Despite rumors to the contrary, the 2009 Colorado Rockies season did not end the day that Matt Holiday was traded to the Oakland A’s. All was not lost the moment Brian Fuentes signed with the Anaheim Angels, either. No, there is a full season of baseball ahead, and the Rockies will take the field 162 times like everyone else, with designs of playing a bunch more games in October. .jpg)
Can that happen? A lot of you have already decided that Colorado will lose a lot more games than they’ll win, so why bother? Fine. Don’t watch. Those of you with an open mind have plenty of reason to think that the Rockies will be no less than a contender for the National League West title come August and September. Nothing was expected of them in 2007, either…and they went to the World Series.
Certainly losing Holiday and Fuentes will hurt. Losing players always does, but it’s part of baseball and you move on. You can actually get better when other players step up and get their chance to shine. The Rockies have plenty of players ready to do just that.
Start with catcher Chris Iannetta, who may very well be an All-Star by the time July rolls around. He’s been outstanding for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, and appears poised for a breakout year. That would obviously help offset the loss of Holiday. It’s fair to expect above average production from the corner infield trio of Todd Helton, Garret Atkins and Ian Stewart. All three will play, all three will hit, and if there’s an injury to one of them, it won’t wreck the season. There will be much more stability at second base, where Clint Barmes looks solid enough, and you can already pencil in shortstop Troy Tulowitzki for an All-Star game appearance this summer. He’s going to have a great bounce-back season.
In the outfield, Seth Smith, Ryan Spillbourghs and Carlos Gonzales figure to be able to combine to match the production of Holiday in left and center field, and Brad Hawpe should be ready for an All-Star season himself in right field.
On the mound is where things have to fall right for the Rockies to win the division. Dan O’Dowd knows that for the Rockies to take the next step up to “elite” status, they need a true “ace” for their pitching staff. They don’t have that guy at the moment. O’Dowd knows that those kinds of players are not easy to find because he’s tried to trade for one…more than once. Absent of bringing someone in, Colorado must hope that someone on the roster emerges from the pack and becomes THAT guy.
Aaron Cook has had an excellent spring so far, and he’ll be the man on Opening Day. With Jeff Francis out for the season, the only other pitcher who has the potential to be an ace is Ubaldo Jimenez, who is fresh off his own spectacular stint in the WBC. Pitching for his native Dominican Republic, Jimenez struck out 10 in just four innings of work in his start, meaning he’s healthy and ready to display his All-Star caliber “stuff” early in the season. This from a pitcher who’s been a notoriously slow starter.
Rockies people think Jimenez has the stuff to be that staff ace. The question is does he have the make up to handle the role? Time will tell. For now, if Jimenez and Cook can combine to win 30-35 games and be 10-12 games over .500, the rest of the starting rotation just has to hold their own, stay around the .500 mark, and not let bad outings turn into long losing streaks. Even without Fuentes, the bullpen should be improved. Huston Street brings late inning experience, and Manny Corpas has shown he’s could be back to 2007 form.
All these factors, plus the intangibles like having Don Baylor back as the hitting coach, a new emphasis on a smarter approach at the plate, better “situational” hitting, should help this team win many of the close games they lost a year ago. Manager Clint Hurdle is feeling some heat, and he will respond to that in a good way. The NL West is not the best division in baseball, and it can be won without having to win 90 games. There are a lot of variables in play for all the teams in the division, meaning that if you’ve already written off this Rockies season, you’re making a big mistake.
(AP Photo of Ubaldo Jimenez in the WBC)
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Comments
I strongly disagree with your "evaluation" of this team. To let Holliday and Fuentes go WITHOUT plugging in anyone to improve the line up is short sited. I don't have problem with trading Holliday (you don't give away the bank for one player) but O'dumb did not take the money they saved and go get a "three" stater. There was plenty to have on the market(Lowe for one)that could have been had for six mill a yr for three years and he would have made a difference in ten more wins and make them viable force in the NL west. O dumb "formula" is about money not what goes on the field. The Rockies have one of the best farm systems in baseball and have see themselves as a team that needs only to keep players for three to four years and when they are due for a payday their sent packing and the he plugs in his minor leaguers at low rate. He's been doing this for nine years and the fan gets a minor league ball club at major league prices.
I will continue to go to games because of love of game not to cheer for minor league team.
With all due respect, Mr. Lip, the trade of Holiday was anything but short sighted. It would have been short sighted to give him a truck load of money to play left field. They tried to do right by Todd Helton and it has turned out badly for the team. They didn't make that mistake again.
Dan knows exactly what his situation is, opportunities and limitations. I know for a fact he has tried to trade for a true #1 starter, but they are next to impossible to pry loose. Your evaluation of Derek Lowe is waaaaaaaay off. You want to pay $6 mil a year for 10 wins per year? Wow, I wish you had been an owner when I was pitching. I would have gladly accepted that gigantic overpayment. They can get 10 wins out of Jason Marquis at far less a price.
I wish they were able to pry Roy Halladay away from Toronto - I know Dan has tried - or someone like Scott Kazmir from TB (before they suddenly got so good) but absent of that, bringing up your own through the farm is still the best bet. I'm willing to bet anyone that this team - without Holiday or Fuentes - wins a good number MORE games than they did last year. Tulo, Iannetta and Hawpe will all be All-Stars after half a season with Don Baylor.
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