DENVER  – Athletes and their coaches constantly talk about doing the “little things” the right way. They talk about the “little things” so often that the little things have become one sport’s biggest clichés.

The only problem with the “little things” cliché is most people don’t know what the little things are.

Given the Colorado Rockies’ 7-6 loss Wednesday to the Chicago Cubs – the Rockies’ fourth consecutive loss – they must be finding it difficult to do the little things the right way.

Still, all the talk makes one wonder, what exactly are these little things and why they’re contributing to the Rockies’ struggles.

Are the little things akin to small ball – the philosophy of methodically placing runners on base and moving them over, manufacturing runs through smart plate appearances, i.e., walks and aggressive base running and not worrying about extra-base hits?

If the little things are similar to small ball, the Rockies aren’t doing them. Then again, the Rockies have never been big on small ball.Rockies first baseman, Todd Helton, was irritated at aspects of his performance in Tuesday’s loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. There was a hard hit grounder that Helton laid out to get. The ball looked like it passed under his glove. It would have been a play worthy of a highlight reel had Helton made it.

Later, Helton would say, “I should’ve had it. I took a bad step. I should’ve had it.”

That was a little thing.

“Little things don’t show up in the boxscore, but you kind of see them throughout the game,” Rockies third baseman Garrett Atkins said. “Like the other day, I kind of made a bad feed to (Jeff) Baker, which led to the high throw he made to first which allowed the runner to get to second.”Atkins, had he talked about another teammate, could’ve added Willie Taveras’ ill-advised throw from deep center field to third, which allowed the batter to take second. He could’ve added Yorvit Torrealba’s steal attempt, too.

During the top the ninth Wednesday, Rockies closer Manuel Corpas threw a waist-high pitch that Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez sent over the left field wall, giving the Cubs a 6-5 lead and Corpas his fourth blown save in eight attempts.

Pitches high in the zone equate to little things that lead to big hurts.

But the Rockies’ little things go a bit further than bad pitches and bad throws. Rockies manager Clint Hurdle got a bit testy when asked what “little things” meant to him.

“We’ve missed a couple signs,” Hurdle said. “We’ve missed the cutoff man. We haven’t turned double plays. I think it’s very evident what little things are. Maybe you wanted me to say it.”

Actually, I did.

“If you’re a baseball fan, and you know the game, I think you would’ve been able to pick up very, very easily the mistakes that we’re running ourselves into and the difficult positions we’re putting ourselves in – not extending innings on offense,” Hurdle said, not liking my question.

“We get maybe one hit to drive in a run. We don’t get that next one. Other than the home run, we’ve been somewhat limited in getting multiple runs in an inning. We’ve been better than that in the past.

“I hope that helps you a little bit in your understanding of little things.”

Only a little, because it raises another question.

Why can’t the Rockies do the little things, the seemingly simple things, better?

Woodland Park catcher Ryan Kerbal tags out Liberty’s Ray Marsh for the first out of the fourth inning Wednesday afternoon, April 23, 2008, in Woodland Park. Photo by The Gazette, Kevin Kreck

KEVIN KRECK