The Rockies went into the break with a four-game losing streak, 8-1/2 games back of NL West-leading Arizona, and 18 games below .500 (39-57).

Only twice in franchise history have the Rockies been farther below .500 at the break -- 31-56 in 2005 and 22-54 in 1993. And only twice in their previous 15 years have the Rockies cut games off their deficit to first place after the All-Star break.

They went from 8 1/2 to seven games out in 1997, and last year, when they won their first NL pennant ever, they went from 5 1/2 games out at the All-Star break to a half-game back of division-winning Arizona. That required them to win 14 of their final 15 regular-season games.

"We need to make a statement a lot quicker than that," said Hurdle.

They were silenced in the final games before the break. Not only did they lose their last four games, but they score only two runs, and were held scoreless in the final 22 innings.

And to think that came after they opened the month of July by winning seven of nine games, scoring 68 runs and hitting 19 home runs.

It is similar to a stretch earlier in the season when they lost eight in a row, rebounded to win 12 of the next 15, but then went on another eight-game losing streak to end the month of June.

"We've constantly gotten in our own way," said Hurdle. "What's behind us is behind us. We can't change that. What we can do something about is what is ahead of us."

It is time for a realignment of the rotation, which won't be easy. All-Star Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez are set. Glendon Rusch, who allowed one run in six innings on Wednesday in his first start since being called up from Class AAA Colorado Springs, has perked interest.

Lefties Mark Redman and Jorge De La Rosa, however, are in limbo. Redman allowed 11 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings of three starts since returning from the minor leagues. De La Rosa allowed 19 earned runs, 31 hits and eight walks in 18 1/3 innings his last four starts.

Other than the hoped for return of Jeff Francis -- which will require either De La Rosa or Redman to make at least one more start -- the Rockies only other option is Kip Wells, who has struggled to get Class AAA hitters out on his medical rehab assignment at Colorado Springs. He is 0-3 with an 8.84 ERA for the Sky Sox, but Hurdle has said Wells will get a chance in the big league rotation after one more rehab start, with Class AA Tulsa, on Wednesday.

"We've got some issues to address and decisions to make," said Hurdle.

METS 7, ROCKIES 0: The Rockies were swept by the Mets, scoring one run and getting 10 hits in the three games. Mark Redman gave up a three-run home run to Carlos Beltran in the first inning, and single runs in the third and fourth innings.