(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez, right, is congratulated by first baseman Jeff Baker, left, as catcher Chris Iannetta looks on after Jimenez retired Los Angeles Dodgers' Jeff Kent for the final out in the ninth inning of the Rockies' 10-1 victory in a Major League Baseball game in Denver on Tuesday, July 22, 2008. Jimenez threw a complete game to earn his sixth win against nine defeats.

The Colorado Rockies must be listening to a lot of Chumbawamba lately, because they have gotten knocked down a lot this year.

But they get up again.

The NL West can never seem to keep them down.

Prior to the All-Star break, the Rockies packed their briefcases and went on a business trip through Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Queens, New York.

Whatever they were being paid, it was probably too much, because the Milwaukee Brewers, and especially the New York Mets, gave the Rockies the business -- they were outscored by 19 runs and came away with two wins in seven games.

The Rockies were certainly knocked down by the two above average teams.

After the All-Star Break, the Rockies found some respite in the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing them to get back up again.

They swept the Pirates in the four-game series, outscoring them by 19. On Tuesday they battered the Dodgers, 10-1, and then turned around and beat them again on Wednesday, 5-3.

The Rockies' mothers could once again cut out the standings in the newspaper and proudly post them on the refrigerator, knowing the Rockies were in third place, and only six games back -- never mind the .430 winning percentage.

With the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles wrestling for first place and a .500 winning percentage, the NL West is fair game for just about anyone -- even the uninspiring Rockies.

Though trite, the oft-used turn of phrase "NL Worst" is proving true.

The Rockies' upcoming string of mediocre to awful opponents -- Cincinnati Reds (Jul. 25-27), the Pirate Bay Buccaneers of Pittsburgh (Jul. 28-30), Washington Nationals (Aug. 4-7), and the San Diego Padres (Aug. 8-10) -- provides ample opportunity for the Rockies to gain at least three or four wins on the Diamondbacks or Dodgers.

To whom should the Rockies turn for their epic conquest of the standings?

To the pitching staff?

Their staff, with the likes of Glendon Rusch, Kip Wells and Jorge De La Rosa -- first ballot hall of famers, all -- manning the rotation, had posted a 28th best team ERA as of yesterday. Only the Pirates and Texas Rangers were worse.

Meanwhile, the offense has done its fair share of underperforming. Last year, with a very similar lineup, the Rockies scored the fifth most runs in all of baseball. This year, they are keeping it real in 15th place in the run scoring chart.

So: 15th best offense, 28th best pitching. Only in the NL West does that a contender make.

Keeping with the Yoda syntax, a long way to go the Rockies have.

Tulo going 5 for 5 with a double and Ian Stewart cracker barreling baseballs all over the place are positive signs -- so is the impending possibility of an uninjured Jeff Francis.

The Diamondbacks and the Dodgers seem apathetic about making the playoffs. Regardless of personnel and underperformance, the Rockies are going to have to stop getting knocked down, they have to get up and stay up.