Colorado Rockies morning after: Please trade for a reliever

As the lead slowly started to slip away from the Colorado Rockies in Monday night’s 9-6 victory over the San Diego Padres at Coors Field, a palpable feeling also began to rise from Rockies fans in LoDo and around the country.

That feeling? If the Rockies are going to make a trade before the July 31 deadline, it needs to be for a relief pitcher.

An 8-1 lead heading into the seventh inning quickly evaporated for the Rockies on Monday night. It’s been a disturbing trend in recent weeks. Colorado’s bullpen, solid for much of the campaign’s first half, has completely seen the wheels come off too often as of late. There are now few names that can be called upon in clutch situations which give Colorado fans a feeling of hope rather than the feeling a white-knuckle ride is coming.

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Adam Ottavino is struggling as mightily on the mound as Carlos Gonzalez has been at the plate. Mike Dunn, although returning to form in recent games, hasn’t been the same since back spasms landed him on the disabled list. Jordan Lyles … well … you know.

Colorado manager Bud Black can’t bring Chris Rusin and Greg Holland out of the bullpen every night. Other relievers are going to have to become as trusted as those two names are night after night. Jake McGee hadn’t given up a run in his last six outings but surrendered three in just a third of an inning against the Padres on Monday night.

Troy Renck nailed it with this tweet. If the Rockies are going to catch the Arizona Diamondbacks and host the National League Wild Card game, Colorado has to get some help in the bullpen.

Let’s face the facts when it comes to the bullpen. Black had to use four pitchers in the eighth inning on Monday night just to try to squash a San Diego rally. The Padres sent eight men to the plate in the frame. If Colorado’s bullpen is having trouble shutting down San Diego, what happens when the Rockies are facing Washington or Los Angeles later this season or (gasp) in the postseason?

There are rumors swirling of all kinds out there involving the Rockies, most notably linking the team with Detroit outfielder J.D. Martinez. Could Colorado use another bat? Sure, but that’s not their biggest need right now. It once again became obvious on Monday night that Colorado needs a solid reliever above anything else.

Next: These relievers could be useful for the Rockies

Colorado showed on Monday night that it has the offense it needs. In fact, the Rockies have scored nine or more runs in four out of its last seven games. A bat isn’t going to push the Rockies further in the postseason. A reliable arm or two in the bullpen will.