Broncos fall back under .500

The Broncos fall back under .500 with a devastating 6-5 loss in 12 innings in Edinburg on Sunday night.

Once again, for the fifth time in six losses, a Broncos reliever was tagged with the decision.

The Broncos desperately welcome the all-star break after surrendering six of eight games on the recent road trip. They went from being three games over .500 to being a game under.

Not the direction they wanted.

The problem at this point? Bullpen. The starting pitching, aside from Richard Bartlett's outing a few days ago, has been solid. The offense has been there, and has often been their savior in just keeping these games close.

But the Broncos have no true closer and are lacking a long reliever. That doesn't bode well if they intend to go deep in the playoffs.

The pitching has gotten so bad that the Broncos, once third in ULB in pitching, are now dead last. Dead. Last.

There are no quick and easy solutions at this point. In speaking with GM Jose Melendez earlier today, the only option so far will be Mickey Callaway, the veteran major leaguer who is expected to be activated on Thursday.

But he's expected to be a starter. He'll just start in the bullpen to build arm strength after missing the last year and change with an elbow injury.

He will be the team's closer upon his return. But that won't do any good since he's just buying time for David Watkins, the projected closer.

Watkins is still building arm strength.

All aspects of pitching have hindered the Broncos this year, from starting to relief to closing.

And it figures that as soon as the starting pitching starts clicking, the relievers start going into a funk.

And the schedule does not get easier for Laredo - not at all.

Over the next 13 games following the break, the Broncos will face the league's top three teams - all of which have clinched a playoff berth - in Alexandria (twice), San Angelo and Amarillo.

If Edinburg, which sits 4 1/2 games back of Laredo for the fourth and final playoff spot, catches any whiff of momentum, it may spell trouble.

The Broncos are who they are at this point, with 31 games left in the season.

I've heard them talk of adding a power hitter here and another slugger there. But offense is not the issue.

They can hit. They can slug the freakin' stitches off the ball with ease.

But what they need is a solid, dependable reliever who can pitch a few innings with poise and control.

Until then, yes, this is a playoff team that will likely - easily - make it in.

But without the arms, they are one and done when it comes to the postseason.