Vacationing In Denver

After the Colorado Rockies completed their brilliant sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks to gain their first World Series birth in franchise history, talk shifted to what in the heck are the Rockies going to do for the next eight days that they have off?

Indeed, that is a ton of time to be out of the arena of competition, but I am sure that the players will gladly accept those days of rest rather than have to fight for their lives for an extra couple of days. The body doesn't feel good, no matter what players say, at this point in the year. It is beyond fatigue for most guys. These days off will be very valuable to the position players who will be able to recharge.

It really is not that much of an advantage for the pitchers, besides the fact that they can map out their pitching plan and control their workload to guarantee freshness for the start of the Fall Classic. Pitchers generally only need one day off to rest up, possibly two if they have been used a lot. With more than a week of rest, they will actually have to throw at least a few bullpen sessions to keep themselves sharp and ready to compete in the most critical innings of the most critical game of their lives.

It is always a mystery when it comes to predicting how a team will come out of the gate after a long layoff. Will they be better due to the time off, or will they show signs of rust? Who knows. Matter of fact, anybody's guess is validated until we actually get to the World Series and see what sort of impact the time off actually had on the Rockies.

Because any and all suggestions about how to spend the eight days off are good ones, here are five suggestions for manager Clint Hurdle and his team to use up the time waiting for the World Series.

1) PLAY A LOT OF GOLF-

With all the time off, allow the fellas to let loose and hit the links five or six times. Pitchers do this anyway, and it is a vital part to their pre-game preparation. You think Tulowitzki or Hawpe will be affected by swinging a golf club? Not a chance, the way those guys have been playing in the last month. Maybe the fresh air and beautiful scenery will remind them of what Denver used to be most commonly known for. If that is not enough motivation to get back on the field and make the city a "Rockie" city, tell me what is.

2) PLAN A CAMPING EXCURSION IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS-

We think this team has been tested in every possible way thus far, fighting back elimination multiple times. They have won 20 out of their last 21 games at a time when they NEEDED to win those games in order to give themselves a shot at even making the postseason. That obviously wasn't much of a challenge for this group. Three days staring death in the face and having to survive on their own wil lbe just perfect for the Rox. Dragon Slayer Josh Fogg will be the team's hunter and gatherer, and by looking at his recent outings, there is no way the guys will go hungry. Yorvit Torrealba and Matt holliday will serve as the bodygaurds, and not one bear will get through that duo. After wrestling around with grizzlies for a few days, what kind of threat does a C.C. Sabathia fastball or a Fausto Carmona sinker come off as?

3) PLAY THE WORLD SERIES IN A VIDEO GAME-

Need to get all the swings in for the hitters and the throwing in for the pitchers? Get the team together at any one of the players' luxurious pads, or even the clubhouse at Coors Field, and play out the World Series in a video game simulation. Players can vote on the game of choice and the console of choice and go head-to-head with the Rockies against Cleveland/Boston until we burn these eight days and finally reach first-pitch time of Game 1 next week. If Hurdle really wants to make this time well spent, shoot, even play the game on EASY. What can be better positive reinforcement to see the hitters themselves absolutely raking every offering that even comes close to the plate, and the pitchers hitting the perfect spot with every one of their pitches? Not once, not twice, but for EIGHT STRAIGHT DAYS. Talk about visualization of the 21st century.

4) TAKE THE TEAM ON A TRIP TO THE BAHAMAS-

If none of the previous ideas suit your fancy, this one is one hundred percent guarantted to work. Get the players out of the country and laying around in the sun on a nice beach for a week. Do everything that has absolutely nothing to do with baseball. If there is really a need to keep the bodies moving, the work on their swings by paddling on a surfboard, and the pitchers cna work on their legs and shoulders by treading water. With their minds completely at ease, the Rockies will return just in time for Game 1 and will come out and play like they are in Little League again.

5) COMPLETELY AVOID EVERYTHING MENTIONED ABOVE-

This is certainly the most practical choice out of all these scenarios. In all seriousness, the Rockies will spend the next week doing everything they did in Spring Training to get ready for the season. In reality, what else is there to do? Nothing. There are only so many swings you can take and only so many groundballs you can field. A player simply hopes that he does enough in the time span that when they return to game action in a week, their feel and timing of the game will not be off.

But, really, the workouts and pastimes for the next week are very cliche. Pitchers will throw their side sessions, hitters will probably endulge in some "game-like" scenarios during BP, fielders will take plenty of grounballs, and some guys may also choose to do some maintenance work in the weightroom. Either way they choose, the most likely outcome is that their plan of action really won't affect them at all. This team is so beyond what we refer to as "hot", that is really doesn't matter how they spend their time off as long as they are doing SOMETHING baseball-related. They will come out in the World Series and pick up right where they left off. As the players have a long while to wait to play again, it will only be a little bit longer that the fans of Denver must wait to celebrate a World Series Championship.