Sky Sox lose out on the playoffs but help Rockies win

Carlos Gonzalez looks like a fixture in Colorado’s outfield. Eric Young Jr. is an exciting up-and-comer. Franklin Morales, Matt Daley and Josh Fogg continue to throw pivotal innings for the National League wild-card leaders.

Each player honed his skills this year in Colorado Springs. So in the grander scheme, this was a successful season for the Sky Sox.

That perspective might be obscured by a colossal collapse at the end of the season, as the pitching-depleted club coughed up a 7½-game lead over the final 16 games.

Ultimately, the Sky Sox’s function in the organization left them vulnerable. Relievers Joel Peralta and Randy Flores were among four call-ups Sept. 1, the day after starter Brandon Hynick was dealt to the White Sox to rent veteran Jose Contreras for a month. Add in an injury to Kurt Birkins and the staff was left scrambling for arms behind a group of mostly young starters working on tight pitch counts.

By the last game — a do-or-die contest started Monday by Double-A prospect Samuel Deduno, who was called up on short notice — reliever Scott Munter was left on the mound until seven runs crossed the plate and only one out was recorded. There just weren’t any options left.

Tacoma, the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, didn’t have that problem as only one pitcher and one position player made the jump to the big leagues Sept. 1.

Players had little on the line financially, as a playoff run would have meant a prorated portion of their salaries as long as the team stayed alive — a couple of hundred dollars in most cases. Still, many said pride was enough to play for down the stretch.

“A lot of these guys have been with the team all year,” left fielder Matt Miller said last week. “You play with the same guys all year and you want them to do well. You want the team to do well. That’s why we’re here.”

Some players might stand to gain financially if the Rockies were waiting until the Triple-A season ended to add them to the expanded roster, allowing them to accrue major-league service time and a portion of the major-league minimum salary (roughly $16,000 per week).

The only losers in the collapse, really, were the couple of dozen hourly employees at Security Service Field who missed out on at least two games’ worth of extra work and area businesses such as Indigo Joe’s and Fox and Hound, sports bars whose managers said see increases in patrons when the Sky Sox draw a few thousand fans.

Even the Sky Sox coaching staff stood little to gain.

“We just want to get the recognition of trying to be champions,” manager Stu Cole said. “We’re trying to teach these guys how to win and also take that same attitude up to the big leagues.”

The quest for a championship in Denver took precedence in recent weeks. The Sky Sox quest will have to resume next spring.