The Colorado Rockies are reluctant to label themselves a rebuilding team, but after Saturday night it might be more accurate to say they're imploding.
Colorado hit rock bottom so far in a season that has gone south from the start, losing 21-0 to the San Diego Padres . It was the Rockies' eighth straight defeat and they are 6-33, the worst 39-game start since the 1988 Baltimore Orioles opened with the same record.
Things got so out of hand Saturday at Coors Field that manager Bud Black used catcher Jacob Stallings to pitch the final two innings - and he proved to be one of the team's most effective arms all night.
It was the second time in three days Black put a position player on the mound. Colorado infielder Alan Trejo pitched an inning in the nightcap of a doubleheader loss to Detroit on Thursday.
"I hate it. I hate that big-time," Black said. "It's been a function of where we've been the last four days with the doubleheader and a little bit from our starters. We've had a lot of relievers who pitched a lot lately and you've got to save some arms."