Rockies still searching for direction after three decades

But those poor numbers are not from an occasional rough patch or even a bad front office era. This has now gone on for a third of a century. There were different rosters, numerous managers with different approaches. So, the question is, what has been the issue with the Rockies organization?

Denver makes baseball difficult

Coors Field has always been a topic of discussion when it comes to the Rockies' lack of success. It is the easiest thing to point at. Pitching in Denver is different, and nobody denies that. The ball carries. Breaking pitches flatten out. Weird things happen on the ballfield in Denver.

Still, that environment has been there since day one. Teams that deal with unique situations usually adapt over time. They draft with it in mind and develop players who fit their needs.

The Rockies organization lacks direction

There is another issue that keeps showing up, and it has nothing to do with altitude.

Direction.

Year after year, the Rockies seem to sit in the same range. Not at the bottom, not near the top. Somewhere in between. That might sound harmless, but it quietly keeps a team from going anywhere.

Finishing in the middle does not force change. It also does not lead to October baseball.

Some organizations tear things down when they realize the ceiling is not high enough. Others push forward when they believe they have a window. Colorado has hovered between those paths for a long time without fully committing to either one.

That approach leads to seasons that blur together.

Look around the league, and it is clear how much the game has changed. Pitchers add velocity after being drafted. Hitters adjust swings and unlock power. Development systems are built with purpose. The Rockies have failed to make these adjustments.

An organizational change from the top may be necessary

A reset is not a fun word to use. It usually means a step backward before anything improves. It can test patience, especially for a fan base that has already waited through years of uneven results. But change is certainly needed. Josh Byrnes was hired last December as the new GM, but is that enough? Is it possible that a change in majority ownership stake, with the hope of developing a new culture, is the only way out?

Avoiding it has not changed the outcome.

Seven winning seasons say everything that needs to be said. If something does not happen in the near future, the Rockies could be well on their way to becoming the worst franchise in baseball history.