It’s time for the Colorado Rockies to pony up. Somehow, someway, the Rockies are right in the mix to win their first-ever division title. Call it a weak division, call it a fluke, but you also have to right now call them contenders.

That is because, despite their struggles with Troy Tulowitzki being out for over a month (Rockies went 8-16 while Tulo was hurt), Colorado (48-51) currently sits just 3.5 games behind the NL West first-place Arizona Diamondbacks (51-47).

The Rockies, who some said would lose 100 games this year, have somehow put themselves in position to steal a division title.

Now, as sad as it sounds, many Rockies diehards are waiting for the bottom to fall out and the Rockies to come crashing down.

That’s because the Rockies’ ownership group is unwilling to pony up the dollars to acquire a much-needed starting pitcher who could not only keep the Rockies competitive the entire season, but maybe even find a way to win the division.

While the L.A. Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks are willing to spend literally whatever it takes to make their teams better before the July 31 trade deadline, the Rockies are instead shopping at the thrift store, adding veteran arms Mitchell Boggs and Armando Galarraga.

Several high-profile pitchers are all rumored to be traded before the deadline; the Brewers’ Yovani Gallardo, Reds’ Mike Leake and White Sox Jake Peavy are just three upper-end, borderline aces who would not only come in and potentially win seven games the second half of this season, but would also help over the next couple seasons.

And while those guys come with a hefty contract, it’s not like the Rockies don’t have deep pockets.

Sunday’s game at Coors Field drew 43,108 fans, and even on weeknights, they draw more than 35,000 fans.

While most other teams are in the business of winning World Series titles, the Rockies are historically in the business of making money.

But it also takes money to make money. It’s time to for the Rockies to open up the wallet, make a splash and award their fans with a team that has a legitimate chance to win a championship.