Lackluster Recrap: Lather. Rinse. Continue sucking.

This team would be killing my desire to write about baseball if I didn't know I'd be writing about playoff games starting in about eight days. Seriously, coming up with something to say is impossible when you go 0-7 in your final home stand, get shutout in your home finale, and then lose to the Houston freaking Astros.

Are they seriously not going to win another game? Is that what we're faced with here? They're going to somehow top last year's 1-13 finish? I don't know what the answer will be, but if the Rockies can't win Drew Pomeranz's start on Friday night, I'm going to assume that's how it'll go.

Astros 9, Rockies 6 (boxscore)

There's nothing really to evaluate at this point with Alex White. Either he's not totally healthy, or he's nowhere close to being major league ready. My guess is still the finger isn't right, but whatever the case, his performance next spring training is what really matters. He'll have to do well there to calm everybody down and win his spot on the team. Whatever happened in these start won't factor in at all.

-- Wilin Rosario continues to slug the ball very well, but clearly has to work on his discipline at the plate. That's fine. It'll be a constant adjustment for him, as it is for all young players. But not all young players have his pop, which makes me smile. He is the future. Embrace it.

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Thank you Aaron Cook

I really wanted to write a really long, positive piece today to wrap up the Rockies home schedule. But then the team goes ahead and gets themselves shutout by Anthony Bass and five San Diego Padres relievers. That doesn't exactly inspire me to be positive, but I'll try to say nice things anyway.

Padres 4, Rockies 0 (boxscore)

Thank you Aaron Cook.

I wouldn't say you necessarily went out on a high note, but you went out on an appropriate note. Much like most of your Rockies career, you weren't dominant or overpowering, but you found a way to collect yourself and did a good job keeping the team in the game. You really did. And that's always impressed me about you.

Now done addressing Aaron Cook personally.

Say what you will about Cook's performance this season, I promise you he has more guts than anyone on this team save for Juan Nicasio. To come back from the blood clots in the lungs to become the Rockies all-time winniest pitcher. To come back from the broken leg, the broken finger, it's all very impressive. Because of that, I will never say negatively about Aaron Cook the person.

Yes, it's time to part ways with Aaron Cook the pitcher, but I'm sure there will come times when I miss both the person and the pitcher. The Rockies will miss both too. We need more guys with makeup and toughness. There's no question about that.

And I even admire Aaron Cook enough to not label this a Recrap.

-- I found it interesting that Jim Tracy unleashed the following diatribe on his offense before today's game.

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Lackluster Recrap: Rockies celebrate Tracy's return with another dud

Did you hear? Jim Tracy's coming back next season! And he gets to pick his coaching staff! Weeeeeeeee!

Fake excitement aside, that's actually really good news compared to what many expected to be the announcement of a contract extension. It doesn't make me optimistic for 2012, but at least I don't have to be pessimistic beyond 2012 since I really doubt he'll do anything next season to warrant that extension.

Small, painful victories.

Padres 2, Rockies 1 (boxscore)

Just no victories on the field.

I guess I should officially retire the Recap this season? Can I please do one more, just to make sure I don't get rusty heading into the offseason? Is that too much to ask?

-- Seattle Mariners rookie Mike Carp had five hits tonight. The Rockies had five hits in the first 17 innings of this series. Then they had three in the ninth inning, scored a run, and still lost.

Go offense!

-- Troy Tulowitzki made his return to game action, striking out as a pinch-hitter with first and third in the 8th inning. When Tulo made his walk to the plate, that was the first time Coors Field had a pulse during this home stand. Sad, but not unexpected.

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Lackluster Recrap: Yay for not being no-hit!

Or as @edwscott responded on Twitter, maybe they wanted to be no-ht but couldn't do that right either. It seems plausible. 

I'll say this -- the Rockies may have only had one hit against Cory Luebke and Ernesto Frieri (Yes, those are real people, and real major league pitchers. Hell, I even started Luebke in two fantasy leagues.), but they got a 200% return on that one hit -- a two-run home run by Mark Ellis.

On the negative side, Luebke had two hits himself. And San Diego had eight runs. We lose. Again.

Padres 8, Rockies 2 (boxscore)

It was probably good that Kevin Millwood threw a clunker out there to remind people like me who are clamoring to re-sign him that he's still old, and he's only had one really quality season (2009) since 2006. Thanks, Kevin. My optimism has been adjusted.

Back to the positive side: The bullpen -- Jim Miller, Edgmer Escalona & Josh Roenicke -- did a fantastic job, holding San Diego to one run over the final 5 2/3. At least those guys are trying to make a name for themselves.

Drew Goodman: 8-time Colorado Sportscaster of the Year, and currently the Rockies best fielder...

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Lackluster Recrap: Only nine Recraps to go

You thought the final two weeks of 2010 were painful? What we're witnessing right now is actually worse. This is the most embarrassing, unwatchable brand of baseball I've witnessed in 20 years.

Yes, even those teams from 1999-2006 were easier to watch, mainly because those teams had no expectations going in. To see how much this current Rockies team has detriorated, even before the injuries, is just depressing.

If there was crying in baseball, I might be depressed enough to cry. I don't think there's any law against puking, so I'll go ahead and do that.

Giants 12, Rockies 5 (boxscore)

Just when it looked like Esmil Rogers might be taking small steps forward, he runs into his old nemasis from San Francisco and promptly wets the bed.

His line: 3 2/3 IP, 7 H, 9 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 4 HR

That's about an ugly as a starting pitcher's line can get. And that's before taking into consideration that one of the home runs he allowed was hit by Matt Cain.

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