Jim Tracy’s answers became shorter as his days grew longer last week. The promise of August has been spoiled by another forgettable final month. The Rockies went 1-13 over the last two weeks in 2010, turning into ashes as soon as the playoff carrot disappeared. They went 9-16 last September. They began this month by winning five of 19 games.

By any measure, the Rockies have been awful since the final two weeks of the 2010 season.

When this kind of ineptitude unfolds, typically the manager is the first to go. Will that be the case with Tracy?

It’s hard to advocate firing or reassigning Tracy based on the past two seasons. Here’s why: He was given a poor roster and managed the Rockies to records befitting their talent. Thursday in San Francisco, the Rockies had a catcher at first base, plus rookies at shortstop, behind the plate and, after Carlos Gonzalez’s hamstring injury, in both corner outfield positions.

This club was not just overmatched by the Giants, it was overwhelmed. Frankly, it reminded me of watching a varsity team crush the JV.

So, for me, any discussion of Tracy’s status has to also involve those who constructed the roster. There’s no indication that Rockies owner Dick Monfort is going to pull the plug on general manager Dan O’Dowd and assistant general manager Bill Geivett. And from what I’ve heard about O’Dowd’s travels through the minor leagues in the past month — stealth scouting missions and detailed plans to rescue the farm system — it is encouraging.

As I have said repeatedly, the Rockies’ only way out of this spider hole — aside from spending more money on payroll, which is not something they are planning to do — is drafting and developing better prospects to create a more consistent pipeline of talent to the big leagues.

Can O’Dowd pull this off? He seems determined to fix the problem. In contrast, Geivett has spent the past seven weeks with the big-league club getting a better handle on the daily issues. His best move thus far was admitting a mistake and canning the four-man rotation, which was almost universally reviled by pitchers, position players and even some coaches.

Geivett’s recommendation figures to go a long way in determining if Tracy stays. The pair go back two decades. Has he seen enough to believe Tracy is still the right man for the job? Tracy has shown that when he has good pieces — mainly, a functional rotation — he is a solid manager.

He will have better starting pitchers next spring with a healthy Jorge De La Rosa, Jhoulys Chacin and Juan Nicasio. At least one more arm needs to be added through a trade. Tampa Bay’s Wade Davis, perhaps?

Tracy has a year remaining on his contract at about $1.4 million. His “lifetime” deal that received so much attention in spring training only guaranteed the 2013 season.

At times this season, I have wondered whether Tracy wants to come back. He was miserable, especially in May when the team nose-dived out of contention.

Lately, Tracy has talked about embracing the challenge next season. It’s unlikely it would be with the same coaching staff, because this type of performance results in changes and, unlike last September, it won’t be Tracy’s decision on who stays and goes.

For Tracy to remain in charge, he must be ego-less. There’s no other way he can survive in an arrangement where Geivett has an office connected to his in the clubhouse.

Tracy led the Rockies to the playoffs in 2009. He led them to the cusp in 2010. The last two years have been a grease fire. Monfort has all the evidence required to make sweeping changes. If he doesn’t, it would not be fair, in my opinion, to make Tracy the scapegoat for this mess.

Cabrera bows out. After cheating by taking drugs, after embarrassing the planet by trying to create a website to provide a cover, Melky Cabrera finally did something right. The suspended Giants slugger excused himself from the National League batting race Friday. Cabrera said he had no “wish to win an award that would be tainted.” Now, about that All-Star Game. Can that result be changed? Of course, it won’t be. Nor should it. Cabrera took the right step by bowing out, but I can’t think this is anything but a political move to help repair his image as he hits free agency.

Footnotes.The Mets lost 24 of their first 28 home games after the all-star break. Even the 1962 Mets were better than that. Manager Terry Collins has questioned his team’s integrity. … Ichiro Suzuki’s revival with the Yankees reminds me of how Larry Walker finished with the Cardinals. Amazing how removing a star from his comfort zone creates accountability. …. Don’t dismiss manager Davey Johnson’s role in Washington’s remarkable season. Jim Riggleman did the Nationals a favor last season, overplaying his hand, leading Johnson to this post.

Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1294, trenck@denverpost.com or twitter.com/troyrenck

Spotlight on …

Adrian Beltre, 3B, Rangers

Background: Adrian Beltre commanded attention even before anyone knew him, signing a professional contract before he was 16. He delivered for the Dodgers, and in 2004 nearly won MVP honors. Playing in Los Angeles for current Rockies manager Jim Tracy, Beltre swatted 48 homers, drove in 121 runs and played defense like Brooks Robinson. No one was taking the NL trophy from Barry Bonds during those years, but Beltre built a remarkable case. Unfortunately, he chose to parlay that season into a huge contract with Seattle, where hitters go to die. Had Beltre not detoured through the Pacific Northwest, I wonder if he would be a Hall of Fame candidate. His last three seasons have been nothing short of remarkable.

What’s up: The Angels landed Albert Pujols. They signed C.J. Wilson (gulp). But the one player they missed on that continues to haunt them is Beltre. After reviving his career in Boston, Beltre has been a boon for the Rangers, allowing the Texas offense to weather slumps and absences from Josh Hamilton. Not only is Hamilton not going to win MVP honors in the AL, he’s no longer having the best season on his team. Beltre entered Friday batting .316 with 66 extra-base hits and 19 homers since the break.

Renck’s take: The MVP debate in the AL centers on two players: Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera and the Angels’ Mike Trout. It will be a power struggle between new metrics and history. Trout has been baseball’s best player this year. Cabrera could become the first to win the Triple Crown since 1967. Where does that leave Beltre? He gets the consolation prize of playing for a team that is positioned to make a run at a third consecutive World Series berth. Beltre has matured into a team leader. The Rangers feed off his toughness and professionalism. Texas has a ridiculously deep lineup. But Beltre is the anchor — more than Hamilton, more than Nelson Cruz, more than Elvis Andrus.

THREE UP

1. Brewers: Their season stored away on a flash drive after Greinke trade, they rebooted thanks to ace Yovani Gallardo

2. Athletics: Manager Bob Melvin’s loose vibe a perfect match for this delightful gaggle of misfits.

3. Giants: Have five starters with at least 10 wins for first time since 2002.

THREE DOWN

1. Tigers: Slow-pitch softball style — big hits, iron mitts — catching up to them.

2. Rockies: Giants, a recent rival, now use Rockies as a chew toy, beating them 27 times over past two seasons.

3. Red Sox: Daniel Bard latest casualty of a season gone completely wrong.