It can't get much lower for the Rockies

We've heard all about how weird of a baseball season it's been so far, and who am I to argue?

Tampa Bay has the best record in the American League but still can't convince anyone there to see it for themselves, the Yankees are struggling just to stay out of the cellar, and the Cubs have the best record in the Majors. (They're the Cubs, though, so disaster is bound to strike eventually.)

But what I haven't heard many people talking about is the Colorado Rockies, the team that swept through the NL playoffs last year and seemed poised to at least duke it out with the Diamondbacks for tops in the West this year. Fifty-seven games into the season, though -- this year's more than 1/3 over, folks -- Colorado looks like the worst team in baseball.

Perhaps the lowest of lows came Friday afternoon when the Rockies surged to a 9-1 lead over the Cubs after five innings. Even at Wrigley, an eight run lead should be safe. Chicago rallied for three in the sixth and six in the seventh, and just like that, Colorado snatched defeat from the jaws of victory: the second in a four game sweep at Wrigley, and the fifth of seven straight.

Why the sudden turnaround, less than a year after the Rockies seemed to be building a dynasty? Three reasons, as I can see it (though there may be more).

First and foremost, it seems that last year was an aberration, not this. Before reeling off 14 of 15 to steal the Wild Card last season, the Rockies were 76-72. Respectable, but not outstanding. They got hot at just the right time, and their streak extended through the NLDS and NLCS. But let's not forget that Colorado finished last in the West in 2005 and 2006.

Second, the Rockies' pitching has been atrocious. The team ERA is 5.05, worst in the Majors. Jeff Francis, who was supposed to be the team ace, is 1-5 with a 6.12 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Aaron Cook (7-3, 3.36) is the only starter who's been decent, but even he had a rough day Friday, coughing up seven runs in the Cubs' comeback.

Lastly, they've been without Troy Tulowitzki essentially the whole season. Tulo was off to a crummy start when he tore his quadriceps at the end of April. Without his leadership and energy on the field and in the clubhouse, this club is going to struggle. Injuries to Matt Holliday, Clint Barmes, and Brad Hawpe haven't helped, either.

Colorado proved last season that it has some streak in it, and with the crazy things I've seen so far this year, I'm not going to count them out. But at 12 games back and with four teams to pass, it's a long road to the top.