The time for Rockies is now

Nolan Arenado said it first. And he said it best. “The time to win is now,” Arenado declared, way back in February.

It’s May. The Rockies are in first place of the National Leaguewest. That’s not a misprint. Or a dream.

These Rockies are for real. And the time to win is now.

During 25 seasons of major-league baseball, Colorado has never had a better chance to win theworld Series. And, yes, that includes Rocktober, the magical mystery tour of 2007 that had entire families fist-bumping at Coors Field and complete strangers dancing in the streets of Denver.

But know what? This Colorado team of Arenado and Greg Holland and Antonio Senzatela is better than the Rocktober squad ofmatt Holliday and Jeff Francis and Todd Helton. The time to win the first division title in club history, and make a run at a championship, is now. In 2017.

Twenty-five years is long enough to be patient. Am I right, Colorado? We’re done with trusting the process. It’s time to seize

a golden opportunity.

What do the Rockies have going for them? A lot of good stuff, sustainable all summer long. Holland, a closer coming off Tommy John surgery, is throwing likemariano Rivera in his prime, and Colorado must exploit what’s shaping up as a career year for Holland. Charlie Blackmon might be the best leadoff hitter in baseball. Arenado can beat you with his glove or bat. Kyle Freeland and Senzatela are rookies who don’t pitch scared at Coors Field, and provide strong arms behind Jon Gray, the staff ace due back soon from the disabled list.

It’s impossible to find five teams in the National League playing better than the Rockies. While thewest won’t be a cakewalk, the struggling Cubs have given all challengers reason to believe Chicago’s return to the World Series is far from a foregone conclusion.

The rest of baseball is waiting for the Rockies to get blown away in the annual June swoon. They might fold, having put such a heavy load on such young starting pitchers. But I wouldn’t bet on it, and neither would San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy, who is convinced Colorado’s talent has staying power.

OK, I know what’s coming. Even-tempered baseball analysts will crunch the numbers, condescendingly pat me on the head and declare baseball to be the ultimate act of patience, so expecting big things for the Rockies in 2017 is naive. Well, forgive me for dreaming. And let me soberly add: Dreams have a short shelf life in baseball.

Yes, Colorado might have cracked open its window of opportunity a little ahead of schedule, but the window of opportunity almost never stays pried open very long for a midmarket franchise.

Kansas City had not won a postseason game in 29 years before overcoming a four-run deficit to beat Oakland 9-8 in 12 innings as a wild card in 2014. That little miracle was the catalyst to consecutiveworld Series appearances by the Royals, who won it all in 2015. It was amazing, inspiring and offered a blueprint for the Rockies. But the magic quickly disappeared in K.C., and the Royals have slipped back to mediocrity. It’s inevitable for a franchise with limited resources.

For a change, the hard call for the Rockies should not be whether to sell off outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, whose name has been whispered in trade scuttlebutt so many times in recent years he now responds to every rumor with a shrug and a smile. What general manager Jeff Bridich must decide is whether Colorado’s status as playoff contender merits a move to upgrade the roster. The most obvious need is a veteran starting pitcher to eat innings in the absence of Chad Bettis, preoccupied with the very serious business of beating cancer.

While the trade deadline is more than two months away, it’s not too early to formulate a strategy. Should the Rockies even consider a rent-a-pitcher, such as Tampa Bay right-hander Alex Cobb? At the other end of the spectrum, would jumping in a discussion about Pittsburgh ace Gerrit Cole be too frightening because of the harm it could do to Colorado’s farm system?

I believe the Rockies are for real.

But will the Rockies feel the urgency to win now and get real serious about adding talent in trade?

I won’t believe it until I see it.