The Dodgers are invincible. The Padres are inevitable. The Diamondbacks are indefatigable. And the one word that came to mind about the Rockies during Saturday’s fanfest? Impossible. They make everything difficult. Their plan is not easy to follow because it lacks transparency if not talent. When they talk about their starting rotation it sounds like a warning to a health care provider. And their optimism does not track because it is delusional. So why not just say it? The Rockies have no chance. They are in a division with two contenders and a reigning World Series champion which features the greatest collection of talent assembled in three decades. Manager Bud Black is in a group chat with baseball lifers, including Dodgers boss Dave Roberts. When the Dodgers signed pitcher Roki Sasaki recently, the text message was simple. “Really?” The Dodgers look indestructible, bent on winning championships and ruining baseball (or at least creating a future collective bargaining agreement with a salary floor and cap). The Rockies, still seeking their first National League West title since 1993 (that doesn’t exactly make a great bumper sticker), are vulnerable. That is a polite way of saying weak. “We are looking for growth from the young kids,” general manager Bill Schmidt said. They are the acorns that become the tree. Or maybe a branch on the Dodgers’ redwood. The Rockies remain in a youth movement. It has been long overdue but never articulated clearly. The win total over the past three seasons eloquently explains it: 68, 59, 61. Fans will continue to show up at Coors Field because it is a gorgeous ballpark, well-maintained, a place to party and people watch. But the diehards — and this state has many — are tired of the excuses and the pathetic results. Anyone expecting the Rockies to post a winning record this season either wears more purple than Grimace or doesn’t have the internet. They have some terrific players, like shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, center fielder Brenton Doyle and slugging first baseman Michael Toglia, but not nearly enough. Examples of shocking the world always get trotted out by bad teams, and the Washington Commanders were brought up Saturday. The problem with this analogy? Who is the Rockies’ Jayden Daniels and did Colorado suddenly get deep-pocketed owners? A quarterback can flip the script in the NFL. Pitching is the only way to do it quickly in MLB. What about German Marquez and Antonio Senzatela? Black said their names with confidence. When I heard it, it sounded like an apology, like the waiter saying we don’t have Pepsi is RC ok? “If we can get 30 starts from the five guys we project in the rotation, it would be awesome,” Black said. Awesome? More like awe-inspiring. There were only 51 pitchers who reached that threshold last season across 30 teams. The reality is that the Dodgers have seven pitchers — Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Sasaki, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May — better than any of the Rockies’ starters. You want to sell me on top prospect Chase Dollander, I will listen. The kid has a chance to be a legitimate ace. But who will join him? Sean Sullivan? Carson Palmquist? They have not earned the benefit of the doubt. The problem with taking the Rockies seriously is that it involves Kris Bryant. Playing. In actual games. Bryant has been a tire fire since he signed with the Rockies, his contract making Russell Wilson’s deal look shrewd. Bryant has been hurt. And yes, that stinks. The Rockies figured he would hit 17 home runs with 60 RBIs, but they did not think it would take him three years to do it. At age 33, Bryant has four seasons and $108 million remaining on his contract. Given the need to find immediate at-bats for Jordan Beck and eventually for Benny Montgomery, Zac Veen and Yanquiel Fernandez, why not just cut Bryant I asked? Colorado Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones (22), left, super fan Steve Katz, center, and Colorado Rockies outfielder Kris Bryant (23) have a laugh during the Rockies Family Feud game during the Colorado Rockies Fest at Coors Field on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (Photo by Andy Cross/The Denver Post) “He still has the tools if we can keep him on the field,” said Schmidt, outlining a plan mixing in DH assignments with road starts in the outfield. Added Black, “I think there is a high degree of pride for him to make it right. I don’t think you just lose it at the point where he is in his career.” Ryan McMahon offered a realistic perspective. That he hit .242 last season and was dead right about Bryant tells you what is wrong with the Rockies. “He’s extremely frustrated. I expect a lot from him this year. And I know he expects that,” McMahon said. “We need a lot from KB.” Frankly, they don’t. They should cut him, earning some of the fans’ trust back, same as the Broncos did with Wilson. Related Articles Sports Columnists | Broncos’ assistant Darren Mougey lands GM job with New York Jets, per source Sports Columnists | Renck & File: Nikola Jokic seeing fit for Russell Westbrook with Nuggets ranks as top accomplishment this season Sports Columnists | Renck: Bo Nix’s improvement should mandate passing like Patrick Mahomes, not flopping like him Sports Columnists | Renck: Avalanche can beat NHL’s best. But inconsistency is hurting Colorado. Sports Columnists | Renck vs. Keeler debate: Who wins a pro title next for Denver? Michael Malone, Jared Bednar or Sean Payton? The Rockies have reached the point of their transition where results are necessary. Beck needs to hit. Veen needs to stick. Dollander needs to pitch by August, if not sooner. Charlie Condon needs to reach the big leagues in September, showing he is capable of being the player Bryant used to be. The Rockies are not beating the Dodgers. Or anyone else in the NL West. That is impossible. The goal for this year is simple: Make hope probable in 2026. Want more Rockies news? Sign up for the Rockies Insider to get all our MLB analysis.