In one of the biggest trades in franchise history, the Colorado Rockies have dumped all-star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and his mammoth salary.

It was just four years ago the Rockies signed Tulo to a $157 million ten-year extension, saying they wanted to keep him for his entire career. How quickly things change.

According to the Denver Post, the Rockies traded Tulowitzki to the Toronto Blue Jays for shortstop Jose Reyes and some minor league pitching prospects. Whether or not  they keep Reyes remains to be seen.

The Colorado Rockies find themselves in a familiar position - mid-way through the season and out of the playoff chase. And, it's a familiar routine - dropping large salaries and good players in the name of getting good young prospects to build a solid foundation for long-term success. So far, the formula hasn't worked.

Many times the Rockies have had a great offensive line up, but not enough pitching to back it up. And, there have been times when the pitching staff has been pretty solid, but he line-up itself too weak to be a contender. The Rockies just don't seem to be able to make those two things happen at the same time.

The fans, it seems,  have had enough of the mediocrity, as attendance at Rockies' games is dwindling. In the first nine  years the Rockies existed, they average more than 47,000 fans per game.In the last nine years, attendance has average just over 33,000 per game.In fact, this year's average of 31,739 is the lowest attendance the Rockies have had since 2007, the year they went to the World Series. That year, ironically, they managed a paltry 28,979 per game.

Obviously, fans are still going to the ball park, but the number is declining - and as long as the Rockies demonstrate the inability to put together some semblance of a contender, that number is likely to keep dropping.

With a measly three post-season appearances in  23 years, we can't help but wonder if the Rockies will ever make it back to the post-season.

We will miss Tulo. We wonder if Tulo will miss the Rockies.

 

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