Fact or myth? Should Rockies fear swooning in June?

Kiz: School’s out. It’s sunny and warm. Picnics and hikes. In Colorado, there are a thousand reasons to love June. But it’s a four-letter word to the Rockies. The cruelest month of the baseball season in LoDo. Or so we think. The Rox opened June by being swept by the Dodgers at Coors Field. As Scooby Doo was fond of saying: “Ruh roh.” Should we fear a June swoon? Saunders: Kiz, as Shanny used to say, “You are a troublemaker, aren’t you?” Being the beat writer that I am, I looked into this June swoon thing. In their first 25 seasons, the Rockies have had 10 winning records in June vs. 15 losing seasons. In their four playoff seasons — 1995, 2007, 2009, 2017 — they had winning Junes. Coincidence? I think not. June is the month when real contenders begin to emerge. Bottom line: The Rox need to rebound quickly from that ugly sweep in LoDo. Kiz: OK, a year ago, the Rockies lost eight of nine games to end June, with all the losses suffered at the hands of the National League West rivals, and Bud Black still managed to find a way to win a playoff berth. June is the month when the sample size of games grows large enough to reveal the real strengths and legit flaws on a roster. From presumed ace Jon Gray’s crisis of confidence to Ian Desmond’s unreliable bat and the bullpen’s chronic breakdowns, is it all more than even Black can manage? Saunders: Kiz, though I believe that Black has all the skills to steer the ship, I must say that his use of Brooks Pounders in recent games was puzzling. Then again, maybe he had no choice. But you’re correct, Black can only manage the players he has on his roster. He can’t hold Jon Gray’s hand out on the mound, he can’t stop Desmond from grounding out (again) and he can’t make Bryan Shaw pitch like he did for the Indians. As Black found out in San Diego, a manager can’t play for the players. Kiz: Mr. Saunders, you have thoughtfully compiled a wish list of trade targets for the Rockies: veteran starting pitcher, proven reliever and a right-handed bat. Which item should be the top priority for general manager Jeff Bridich? And do you think the front office is willing to make a move in June, or would Bridich be wiser to let the month play out and see if this club is a playoff contender or pretender? Saunders: Before the recent bullpen implosion, I would have said a righthanded bat was the top priority. Now, I think, it’s going to be imperative to shore up the bullpen, because as the weather heats up, there are going to be a lot more pinball games at Coors Field. The Rockies need some help and some fresh arms in that patch of grass by the home run fountains. As for the timing of it all, I think it would be wiser for Bridich to wait a bit, see which teams are sellers and see who’s on the market.