In an effort to get every preview done by the season opener, you may notice that some of the team previews will be of the shorter variety. With some of the “extra information” not included, this should make for an easier read. Enjoy!
Key Additions: Huston Street, Greg Smith, Carlos Gonzalez, Jason Marquis
Key Subtractions: Matt Holliday, Luis Vizcaino, Brian Fuentes
A look at the lineup:
CA – Chris Iannetta is back at catcher and is expected to hit sixth. Yorvit Torrealba will be the backup.
1B – Todd Helton returns to first base and will hit third. Jeff Baker and Ian Stewart will see action as the reserves.
2B – Clint Barmes will begin the season as the team’s starting second baseman and will hit eighth. He will be pressed hard for time by Stewart and Baker.
SS – Troy Tulowitzki is back as the shortstop and will hit second. Barmes could also see work at shortstop and Omar Quintanilla should see some action as well.
3B – Garrett Atkins is back at third base and will be asked to contribute some pop from the cleanup spot in the order. Stewart is the backup.
LF – Seth Smith will get a majority of the work in left field and will likely hit seventh. Dexter Fowler will be the primary reserve.
CF – Ryan Spilborghs will be the centerfielder and is expected to lead off. Fowler and Scott Podsednik are the backups.
RF – Brad Hawpe is back in right field and will hit fifth. Fowler and Stewart add depth.
A look at the pitching:
Starters – Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Marquis, and Jorge De La Rosa will be the 1-through-4 options in the Rockies’ rotation. Franklin Morales is expected to be the fifth starter. Josh Fogg, Greg Reynolds, Greg Smith, and Glendon Rusch will also compete for starts.
Relievers – Colorado is one of the few teams with a very cloudy closer situation going into the season. Both Manuel Corpas and Huston Street are likely to get work in the ninth inning. Taylor Buchholz, Ryan Speier, and Jason Grilli will be the go-to middle relievers. Alan Embree, Matt Belisle, and Juan Morillo will duke it out for the rest of the innings.
Outlook:
The trade of Matt Holliday makes the lineup less impressive, but the Rockies do have a solid core of young hitters. That said, the rotation isn’t very good and there is only so much the talented Corpas/Street duo can do. The Rockies are going to have a tough time competing with the more talented teams in the NL West.
Prediction:
The Rockies will struggle to stay out of the basement in the NL West, but will manage to finish fourth with a 75-87 record.
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