Giants.

The Nuggets found themselves in the playoffs, and had just enough time to soak in the sweet smell of victory before getting doused with the stench of The Buss Family Fortune. Anything better than a 4-1 loss will be a miracle. Thankfully, the NBA draws the playoffs out for a solid 2 months, so we’ll get to enjoy this for a while.

And, of course, saving the best of the week until last…

The Avalanche dropped an OT contest to Minnesota, which left them trailing the series 2-1. But Game 4 brought the onslaught, and after a 5 goal lead, things got messy. The Wild showed who they really are as a team, and never recovered. The Avs went back to Minnesota, and despite being brutally outshot in the game, rode an unbelievable performance by Jose Theodore to what some might term a “stolen game” victory, and the series lead. The Avs never looked back, and the Pepsi Center was rocking in playoff form again for Game 6. The Avs played tight defense, Theodore kept up his high level of performance, and the boys in maroon skated to a 4-2 series victory. Now the Avalanche wait for the result of the Calgary/San Jose game (who knew it would go 7?) to determine their next opponent. Should the Sharks win, the Avs head off to Hockeytown to reignite a rivalry that has gone a bit chilly since the days of Roy and Osgood. Should the Flames pull off the upset, the seeds get flipped over and Colorado heads to Dallas to take on the Stars, the team that formerly called Minnesota home. Either way, goaltending performance will be key. And either way, there promises to be some good hockey in the Rocky Mountains again.

That’s it for this Week in Review. It’s supposed to be a nice week, so grab some Rockpile tickets and enjoy an evening at the ballpark this week.

Week in Review - April 7-13, 2008

Well let’s see…

The Avalanche split overtime wins with Minnesota, the first being a SuperJoe Miracle, the second being a well-fought game that would have been a gift win, but it’s still heartbreaking to lose in overtime. The series returns this week to Pepsi Center, and you can bet the hockey-loving hordes of Denver are clamoring for the return of playoff hockey.

The Rockies took the previous week’s beatdowns and passed on the favor to the Atlanta Braves, making little girls of them and getting the 3-game sweep, with contest number four being relegated to a random June off-day due to the April snow-dump. They travelled to PHX, hoping to reverse the bad fortunes of the opening series, and got pretty handily spanked for two games before finally unloading on the tail end of the Diamondbacks rotation, making them 1-5 against the division rivals, getting outscored 43-23 in the six games (that despite a 13-run Sunday). September will tell whether this matters, or if it’s just true early season jitters. This week, the Rox head to 3-game sets in San Diego (more 2007 missed-playoff angst to deal with) and Houston (hello, Kaz Matsui), before coming home for a pair of obnoxious 2-game mini-series with Philly and the Cubbies.

The Nuggets made the playoffs, missed the playoffs, made them again, missed them again, before finally possibly maybe if everything falls right landing in the driver’s seat for the eighth playoff seed, which earns them the privilege of playing Kobe and the Lakers in the first round. Hello, early exit. Good-bye, George Karl. I’d say we hardly knew ye, but let’s be real. We knew ye.

The Broncos argued about whether Cutler is a leader or a prick. Even John Elway got into the discussion. Draft day’s a-comin’.

That’s ProSportsColorado week in review. Stay tuned as Ian will likely talk some more hockey as the week goes on (Game 3 tonight - don’t miss it!), Dan will regale us with tales of baseball prognostication unlike any other, and I will probably cry like a little girl if the Avs lose this series.