In 2007, Colorado pulled off an improbable 21 game win streak to catapult themselves into the playoffs and eventually the world series. With high expectations coming into the 2008 season, the fairly young Rockies team was expected to once again compete for a playoff spot; unfortunately injuries and faulty pitching held them back as they finished 74-88.
Projected Lineup:
C - Chris Iannetta
1B - Garett Atkins
2B - Clint Barmes
SS - Troy Tulowitzki
3B - Ian Stewart
LF - Carlos Gonzalez
CF - Ryan Spilborghs
RF - Brad Hawpe
Projected Rotation:
#1 - Aaron Cook
#2 - Ubaldo Jiminez
#3 - Jorge De La Rosa
#4 - Jason Marquis
#5 - Greg Smith
Closer - Huston Street
Position Battles:
LF/CF - Right now, all we are sure of is that Brad Hawpe will play in right field, after that, there are 6 players fighting for the remaining two outfield spots. The current front-runners are Carlos Gonzalez and Ryan Spilborghs, who are trailed by Seth Smith, Matt Murton, prospect Dexter Fowler, and maybe even Ian Stewart in order to get his bat in the lineup.
2B - If Ian Stewart can handle second base defensively, he would clear up a lot of the Rockies problems. He has not shown the ability to hold down a prime defensive position in the past and there's little reason to believe he can now. Assuming Stewart can't handle it, Clint Barmes and Jeff Baker would be the next candidates for the job.
1B/3B - I combined these positions because they both have a lot to do with the health of Todd Helton. If Helton comes out of spring training healthy, he will hold down first base, which will keep Garret Atkins at third base and force Ian Stewart to play ethier second base or left field. If Helton is injured, Colorado can move Atkins to first and Stewart to third, which would probably be the best fit for the team.
#5 Starter - Once top prospect Franklin Morales, Jason Hirsh, and Greg Reynolds will all battle with the front-runner, Greg Smith in spring training; any one of these pitchers could realistically end up with the job.
2009 Outlook: Unfortunatly, the Rockies have been unable to part with long time franchise icon Todd Helton, who at this point in his career is only creating a log-jam at first base, which as you can see, has begun to affect the entire team. The Rockies are flooded with uncertainty right now as really only three position players (Tulowitzki, Hawpe, and Iannetta) don't have to wonder where they'll be playing in spring training.
With Jeff Francis needing shoulder surgery that will keep him out of action until September, Colorado's already thin rotation takes another hit. While their future is cloudy, the Rockies do possess a lot of talent and play in the weakest divison in baseball so a playoff run is not completely improbable , but it appears they will struggle in 2009 as the days of Matt Holiday and a healthy Todd Helton are now long gone.
Projected Finish: 4th place, NL West
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