Davis’ steep decline is a riddle the Rockies must solve

The decline of Wade Davis is one of the most glaring flaws of the Rockies’ failed season. It’s also one of the most confounding.

The deposed closer wasn’t always razor-sharp last season, but he still managed to record a franchise-record 43 saves and

help lead the Rockies into the postseason. But after giving up three critical runs in the Rockies’ 5-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night, Davis’ ERA rose to 7.43, easily the worst of his career.

Before Tuesday night’s game, I asked Davis what’s going on. He admitted he’s frustrated but said he’s not hurt.

“I’m just making bad mistakes at bad times,” said Davis, who turns 34 next month. “I feel pretty good. At this point in the season, I definitely feel pretty good.”

The right-hander’s fastball is averaging 93.5 mph, down significantly from the 96.7 mph heater he threw for Kansas City in 2014, and also down from the 94.4 mph fastball he threw last year. But Davis said it’s not a lack of velocity that’s hurting him, it’s bad pitch location.

“I’m not getting the ball up when I want to get it up, and then I’m not getting the pitches down when I need to. It’s a bad combination,” he said. “I’m trying to wrap my head around it and analyze some of the mistakes that I’ve made.”

Manager Bud Black, who has continued to turn to Davis late in games despite diminishing results, said: “There is not much more to add. Any pitcher’s performance comes down to the question, ‘Are they truly making pitches?’ “

Davis’ home/road splits are extraordinarily dramatic. On the

road, he’s 1-1 with a 2.40 ERA and a 1.400 WHIP and has given up two home runs over 15 innings. At Coors Field, he’s 0-5 with a 10.97 ERA and a 2.109 WHIP while serving up four homers.

I have some theories about what’s going on.

First, I think the “juiced baseballs” in play this year are super-juiced at Coors Field, and everyone from Kyle Freeland to Chad Bettis to Black agrees with me.

But Davis, never one to hunt for excuses, isn’t sure he buys my theory.

“I really don’t know about the (juiced) baseballs, and I haven’t thought too much about it,” he said. “I think most of the damage done to me this year has been made on mistake pitches. I mean, the train keeps going on no matter what, so you still have to go out there and perform.”

My second theory applies not only to Davis but to most pitchers who carry a heavy load at Coors Field. The wear and tear of pitching at altitude inflicts a wicked toll. Pitchers not only have to work harder to make their pitches behave at 5,280 feet, but physical recovery also takes extra time. I don’t think that’s an excuse. I think it’s a reality.

Davis, in my opinion, looks worn out. That’s a huge problem for the Rockies, who owe Davis $17 million next season in the final year of his threeyear, $52 million contract.

Arenado’s 1,000th. Fivetime all-star and six-time Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado played in his 1,000th big-league game Tuesday night, prompting me to recall something longtime baseball guru Jerry Weinstein told me this spring.

“Nolan has the best internal clock and the best internal compass of any player I have ever seen,” said Weinstein, who managed Arenado at High-A Modesto in 2011. “When he needs to make that spinning throw from third, he knows exactly where his target is and exactly how much time he has to make the play. He knows baseball in his mind’s eye better than anyone I have ever seen.”

Rusin’s gem. Lefty Chris Rusin, the Rockies reliever who is remaking himself as a starter at Triple-A Albuquerque, pitched an excellent game Monday night, allowing just five hits over 7M innings, leading the Isotopes to a 4-1 win over Sacramento. Rusin (2-4, 5.27 ERA at Triple-A) allowed one run while striking out four and walking none to get the win.

“The last few weeks, he’s had some really quality outings,” Black said. “I’m happy for Chris, to see him in a spot where he’s throwing the ball well. That’s a good sign. There have been indications that that type of game was coming.”