There are many reasons why the Colorado Rockies continue to play uninspired baseball in the Jim Tracy era. None of which reside on the part of the Rockies. From what I've been hearing, the blame has been going to the umps, writers, bloggers, and even Dinger himself. Even Root Sports, the unbiased home telecast is being pulled into the excuse machine known as the 2011 Rockies season. Root does a great job of calling games, with talented and experienced broadcasters. But, excuses are becoming more of a crutch than to actually give a fair assessment of how the Rockies are playing.

One explanation given as a reason for the lack of success, is of course, all the trade rumors being flung around. True. Trade rumors can affect a baseball player on the field and be a detriment to a team looking to escape a season-long funk. So what was the main excuse before all the trade rumors started flying? Injuries. The Rockies season has spiraled to a new low because of injuries, which cannot be overlooked. According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, the admission by Dan O'Dowd that he was listening to offers on Ubaldo Jimenez, was meant to light a fire in the Rockies Ace. I guess that didn't work out too well. This season has seen injuries to key players (De La Rosa, Cook, Tulo, Cargo) and sub-par performances by players looking to make the next step in their careers (Stewart, Ianetta). While injuries and trade rumors can take a toll on a team, they are not the only reasons for the underperforming Rockies.

Going into Spring Training at an all new Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, high hopes were placed on the Rockies by national and local media alike. Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez were both given "Mega Deals" in the off-season and were secured by the team for the next decade.The usual slow start to the season was going to be a thing of the past for the Rockies. Chris Ianetta was to become the starting Catcher again, not having to compete with Yorvit Torrealba or Miguel Olivo. Ian Stewart was given the opportunity to lock down 3rd base and show the tremendous potential he has. With the trade of Clint Barmes to the Astros, The Rockies brought in 2B Jose Lopez to compete with Chris Nelson, Jonathan Herrera and Eric Young Jr. Utilityman Ty "Wiggy" Wigginton was signed in the off-season to bring in a power bat that could play almost anywhere on the diamond. Jason Giambi signed a team friendly contract to back up Todd Helton at first base and be the DH during interleague games.

On the pitching side, it looked as though the Rockies would possess a ton of depth in the starting rotation. Former Mets starter John Maine signed a minor league deal and former first round pick Greg Reynolds looked to be healthy this season. Felipe Paulino, acquired through a trade with the Astros was converted to a reliever. The bullpen was given a boost with the acquisition of Matt Lidstrom. The only thing left to do
was compete, and show everyone that the Rockies mean business.

So here we are on July 27th, a season-low eight games under .500, with the trade deadline only 4 days away. Admittedly, there are reasons as to why the Rockies are fighting to salvage the season, with injuries taking the bulk of the blame. Trade rumors definitely have hurt the team over the past few weeks as well. Underperforming cannot be overlooked as many younger players are getting older. The front office can also take a share of the blame for risky off-season moves. No one could foresee the season as it has unraveled, but nevertheless, the season is what it is. There is always next season. Ubaldo Jimenez is still the Rockies Ace, Tulo and Cargo are here to stay. Creating the right pieces around them may not be easy but will be a necessity in the very near future. Last but not least, Todd Helton is having a great year and truly looks like the HOF we all know and love.