While a two-game winning streak is not something to get giddy about, it certainly beats the alternative. As a way to start a new baseball season, winning two of three against a team that dominated you last year is reason to at least puff out your chest a bit. After all, Colorado held Arizona to two runs total in the final two games of the series.
The Colorado Rockies have already won almost as many games against the Diamondbacks (two) as they won all last year (three). Going 3–15 in 18 games against a division rival is a recipe for disaster for anyone, but it was THE tell tale sign for the 2008 Rockies. Go ahead and bet the ranch that the Rocks will do better against the D-Backs in 2009. There won’t be a second helping of last season’s domination for Arizona.
The Rockies #2 has now become number one. With Matt Holiday gone via trade, this is Troy Tulowitzki’s team, and the star shortstop with…yes…two home runs in the first two games, is showing no ill effects for last season’s injuries and struggles. He could be the second coming of Derek Jeter after all. The Rockies hitting instructor (the second man to hold the job since Tulo has been a Rockie), Don Baylor (in his second stint with the club) has had an immediate impact on the young star, and Tulo (pronounced TWO-low) could have his second great season in purple pinstripes.
But that’s not all there is to this number two stuff. When the club decided in the off season to trade away Holiday (who was still seeking his second hit as a member of the Oakland A’s while the Rockies were winning a pair in Phoenix), they knew it would likely take two players to replace him. It appears it could work. Seth Smith started one game and hit a home run, and Dexter Fowler started another game, and he too, hit a round tripper. Two for the money, as it were. These two players, along with Ryan Spilborghs could make fans forget Holiday pretty quickly…and this will be the year the Rockies get at least two position players – I’m betting on Tulo and Chris Iannetta – as All-Star selections.
One tendency towards the number two is not great news for Colorado. For the Rockies starting pitchers in recent years, number two has turned out to be number one, as in the designated number two starter becoming the staff ace for three years running. That’s great…except that the designated number one guy has fallen apart. The Rockies have to pray that Aaron Cook does not fall prey to the same “number one starter” jinx this season that plagued him in 2007, and clutched Jeff Francis last year. Whomever Colorado has slotted in the top spot, the so-called “ace” of the staff, has gone on to have a lousy, injury-plagued season, while whichever of them started out as number two went on to have an excellent season. Go figure. It must be noted that Cook - this year’s designated number one starter (hoping for a second trip to the All-Star game) - pitched like number two in the season opener.
This year, with Francis gone for the year after shoulder surgery, it’s Ubaldo Jimenez in the number two slot. He responded with a dazzling shut-out performance in his debut, leaving fans anxious to see him pitch at Coors Field his second time out.
While Cook struggled in the opener, the Rockies did get two excellent starting pitching performances against the D-Backs, with Franklin Morales following up Jimenez with another stellar effort. This is Morales second shot at being in the starting rotation. Hopefully he’ll make the most of it.
Could all these two’s add up to something special? It’s early, but it’s possible. This year would be a great time for a second trip to the World Series. Second time’s a charm, right?
For more info: http:/www.examiner.com/x-2701-Colorado-Rockies-Examiner
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