Where to go from here?

It has not been a pretty season for the Broncos.

Thursday's 10-8 loss to Rio Grande Valley was Laredo's 24th in 35 games. They are last in United League Baseball, approximately eight games out of a playoff spot with 45 remaining.

The Broncos are a solid offensive club. They can hit and light up the scoreboard at any given moment.

That's it. That's all they are.

They are a horrendous defensive club. The pitching has been poor, the fielding has been downright deplorable.

"It's been tough, especially on the road," Manager Ricardo Cuevas said prior to Thursday's game. "We push and push but can't come through. We have guys coming in and out often and it's hard to mend the team together."

The heavy-local emphasis management took this offseason? A failure, so far.

Only O.J. Garza, who is hitting around .280 and is a spectacular defensive player, has paid off.

Andres "El Monkey" looks done. He came in as a hitter and hasn't even done that. He's a poor defensive player.

Tano Tijerina has been so-so as a starter, but has needed far more rest than a rotation player should need.

His return to baseball is commendable and admirable and his positive energy is desperately needed these days.

But his greatest impact has been at the box office, where his fans and family flood to each and every outing of his, which has been few and far between unfortunately.

Nothing has been enough for the Broncos.

Overall, there have been too many unearned runs. Too many dropped balls. Too many mental mistakes.

General Manager Jose Melendez expected a 6-2 record over this homestand, against subpar clubs RGV and Edinburg.

They are 1-2 at the moment, and Cuevas knows things have to start falling in place sooner than later.

"It has to start now," he said. "We're at home, we have to take advantage. It's hard. I see the guys and they play hard and they want to win. I have to make these guys believe they can win, and I do think we can start winning."

Let's not get this confused. The Broncos' performance has been lethargic this season, but this is a good-natured and professional team.

They're genuinely good guys who like being around each other and enjoy playing in Laredo and being a part of this team.

That's what makes this even harder. You couldn't ask for a better group of guys.

But the baseball gods couldn't care less about that. They have been anything but kind to the Broncos.

Late following Thursday's game, Melendez sat on a bench, staring out into the empty field and wondered why the team seemed so cursed.

The hometown flavor this year hasn't worked; the Broncos are still last in the league in attendance.

Two players have had changes of heart after saying they'd come to play for the Broncos; one even went as far as to retire.

They emphasized defense and pitching in training camp; they're last in the league in both.

It's been one of those years for the Broncos. Fortunately there are 45 games remaining, so not all is lost.

But 35 games in, the Broncos are lost. Desperate. Frustrated. Unknowing.

A genuinely good group of guys is getting the short end of the stick.