The Rockies were right in the thick of the NL West race, until June 17. Then, suddenly and without warning, everything collapsed. The Rox lost 16-of-19 and fell 12 games behind the Diamondbacks in the NL West. Exasperated fans are getting a little fed up with the "purple mountain travesty" that is the Rockies. What strategy will work to create a winner in the unique environment of Colorado? This franchise needs to find an answer, and find it quick, or the Coors Field faithful will become an endangered species, much as Dinger The Dinosaur, the Rockies' absurd mascot, should become extinct.
First-half MVP: Larry Walker has the numbers, and is a great comeback story, but Todd Helton is this team's MVP. The Rockies live and die by their slugging first baseman. Need proof? Since June 1, Helton is hitting .420 with seven homers and 18 RBI in 13 wins, .214 with two home runs and seven RBI in 20 losses. This team doesn't win when Helton doesn't hit. Walker's splits (.375-5-19 in wins, .333 6-14 in losses) aren't nearly as pronounced. Mike Hampton (6 HR, 10 HR allowed) is deserving as well, but Todd gets the nod.
Biggest surprise: This would have gone to catcher Brent Mayne, but he and his .330 average were sent packing in mid-June. Instead, we go with supposed light-hitting Juan Pierre. Pierre has been a pleasant surprise, hitting close to .326 and playing an excellent center field. No Tom Goodwin, Pierre has actually hit higher (.338) on the road than he has at home (.321).
Biggest disappointment: This "award" was gift wrapped for outfielder Ron Gant, but he was shipped to Oakland in early July. Pitcher Gabe White, therefore, takes this dubious honor. Following up a season in which he had an unfathomable 2.36 ERA in 68 games, White has an ERA hovering around eight. How this is happening, we just don't know. Pitching coach Marcel Lachemann seems just as perturbed by this, noting that White appears to be pitching just as well as he did last year, for the most part.
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Rockies first-half comparison
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2000
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2001
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W-L
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45-40
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39-48
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HR leader
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Helton, 21
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Walker, 27
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BA leader
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Helton, .383
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Walker, .343
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ERA
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Astacio, 4.87
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Hampton, 4.02
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Second-half goals: The Rockies appear to have most of the pieces of the puzzle, which makes their lack of execution all the more troubling. It would have been interesting for the team to have the opportunity to try and produce better with a healthy Todd Hollandsworth in left field, but their implosion will likely cost them that chance, as Dan O'Dowd is almost certain to wheel and deal key players like Pedro Astacio now that they're not contending. Getting good value for him is a must; he'll almost certainly be a quality pitcher for many years away from Coors Field. The imminent return of John Thomson may help ease the pain of losing their one-time ace.
Minor-leaguer to watch: SS Juan Uribe. Should the Rockies lose their minds and trade the continually improving Neifi Perez, Uribe will get the call. He's been considered a top prospect for a long time, ranking as the Rockies' second-best prospect by Baseball America, behind right-hander Chin-Hui Tsao. This year, Uribe is hitting .333 in 52 games at Triple-A Colorado Springs, and did a serviceable job when Perez went on the disabled list earlier this year. A future productive major-leaguer for sure. When, is the question.
Grade:  -- The Rockies came in with a "win and win now" attitude, but go into the break with a sub-.500 record. That can't be good. Still, as frustrating as this team is, this is not a lost team. If any National League team appears a good bet for a second-half run, it's this one, provided O'Dowd doesn't sound the alarm and start disassembling what he's put together.
(Scale: 1 to 4 baseballs; 1 = worst, 4 = best)
We told you what we thought of the Rockies' first-half performance, here's what you thought about the Rockies' first half.
Bill Konigsberg is an assistant editor at ESPN.com
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