It's been a pretty season for the Rockies but it won't end that way as this team, while a joy to observe, is not a playoff power.

The offense, despite a 14-run explosion against the Giants, is lacking. There are more sub-.230 hitters on this roster than a good team should have. There is the gone-cold power of Todd Helton, Brad Hawpe, Chris Iannetta and Ian Stewart.

But this article is about pitching and the consequences it will have on this eason.

With Aaron Cook now hurting, the pitching staff takes a hit too, a big hit. That Colorado's best band aid to that is to recall Matt Herges, once a solid reliever, to "replace" Cook is a sad indictment on the upper level of the franchise's development system.

Esmil Rogers, promoted earlier this summer from Double A Tulsa to Colorado Springs, could have been in Denver except for his shockingly bad pitching for the Sky Sox after his encouraging performance for the Drillers. Greg Reynolds, once the second pick in the draft, could have been in Colorado but his health and performance were both sickly. Jason Hirsh was so bad that the Rockies gave up on him and traded him to the...Yankees? Brandon Hynick is just another guy, a possible future reliever but not good enough to throw during a playoff run.

Jhoulys Chacin, an above-average prospect, isn't ready.

Add it all up and the Rockies lack of attractive choices will cost the team, either as a wild card in the playoffs or in the race to make the postseason.