What Fluke? Rocktober Becoming Trend

The Rockies have answered the question, even if it was one that some in the Colorado clubhouse thought you had no business even asking.

Back in the playoffs and winners of 92 games, the Rockies are a force to be reckoned with in October. They have a solid rotation, a potentially spectacular bullpen, outstanding defense and quality hitters up and down the lineup. They have established beyond a reasonable doubt that the failures of 2008, not the success of 2007, were the aberration.

Although a simple look at the disabled list last year might have clued you in to the fact that the Rockies had some things going against them, their cornerstone player conceded that plenty of people used last year to diminish 2007.

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"Without a doubt," Troy Tulowitzki told FanHouse. "I think people said 'In 2007, they had a good run and got hot in the playoffs and in '08 they played more like themselves.'"

If anyone did believe that, mentioning it to Brad Hawpe or Todd Helton would not be a good idea.

"How is it a [expletive] fluke if you make it to the playoffs and win the first two rounds? Tell me where the fluky part is."
-- Todd Helton on Colorado's 2007 World Series run "In 2007 we made it in the last two weeks, but you gotta remember, we didn't win 90 games in two weeks," Hawpe said. "We had to be a strong team all season to be in that position."

Helton, much less diplomatically, said: "Are you gonna say anytime anyone goes to the World Series who aren't the Yankees it's a [expletive] fluke? How is it a [expletive] fluke if you make it to the playoffs and win the first two rounds? Tell me where the fluky part is."

As for the 74-88 record in 2008, the year that might have given the impression the Rockies had sunk back to their expected level, Tulowitzki and Helton -- two of the key players who regressed -- were hurt.

"I couldn't use my left leg," said Helton, who hit a career-worst .264 with seven homers in a half season before shutting it down for surgery to correct a nerve problem in his back. "I was worthless."

Now Helton is healthy, although the injury still left him without some of the power he he had earlier in his career, his .325 average proof of his improved condition.

"It's huge," Tulowitzki said. "It's nice to have the real Todd Helton, defensively, offensively. He's one of the best players in the game."

Tulowitzki, who hit .263 with eight homers while battling a quad injury last year, overcame a slow start this year to answer any doubters. He hit .297 with 32 homers and he's played sensational defense again.

Tulowitzki, Helton, Hawpe and Ryan Spilborghs missed a combined 184 games while on the disabled list in 2008. This year? Zero. The return to health of those players has more than compensated for the loss of Matt Holliday, who was traded last winter to the A's, and again this summer to the Cardinals.

"I've seen everything go up and down," catcher Yorvit Torrealba said. "Last year obviously wasn't the year we wanted, but this is the same team we had in 2007. It's the same guys. ... We've got a good team. Nobody realizes how good this team can be with the pitching and the offense."

The Rockies are second in the league in runs, just as they were in 2007. They are eighth in the league in ERA, just as they were in 2007. How they've gotten there has been much different, though. Instead of hovering around .500 all year until going nuts in the final three weeks, the Rockies have played consistently good baseball since late May, roughly when Jim Tracy took over for fired manager Clint Hurdle.

"We started off slow, but we made a good push after the first couple months and have played good, solid baseball," Hawpe said. "We've been one of the best teams in baseball the past few months."

Since June 4, the Rockies went 73-40, the best record in the league by a wide margin. During that span, they have had one three-game, one four-game and one five-game losing streak. Other than that, no one has beaten them more than twice in a row.

"We've had confidence since June," Torrealba said. "We started playing really well, and people started talking about '07. It's not the same as '07. We had to win or go home. Now we've been in second place for so long, led the wild card for so long. People can see how good our team is."

Rockies Opening Day starter Aaron Cook said the Rockies extended period of solid play this year should leave no one any doubt that the club is legit.

"It's not as much of a whirlwind," Cook said. "We were in this position a few months ago. We've done it for longer. Everyone is a little more calm, just going about their business and getting it done."