2008 Colorado Rockies Predictions & Season Preview
June 8, 2008
After an improbable surge last season to make it all the way to the World Series, the Colorado Rockies finally have some expectations to meet. Victories in 21 of their final 22 games last season saw the Rockies put together the most impressive run in MLB history to earn a spot in the postseason. The key this season will be to contend and prove the memorable run that began in September can be sustained this year. Below Larry gives you his 2008 Colorado Rockies predictions as well as a season preview.
Starting Rotation:
The starters in the Rockies’ rotation are solid despite the lack of a No. 1 starter. The Rockies got the postseason because Ubaldo Jimenez and lefthander Franklin Morales made second-half contributions following injuries to 3 different starters. Jimenez, 24, and Morales, 22, are special arms with big-time upsides. Jimenez and Morales must be good in the spring to keep their jobs, but it would be tough to keep each out of the rotation due to how well they contributed last year. Lefthander Jeff Francis went 16-5 with a 3.82 ERA over his last 28 starts and figures to be the opening day starter for Colorado. Aaron Cook will be the No. 2 starter to start the season with a dominant sinker and secondary pitches that should translate into increased success in the future. The Rockies can hope Hirsh progresses in his second full season in the majors and welcome any contributions they get from Kip Wells or Mark Redman.
Bullpen:
Manny Corpas flourished as the closer down the stretch last season after Brian Fuentes faltered in late June before going on the DL. Corpas has a sinker-slider combination that has earned him the closer’s role in Colorado for many years to come. Fuentes and newcomer Luis Vizcaino are solid setup men. Vizcaino has been durable over the past six years, averaging 72.7 appearances per season and 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings. Veteran Matt Herges, signed just before spring training last year, was brought up in July and became a vital middle reliever in the second half. Ryan Speier offers a different look with his sidearm delivery out of the ‘pen.
Line-Up:
Willy Taveras’ speed was on full display last year by leading the majors with 37 bunt hits and 54 infield hits despite missing 66 games. If he can stay healthy, the big bats behind him will have Taveras leading the National League in runs scored this season. SS Troy Tulowitzki will bat in the No. 2 spot after hitting .297 with 14 homers and 57 RBIs while batting second in 70 games last season. LF Matt Holliday reached safely via a hit, walk or hit by pitch in a club-record 38 games. Holliday may be the toughest out in the big leagues. 1B Todd Helton returns as a veteran cleanup hitter and his leadership has been priceless to this young team. 3B Garrett Atkins had just 3 homers and 20 RBIs at the end of May, but finished with 25 Hrs and 111 RBIs on the year. He will need to produce from start to finish as there are 3B prospects ready to take his place at the end of the year. RF Brad Hawpe had at least one strikeout in 26 consecutive games. He was still productive in the No. 6 spot despite whiffing far too much. C Yorvit Torrealba threw out just 15 of his 76 runners and hit .201 with runners in scoring position. Both aspects of his game must improve. 2B Jayson Nix looks to get his chance in the No. 8 spot and is trying to become Colorado’s second homegrown 2B to start Opening Day. The Rockies’ bench is filled with no-name players, but this is nothing new in Colorado. The names you will be seeing off the pine will be OF Jeff Baker, OF Seth Smith, OF Cory Sullivan, C Edwin Bellorin and IF Clint Barnes. Baker provides pop while Smith provides consistency after joining the team in mid-September to go 5-for-7 as a pinch-hitter late last season.
Rockies 2008 Predictions:
The Rockies have loads of young, low-cost talent in the majors along with a very deep farm system. Corpas, Jimenez and Morales have come from a vastly improved Latin American program that now includes some position players and not just pitchers among the prospects. The Rockies will face some major problems when Holliday, who is represented by the hates Scott Boras, becomes a free agent in 2009. The Rockies will have their nucleus in tact through this season so look for Colorado to make another strong push for a spot in the playoffs. Questions in their starting pitching give the Rockies no chance to compete with Arizona and the Los Angeles in the NL West Race. Thus, we have the Rockies finishing in 3rd place and out of the playoffs.
Larry Cook finished with the #5 World Ranking with his baseball picks in 2007 last year. Hard work with research, analysis and starting pitcher breakdowns gives Larry the edge over your sportsbook and bookies. You won’t believe the kind of profits you can make by signing up for any of Larry’s long-term packages. By doing so, you will get in on all of his winning MLB action this season. Larry will guide you to profits you have never seen before once he makes his move up to the #1 spot in 2008.
2008 Colorado Rockies Odds:
Odds to win NL West:
11/4
Odds to win 2008 NL Pennant:
9/1
Odds to win 2008 World Series:
25/1
