Colorado Rockies prepare for a September to remember, win or lose

The month of September dawned full of promise for the Colorado Rockies … promise to be one of the most memorable months in franchise history. The month ahead will determine if Colorado will make the postseason for the first time since 2009 or suffer arguably its most deflating collapse in franchise history.

Pressure? Sure, there’s plenty on Bud Black’s team right now. A first half that was so good has almost been erased by a second half filled with struggles. As Mark Kiszla pointed out in this article, since June 21, the Rockies have been the National League’s worst team. Mock San Francisco for their bad season if you like, Rockies fans. However, they’ve been better over the last two-plus months than the men in purple pinstripes.

Starting with Friday night’s series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado has the chance to shake off its recent struggles and make a statement. Seven games are left against Arizona, the team that has surged to 3.5 games ahead of the Rockies in the Wild Card standings. Seven games are left against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team that has already clinched its spot in the postseason and essentially the top seed in the National League.

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Those 14 games are almost half of the 29 games between now and when the final pitch of Colorado’s regular season is thrown at Coors Field against the Dodgers on October 1. Those 14 games could spell the difference between Game 163 and simply looking ahead to spring training.

Milwaukee sits just 2.5 games behind the Rockies after beating Washington on Thursday night. The Brewers are the only team with a legitimate chance to catch Colorado for the second Wild Card slot. MLB.com thinks it isn’t much of a chance, however. They give the Rockies a 73 percent chance to make the postseason. Milwaukee is at 14 percent.

A Colorado team that reverts back to its early season ways of solid pitching and timely hitting (especially with runners in scoring position, something the Rockies rarely did in August) has the talent to not only get to the postseason but make some noise in October as well. That’s the team that had Denver excited for the majority of the season. It’s also the standard that has made recent losses so bitter.

The eyes of the National League will be on downtown Denver for the next three games. How the Rockies fare against Arizona sets the tone for the rest of the month. No, it won’t solidify anything for the postseason but it will be a barometer for how September may go.

With roster expansion, Colorado will have different players to use in different situations. How will they be used? What will their impact be? Those are just two of the questions Rockies fans will be anxious to answer as the month unfolds.

Next: Examining Colorado's potential September call-ups

The month begins Friday night at 20^th and Blake against a playoff-bound division rival. The month ends on October 1 at 20^th and Blake against a playoff-bound division rival. What happens in between will determine what kind of season the Rockies will have in the history books.