"Rockies fans didn't need to witness the first leg of this road trip to cough up the exhaust fumes. By the time the players arrived in their hotel rooms at 3 a.m., the week had already taken on a sense of urgency. It's one thing to lose games, but deploying air bags against some of baseball's worst is costly and troubling. To those who question the Rockies' status as preseason division favorites, Wednesday night provided more compelling evidence. Colorado didn't hit enough and was thumped 7-3 by the Houston Astros, owners of the worst record in the National League. "It's not time to panic, but it is time to have healthy concern," first baseman Todd Helton said. "We can't keep waiting around for something to happen. We have to make it happen." That erstwhile Rockie Cory Sullivan doomed Colorado made it even more painful, his eighth-inning, pinch-hit single set up by Clint Barmes' paralyzing, two-out fielding gaffe. "I am not playing good baseball right now," Barmes said. Rookie Esmil Rogers had no margin for error in the eighth because the bats again rang hollow. The pitching staff has an excuse even if one isn't required. Injuries have deprived the Rockies of starter Jorge De La Rosa and closer Huston Street. Yet, they own a 3.90 ERA. Even the bullpen, for all of its late-game hiccups, has provided solid results. The offense is the issue — and quickly becoming indefensible. The Rockies are batting .261 overall and just .240 on the road. They have scored 13 runs in their last five games, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position Wednesday. They managed a meager two hits off Astros starter Felipe Paulino, who hadn't won since last October. "Let's face it, we have some key components that aren't performing," manager Jim Tracy said. "It has been a struggle."" http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_15122006
