Honorary 1962 New York Mets – The Colorado Rockies

Afer the game they rested.

Three cheers for the… no, make that two cheers… no, let’s make it ONE cheer for the Colorado Rockies, who by winning yesterday at Denver’s Coors Field ended their somewhat dubious record of losing baseball games on seventeen consecutive Sundays. I’m sure that’s a relief to the 1927, 1928 and 1940 Philadelphia Phillies, the previous record holders with sixteen consecutive Sunday losses in each of those seasons. The Rockies 5 to 3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers gave them their first Sunday win since April 17, 2011. Here are a few, ahem, highlights of the streak:

* The Rockies allowed their most runs of the season, 16, on a Sunday (July 3).

*The Rockies longest losing streak of the season, five games, began on a Sunday (July 3)

*The Rockies were outscored 105-45 in the 17 Sunday games.

*The Rockies lost four of the seventeen Sunday games  by one run.

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There were some good omens heading into the game. Yesterday was the Rockies seventh annual, post-game worship service at Coors Field, and a Christian band, Casting Crowns, would be playing. The opposing pitcher was looking promising, too. Going into the game, Dodger Chad Billingsley lugged a 7.88 ERA and a 1-5 record over his seven career starts at Coors Field. What’s more, while not a great team, the Rockies aren’t pushovers, either. And they have a winning record in the games that they play at Coors Field this year as well. It seemed that the law of averages pointed to a victory.

And so it came to pass. But I can’t help but think that divine intervention played a role. How else do you explain the Rockies scoring five runs on only three hits? After the game, Manager Jim Tracy asked “Do I sit here and have an explanation for you?” I think he had a point there. How do you explain this string of futility? You don’t. This is a perfect example of how baseball sometimes exists in a world all its own, one in which the cosmic roll of the dice often results in losses. Lots of losses. In his comment on the end of the streak, Rockies Slugger Jason Giambi may have summarized it best when he said “a miracle.”

To my way of thinking, a team has to get in touch with their inner 1962 New York Mets brand of baseball in order to pull an accomplishment of this magnitude off. For the Colorado Rockies, the streak is over. But their place in the Honorary 1962 New York Mets Fraternity is secure. Gentlemen, take a bow. This post is for you.

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The entire team here at Grubby Glove would like to thank the Denver Post, who provided information vital to this post. For the complete Denver Post article that proved so valuable, you may go to http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_18728706.

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This is an ongoing series dedicated to my beloved 1962 New York Mets, an inept bunch whom many historians consider the worst baseball team ever. They taught me more ways to lose baseball games than I ever dared to imagine. During that inaugural season, they won 40 and lost 120 games, finishing 60 and a half games out of first place. In order to be recognized, a current player or team has to do something reminiscent of the 1962 Mets. Trust me, this isn’t easy.