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mrschroeder08 partyvancaptain pee_callus25 Tags 2010 Preview 5 Million Dollar Black Hole AAAA Aaron Heilman Aaron Miles Alfonso Soriano Andres Blanco Angel Guzman Aramis Ramirez Arizona Diamondbacks Atlanta Braves B.J. Ryan Baltimore Orioles Bob Brenly Bobby Scales Bonehead Booing Boston Red Sox Brett Jackson Bullpen Canadian Concoction Captain Kneejerk Cardinals Carlos Marmol Carlos Silva Carlos Zambrano Chad Fox Chad Tracy Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox Cincinnati Reds Cleveland Indians Cold War Colorado Rockies Contracts Cubs-Cardinals Rivalry Cubs sale Cubs Curtis Granderson Daniel Herrera David Patton Derrek Lee Designated Hitter Detroit Tigers Disabled list Dominance ERA+ ERROR Esmailin Caridad ESPN Sucks Eternal frustration Eternal Optimism Farewell Farney Florida Marlins Free Agency Future Gatorade Geovanny Soto Geovany Soto Gerald Perry Grades Houston Astros I-Cubs Injuries Jake Fox Jason Marquis Jason Waddell Jeff Gray Jeff Samardzija Jim Hendry Jim Wolf Joey Gathright John Grabow Jose Ascanio Kansas City Royals Kerry Wood Kevin Gregg Kevin Hart Kevin Millar Koyie Hill LaTroy Hawkins Legendary Lineup Los Angeles Angels Los Angeles Dodgers Lou Piniella Luis Vizcaino Man Crush Mark DeRosa Marlon Byrd Micah Hoffpauir Middle Infield Midwestern Bias Milton Bradley Milwaukee Brewers Minnesota Twins Minor Leagues MLB 2K9 Neal Cotts New York Mets New York Yankees Oakland Athletics October Offseason Opening Day OPS+ Payroll Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates Playoffs Randy Wells Rant Rich Harden Ryan Dempster Ryan Freel Ryan Theriot Sam Fuld Sam Zell Sammy Sosa San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants Sandy Alderson Sean Marshall Seattle Mariners St. Louis Cardinals Steroids Strikeouts Suckiness Tampa Bay Rays TBS Texas Rangers Tom Gorzelanny Tom Ricketts Toronto Blue Jays Trade Tribune Company Tyler Colvin Von Joshua Waivers Walks Washington Nationals WTF Xavier Nady RSS Feed Now it is time to preview one of the more exciting young teams in the game today, and that is the: Colorado Rockies 2009 Record: 92-70 (2nd, NL West and NL Wild Card winners) Key Additions: Melvin Mora (3B), Miguel Olivo (C), Justin Speier (RP), Tim Redding (SP), Jay Payton (OF) Key Losses: Jason Marquis (SP), Garrett Atkins (3B/1B), Yorvit Torrealba (C), Josh Fogg (SP), Jose Contreras (SP/RP), Matt Herges (RP), Joe Beimel (RP), Matt Murton (OF) Summary: Colorado has had one of the best crops of homegrown talent bloom in the last few years. In the last three years, Colorado has seen the playoffs twice, including one World Series appearance. While the cast has changed a bit, there is still tons to be excited about in Denver. Jim Tracy is back as are star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, veteran Todd Helton, slugger Brad Hawpe and ace Aaron Cook. While the list of "key" losses above look big, the fact remains much of last season's wild card winner are still intact. After a down 2008, Tulowitzki made his ascension into the upper echelon of shortstops, OPSing a .930 and slugging 32 home runs. To find such power from that position is rare, and Colorado knows it has something special. Tulow anchors an infield that is pretty much set as Ian Stewart, Tulow, Clint Barmes and Helton. The outfield, on the other hand is brimming with talent. Outside Brad Hawpe, who will probably be in right, Eric Young, Jr., Dexter Fowler, Carlos Gonzalez, Ryan Spilborghs and Seth Smith are all wanting to make cases to play in left or center. Spilborghs, in all honesty is now a backup outfielder coming off a pretty bad 2009 (.705 OPS). Young also failed to impress in limited time, and is not doing well so far in the Spring. Therefore, Smith, Gonzalez and Fowler will battle it out. My personal choices would be Smith and Gonzalez, but Fowler's 27 steals last year will probably help him out. This lineup has a lot of thump already, so if Fowler can get on base at a decent rate (.363 last year, not bad at all), then he will be a good leadoff option. For years, Colorado was a trap for pitchers. Daryl Kile and Mike Hampton are two examples of highly regarded pitchers who went to Coors Field and struggled mightily. The use of a humidor has helped give Rockies pitchers a fighting chance at decent stats. The thing is, you still do not hear much of Colorado's pitching. Huston Street dominated in the ninth last year, converting 35 of 37 saves. But the rotation also has some serious talent, maybe not at the level of the Giants, but Ubaldo Jiminez (198 K's in 218 IP), Aaron Cook (4.16 ERA in a down year) and Jorge De La Rosa are respectable. Cubs Connection: I had trouble coming up with one for the Rockies until I saw that they signed former Cubs first round bust Ryan Harvey. That will almost certainly never lead to anything worth anything at the Major League level. But hey, there's a name to make you cry. BIBGLBOOPSARG(tm) LF Carlos Gonzalez CF Dexter Fowler 1B Todd Helton SS Troy Tulowitzki RF Brad Hawpe 3B Ian Stewart C Chris Iannetta 2B Clint Barmes P Ubaldo Jiminez, Aaron Cook, Jorge De La Rosa, Jason Hammel, Jeff Francis Closer: Huston Street Predicted Finish: First place in the NL West. I like the depth on this team a lot, but outside Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton, it is hard to tell what to expect. They probably have the second or third best pitching staff (trailing S.F. and maybe Arizona), and the second best lineup (behind L.A.). Without a doubt they are the most balanced team in the NL West. At first I was not sure that the balance would be enough to carry the day, especially with the 2008 fiasco so fresh in my memory. But I actually think '08 was the outlier, not '07 and '09. If that is the case, the Rockies could bring home a division title this season. Posted in: 2010 Preview, Colorado Rockies | ||