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We have reached the final team in the National League, the team that nobody loves, The Colorado Rockies.

The Colorado Rockies

Last Season’s Result: 74-88, 3rd place in the NL West

Major Offseason Changes

• Added RP Alan Embree (Signed from Oakland)
• Added SP Jason Marquis (Trade with Chicago Cubs)
• Added SP Greg Smith (Trade with Oakland A’s)
• Added RP Huston Street (Trade with Oakland)
• Added OF Carlos Gonzalez (trade with Oakland)
• Added OF Matt Murton (Trade with Oakland)
• Lost OF Matt Holliday (Trade with Oakland)
• Lost RP Brian Fuentes (Signed with LA Angels)
• Lost CF Willy Taveras (Signed with Cincinnati)

Letter Grades

• Offseason Moves: B- I like the proactive approach to Matt Holliday’s pending free agency, although it will take a few years before we can truly rule on the deal. I do like the additions of Huston Street, Greg Smith and Jason Marquis to their pitching staff.

• Rotation Grade: C+ I like this rotation for whatever reason. I think each guy will give you innings and keep you in most games. If the offense comes around this staff has five guys who can win double digit games, in fact only projected 5th starter Greg Smith failed to do so in 2008.


• Bullpen Grade: C- The Rockies have two solid options at closer, and a handful of low profile guy for the middle innings led by Taylor Buchholz who is coming off of nice 2008 campaign.

• Lineup Grade: C The loss of Matt Holliday gets the most attention, but there is still life in the mountains. I think they’ll be fairly competitive this year, but in another year or two this group will be much better.

Player most closely linked to team’s 2009 hopes: Troy Tulowitzki. Troy must return to his 2007 form for the Rockies to compete in 2009. Holliday is gone, and Helton is no longer enough of a long term option to be the team’s leader. So Troy must take the lead and pick up that slack.

Biggest Breakout Star Potential: Ubaldo Jimenez. The 25 year old right-hander enters his second full season in the majors. If Jimenez can continue to miss bats, while reducing his walks, he’ll be a 15 game winner at least.

Best Case Scenario: Jimenez and Cook form a potent 1-2 punch and the rest of the staff falls in line. The younger offensive player all progress, at least slightly and they take this weak division.

Worst Case Scenario: The offense doesn’t come around, and the pitching struggles at Coors Field, if the breaks go bad, this could be a 65 win team.

Prediction for 2009: 77-85, 4th place in the NL West.

Local Thoughts

I got nothing from Rockies fans. No replies aside from a note from ESPN personality Woody Paige who writes for the Denver Post. He only said he doesn't have the time to participate and that the Rockies will win about 75 games. Aside from Woody's courteous reply (I want to be clear that I'm not being sarcastic, replying to emails from everybody that writes is a chore, and I respect that he made it a point to do so.) we got nothing, so see you next week when we start the American League teams. We'll do that group Monday through Friday for the rest of the month. Thanks again to all my NL helpers, and I'll see you guys Monday from Oakland.

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• Letter Grade for Offseason Moves:
• Most Essential:
• Breakout Potential:
• Prediction for 2009: