SAN FRANCISCO — In their first 25 years of existence, the Colorado Rockies have never been able to kick down the door that leads to a National League West title.
This year, things look different. Indeed it appears that the door just needs to be unlocked, not kicked in. Now, if only the Rockies can find the key.
"I think the opportunity is there, it's just a matter of whether we take advantage of it or not," all-star third baseman Nolan Arenado said prior to Friday night's game against the Giants. "We have a lot of work to do, and there are a lot of game left. So we just need to worry about the Giants today. Hopefully, we can win a series here. That would be huge for us, because the Giants are right behind us."
Colorado entered Friday's game 24-20, only 1 ½ games behind first-place Arizona (25-8), a team that got off to a sizzling start but has since fizzled because of key injuries and some of the worst offensive production in the National League.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, winners of five consecutive NL West titles, are a mess. They have lost six of their last seven and are 17-26, their worst start to a season since moving to L.A. Plus, ace Clayton Kershaw remains on the disabled list, and although third baseman Justin Turner is back, it's not a sure thing that he'll hit with the same power after breaking his wrist.
Diamondbacks star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is mired in the longest slump of his career. The Giants (22-23) have a solid bullpen, but their starting pitching, with ace Madison Bumgarner still on the DL, is suspect. The Padres (17-28) have some good young talent, but they're still the Padres.
The Rockies, of course, say all of the right things about their NL West brethren. But there is a sense inside the clubhouse that the their best is yet to come.
"We're playing pretty good, as a team," said slumping first baseman Ian Desmond, who entered Friday's game batting .167 and still stuck in a season-long funk.