The Colorado Rockies agreed to re-up with Colorado Springs for next season. Season attendance at Security Service Field was an all-time high. Player movement between Triple-A and the major leagues was brisk.

Everybody’s happy. Almost.

With today and Monday remaining on the schedule, they are 63-78 and 91/2 games out of first place in the Pacific North Division of the Pacific Coast League.

“We understand the frustration,” said Marc Gustafson, Colorado Rockies senior director for player development. “The reality is that we’ve had a lot of injuries. … Consistency is important at the Triple-A level and we haven’t had it. But the job of the Triple-A team is to protect the major league club.”

And that is why this season has been termed a success.

“We had a lot of young talented kids who we thought would be able to go to the big leagues and help our big-league club win. And they progressed and ended up going up to the big leagues,” Sky Sox manager Stu Cole said, “and they’re still up there and they’re a big part of trying to help our big-league club get into the wild-card position.”

Why didn’t the Sky Sox win more?

“Because those guys weren’t here all year,” Cole said. “It’s tough to replace them.”

The bottom line is, of course, pitching. The Sky Sox have been offensively a decent team this season. But the pitching has been suspect. The Sky Sox through Friday had six starters with at least 10 starts this season; all have earned-run averages of at least 5.35.

But consider: The top of the Sky Sox starting rotation at the beginning of the season figured to be, in no particular order, Jhoulys Chacin, Esmil Rogers and Samuel Deduno. All three are in the major leagues now. They combined to make 25 starts for the Sky Sox.

It’s the same with field players. Jonathan Herrera, Chris Nelson have spent a sizeable chunk of the season in Denver, and Brad Eldred also had a stint with the Rockies. That’s three-quarters of a would-be starting infield. Throw in some rehab stints and temporary demotions and you had some circus.

“Obviously we had some struggles at times,” Eldred said. “We had guys called up and down; I don’t know if that messed with the dynamic of the team. But we had a good team. Obviously, there we other good ones out there.”

On the other hand, it was an opportunity for local fans to see players like Troy Tulowitzki, Huston Street, Chris Iannetta, Eric Young Jr., Dexter Fowler and Jorge De La Rosa at bargain prices. Fowler and Iannetta had extended stays with the Sky Sox and were improved players when they returned to the major league level.

“We’re extremely pleased we haven’t had to go out of the organization,” Gustafson said. “When we’ve brought up a player from Colorado Springs, they’re ready to fill in at the major-league level.”

Key position playersJay Payton (.328) and Matt Miller (.321) were third and fourth in the PCL in hitting; Miller was second in hits and Payton tied for fifth in doubles. Brad Eldred (29) was fifth in home runs and tied for 12th (80) in RBIs. Cole Garner tied for fourth with nine triples.

Key pitchersChaz Roe led the team with 108 strikeouts in 152 innings, Alan Johnson led the team with 10 victories. Edgmer Escalona led the team, appearing in 56 games. Andrew Johnston made 53 appearances and his 13 holds was tied for second in the league.

AnalysisTake away Eldred’s homers and add in low stolen bases, and you’re talking about an offense that needed to string hits together. As for pitching, teams liked to hit against the Sky Sox. And it wasn’t just the friendly ballpark. There was no fear. And starters didn’t get deep enough.

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