Colorado Rockies: Finding the one positive out of all of the negatives

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 13: Ian Desmond #20 of the Colorado Rockies high-fives Tom Murphy #23 after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 13, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 13: Ian Desmond #20 of the Colorado Rockies high-fives Tom Murphy #23 after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 13, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /
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Leave it up to the guy who has been frustrated with the play and pointing out the negatives since spring training to find a positive about the Colorado Rockies‘ recent slump.

For the first two and half months of the season, I have written numerous articles pointing out the little things that have driven me crazy and have held back this baseball team from taking control of the NL West. Now that they are playing horrid baseball and slowly slipping out of contention, the cynic in me would love to pile on and continue to bash this team into submission.

The problem is I’m still a fan and it is much more enjoyable for me to be negative when things are going well than kicking them while they are down. So I guess, for the sake of my sanity, I have to flip-flop and find a positive in this rough patch.

So without further ado, here is the one positive to take away after the Rockies have lost five of six and 14 of the last 22 games: The 2017 Colorado Rockies went through almost the exact same bad stretch, yet somehow, still found a way to make the playoffs.

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A little less than a year ago today, from June 21 to June 28, the Rockies lost eight straight games to begin what would be a 5-15 stretch. Much like this year, that team also couldn’t click on all cylinders on any given day. When they were hitting, they couldn’t pitch and vice versa. Sound familiar?

Before that losing streak, the Rockies were a half game behind the Dodgers for the division lead. Once they finally snapped out of their skid, they were looking up in third place and 9.5 games back in the West but still holding a Wild Card spot. Before this downfall, the Rockies were leading the West but now are in the middle of a tight pack four games out.

The 2017 Rockies did have two key advantages that this year’s team didn’t: They were 21 games over .500 and the Wild Card was still in their control before their tailspin.

This year, the Rockies have a different advantage … the West is still wide open. Much like the Rockies, the other three teams fighting for the title all have serious flaws. It will be the team that is able to address those flaws that will come out on top.

Next: Should the Rockies fear the June Swoon?

Enough is enough. It is time for the Rockies to break out of this nasty slump so I can return to my comfort zone of negativity. Being the voice of optimism is not a good look for me and Wednesday’s 7-2 victory was a start in the right direction.