Durango53
04-03-2005, 10:31 PM
WHAT WE KNOW: First baseman Todd Helton will contend for the batting title and be a lock for at least 30 home runs and 95 RBIs, even without much help from a young lineup. He shows no signs of the back problems that bothered him in 2003 and were a concern going into last season.
The bullpen, which set club records for losses and blown saves, is frighteningly inexperienced. Left fielder Matt Holliday will be faster on the bases and more mobile in the field, thanks in part to losing 12 pounds in the offseason. As a rookie last season, Holliday showed he could hit for average and power.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW: Left fielder Preston Wilson appears to have regained strength in his left knee, which was operated on twice last year, but how will it hold up when he's playing every day -- especially in spacious Coors Field? Other than what Helton and Wilson will provide, will there be there enough power in the lineup to trade runs with teams at home and be better than in past years on the road? No one has distinguished himself in the crowded closer competition.
The Rockies are giving righthander Chin-Hui Tsao every opportunity to take over the job; lefthander Brian Fuentes and righthander Eddie Gaillard also figure to get chances. Tsao, a converted starter, has a changeup that's better than his good fastball, and his slider is improving. Can lefthander Joe Kennedy, the new opening day starter, continue to pitch well at Coors Field? Righthander Shawn Chacon is trying to make a transition back to starting after he failed in a stint as a closer in 2004.
Matt Holliday
LINEUP
2B Aaron Miles
SS Clint Barmes
1B Todd Helton
CF Preston Wilson
RF Dustan Mohr
LF Matt Holliday
3B Garrett Atkins
C J.D. Closser
ROTATION
LH Joe Kennedy
RH Jason Jennings
RH Shawn Chacon
RH Jamey Wright
LH Jeff Francis
CLOSER
RH Chin-Hui Tsao
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Mohr hits a lot of fly balls -- a plus at Coors Field --and he should play regularly, even with rookie Brad Hawpe pushing for at-bats. Mohr's career high for at-bats is 383, in 2002 with the Twins. Jeffrey Hammonds, Jay Payton and Jeromy Burnitz had big years with the Rockies before landing big contracts elsewhere; Mohr, who has a mutual option for 2006, could profit similarly.
The big thing in this whole thing is this club set records for losses and blown saves. This is where Hurdle failes so bad is with the bull pen. He cant manage a pitching staff. He is I feel one of the best hitting coachs out there but when it comes to pitchers he has a pen blown out in the first month and they are trying to catch up all season long. And now add that they lost a ton of players that have got the job done for the Rox.
I like what the Rox are doing with the young guys in the field. And even the starting pitching but until Hurlde learns to manage a pen and pitchers or he is let go this team does nothing. As proved in 95 it is the bull pen that will make this team what it is. And this year the Pen looks the worst I have ever seen it and so will go the Rox.
The bullpen, which set club records for losses and blown saves, is frighteningly inexperienced. Left fielder Matt Holliday will be faster on the bases and more mobile in the field, thanks in part to losing 12 pounds in the offseason. As a rookie last season, Holliday showed he could hit for average and power.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW: Left fielder Preston Wilson appears to have regained strength in his left knee, which was operated on twice last year, but how will it hold up when he's playing every day -- especially in spacious Coors Field? Other than what Helton and Wilson will provide, will there be there enough power in the lineup to trade runs with teams at home and be better than in past years on the road? No one has distinguished himself in the crowded closer competition.
The Rockies are giving righthander Chin-Hui Tsao every opportunity to take over the job; lefthander Brian Fuentes and righthander Eddie Gaillard also figure to get chances. Tsao, a converted starter, has a changeup that's better than his good fastball, and his slider is improving. Can lefthander Joe Kennedy, the new opening day starter, continue to pitch well at Coors Field? Righthander Shawn Chacon is trying to make a transition back to starting after he failed in a stint as a closer in 2004.
Matt Holliday
LINEUP
2B Aaron Miles
SS Clint Barmes
1B Todd Helton
CF Preston Wilson
RF Dustan Mohr
LF Matt Holliday
3B Garrett Atkins
C J.D. Closser
ROTATION
LH Joe Kennedy
RH Jason Jennings
RH Shawn Chacon
RH Jamey Wright
LH Jeff Francis
CLOSER
RH Chin-Hui Tsao
BREAKOUT PLAYER: Mohr hits a lot of fly balls -- a plus at Coors Field --and he should play regularly, even with rookie Brad Hawpe pushing for at-bats. Mohr's career high for at-bats is 383, in 2002 with the Twins. Jeffrey Hammonds, Jay Payton and Jeromy Burnitz had big years with the Rockies before landing big contracts elsewhere; Mohr, who has a mutual option for 2006, could profit similarly.
The big thing in this whole thing is this club set records for losses and blown saves. This is where Hurdle failes so bad is with the bull pen. He cant manage a pitching staff. He is I feel one of the best hitting coachs out there but when it comes to pitchers he has a pen blown out in the first month and they are trying to catch up all season long. And now add that they lost a ton of players that have got the job done for the Rox.
I like what the Rox are doing with the young guys in the field. And even the starting pitching but until Hurlde learns to manage a pen and pitchers or he is let go this team does nothing. As proved in 95 it is the bull pen that will make this team what it is. And this year the Pen looks the worst I have ever seen it and so will go the Rox.