The 2009 Dyn-O-Mite Colorado Rockies Preview: Sluggers

We have entered the Twilight Zone of spring training.

The time where most of the players still getting time on the fields are just looking not to get injured before the season starts while still getting enough work in to earn their paychecks when the games finally start to matter.

Since we have arrived at this most agonizing of hours when Opening Day can be seen on the horizon but five days still await the first pitch, it's about time for an official, dyn-o-mite 2009 preview of yours, mine, and our Colorado Rockies.

Let's begin with the beef of the roster, the one aspect of this ballclub that could keep the team in contention well into the dog days of summer: the offense.

If Ian Stewart is given a shot to start at second over Clint Barmes, it is not inconceivable that the Rockies could finish the season with seven starters with at least 20 home runs.

Here is the projected lineup for the Rockies:

CF Ryan Spilborghs: Finally given a chance to start after spending the last two seasons as the Rockies' super-sub, Spilly looks to turn his dynamic spring (.352, 18 RBIs, 12 extra-base hits in only 54 at-bats) into a superb summer.

SS Troy Tulowitzki: Out to prove that his disastrous 2008 was a severe aberration in a lifetime of success on the baseball field, Tulo will seek to once again enter the upper-echelon of shortstops and redefine his role as the team's outspoken leader.

1B Todd Helton: If his performance in Spring Training is any indication, Beltin' Helton is well on his way back to the production Rockies' fans have come to expect from the Face of the Franchise. With 14 RBIs, 8 extra-base hits, and a .515 average in only 33 at-bats this spring, Todd's back looks healthy enough to keep him slugging for 135 games this year.

3B Garrett Atkins: Though Atkins struggled through a sub-par 2008, much like the rest of the Rockies' regulars, he still managed a team-high 99 RBIs. Atkins remains a right-handed rock in the middle of a lineup loaded with lefties and has crushed the ball this spring to the tune of a .462 average.

RF Brad Hawpe: Though set back by the injury bug during the majority of March, Hawpe has returned to the lineup this past week with positive results. A slugger who has averaged 25 home runs and 95 RBIs the last three seasons, Hawpe looks to continue the trend he began last year with his .282 batting average against left-handed pitching.

C Chris Iannetta: Iannetta emerged in 2008 as one of the top offensive catchers in baseball which caught the eye of Team USA executives who picked Iannetta as their second catcher to Atlanta's Brian McCann in this year's World Baseball Classic. If Iannetta isn't seen as one of the top three catchers in baseball by season's end, it will be a shock.

2B Ian Stewart/Clint Barmes: Ian Stewart should win this position, hands down, if the Rockies wish to contend in 2009. His power could not only aid in the daunting task of replacing the departed production of Matt Holliday, but also give the Rockies a Paul Bunyan-esque power in their lineup. Barmes is a fine player, but would be better used as a super-utility man coming off the bench.

LF Seth Smith: Given the shot to take over left-field duties from Matt Holliday, Smith has hit the ball well this spring (.300, nine extra base hits.) While he won't come close to Big Daddy's prodigious numbers, he could form a fine platoon with a right-handed bat (Matt Murton, Dan Ortmeier, or (fingers crossed) Dexter Fowler.)

Bench: The million dollar question as of April 1 is whether or not blue-chip prospect Dexter Fowler will earn himself a roster spot when the smart money says he could use some experience playing every day at Triple-A.

Fowler has displayed a golden glove in center-field with his gazelle-like strides while constantly flashing his thousand-watt smile that would put Smilin' Bob from those Enzyte commercials to shame.

Spilly is set in center as we speak, but he doesn't have a true center-fielder's range. Fowler could potentially win a Gold Glove within the next two years and in Coors Field's cavernous gaps could endear himself to Rockies' pitchers and fans alike with his ability to track down fly balls.

If Skip Hurdle believes that Dex needs some Triple-A seasoning to begin the year, he will likely give the fourth outfielder spot to utility man Dan Ortmeier.

Ortmeier, a right-handed bat, has had a nice camp and can also play first base, but he's not a difference-maker at the plate or in the field.

Whoever loses out on the second base job, either Stewart or Barmes, will definitely take a roster spot with Jeff Baker probably nabbing the last position if he's not traded before Opening Day.

Yorvit Torrealba will back-up Chris Iannetta behind the plate, even though Dan O'Dowd had tried to trade the veteran catcher to give him a chance to start with another team.

With Opening Day now only five days (and change) away, I will soon tackle the '09 pitching staff in the thrilling conclusion to the preview of the 2009 Rockies.

Rox Need to Make Room for Stewart

The Colorado Rockies are facing a serious dilemma whether they understand the dire circumstances or not.

With only a week and a half of Spring Training left, top-notch power prospect Ian Stewart is beginning to mash the ball in such a way that it would be nearly impossible, if not irresponsible, to keep him off the Opening Day roster.

The problem is, Ian Stewart remains a man without a position.

A third baseman by trade, Stewart is blocked on the big league club by Garrett Atkins, who has been one of the Rockies' most consistent offensive performers in the last four years.

When trade rumors swirled this past offseason about Atkins heading to a myriad of teams around Major League Baseball, Stewart was seen as the man who made Atkins expendable.

Ever since bursting onto the scene in 2004 with the Single-A Asheville Tourists by putting up some seriously prodigious numbers (.319, 30, 101, .398 on base percentage, 19 steals), Stewart received an invitation to big league camp in 2006 and put on another eye-popping performance.

In twenty-two games, Stewart hit .396 and slugged five home runs on his way to being named the Rockies' Spring Training MVP.

Much ado was made about Stewart's potential with the big club and while his subsequent Minor League numbers never quite approached his Asheville level, Stewart's power could not be denied.

He eventually reached the Major Leagues for a cup of coffee in 2007 and got a serious look in 2008 when Todd Helton's health became an issue.

In his first stint in 2008, Stewart struggled under the bright lights and posted a paltry .218 batting average with three home runs and five RBIs in eighteen games before packing his bags and heading back down I-25 to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

When Helton's back finally gave out on him in early June, Stewart was once again recalled as Atkins moved across the diamond to supplant Helton at first base.

This time, the results were much more encouraging.

After striking out a whopping 28 times in his first 56 at-bats in 2008, Stewart worked diligently on improving his swing and timing at the plate. The hard work soon started to pay off.

The lefty Stewart batted .270 in the second half, including an utterly ridiculous .370 clip against left-handers that proved to the Rockies' brass that he wasn't just a one-dimensional right-on-left slugger.

A .365 on base percentage is solid for a corner infielder, but could obviously still be improved upon and most of his ten home runs were of the oh-my-god-did-you-see-how-far-that-ball-went variety including a triple decker at Coors Field against the Brew Crew in June.

His average was up around the .290 mark before a late-season slide sent him to his final statline of .259, 10, 41 for his first (mostly) full season in the big leagues.

With Atkins entrenched at third base for at least one more season before he becomes a free agent, Skip Hurdle and Dealin' Dan tried to find a spot for their powerful product around the diamond.

They experimented with the 6'3", 205 lb beast at second base, though his body type doesn't exactly match the stereotypical second-baseman build. In twelve games at second base, Stewart played admirably considering he'd never manned the position before, committing only one error in 55 chances.

They told him to take fly balls in left field over the winter, to which he obliged, though he didn't see much action there during the spring as Seth Smith had a hold on the job before the first pitch was even thrown and has done nothing to lose his grip since.

Initially Hurdle said that Stewart's days as a second baseman were done with but recently has changed his tune as Stewart has been seen taking ground balls at second while his bat has started to heat up this spring. He brought a .294 average into Tuesday's tilt with the Cubbies with two home runs and seven RBIs in 14 games.

Herein lies the crux of the problem for Colorado.

With Atkins at third (barring his groin injury from lasting into the season's opening weeks), a healthy Helton at first, and Seth Smith getting a shot to replace Matt Holliday in left, Stewart presumably becomes the odd man out.

Sending Stewart to Triple-A at this point would do him no good. He has already validated everything he needed to prove in the Minor Leagues and needs consistent big league at-bats to become the star the Rockies believe he will blossom into.

My solution is to allow him to start the season at second base ahead of Clint Barmes.

While Barmes is a solid player and a good fielder, he will never come close to approaching the numbers Stewart could put up with 500 at bats in a season.

Barmes would be better used to replace Jeff Baker as the team's super-utility man since he can play every infield position and even center field if called upon.

Adding Stewart as an everyday option in the Rockies' lineup not only makes the starting nine much more dangerous, it allows Stewart the opportunity to develop his natural ability and adapt to a second base position that he proved he could manage last season.

A lineup with Ian Stewart joining Ryan Spilborghs, Troy Tulowitzki, Todd Helton, Garrett Atkins, Brad Hawpe, and Chris Iannetta gives the Rox a starting nine that has a serious shot to boast seven players with at least twenty home runs by season's end.

That's a stat that could strike fear into the heart of even the heartiest NL West hurler.

Let's hope that Hurdle and O'Dowd realize the opportunity they have on their hands to not only help in the effort to replace the production of Matt Holliday, but to make their offense one of the most potent in baseball.

Hope Springs Joe Morgan and Steve Phillips... Crap

Holy hell. I need some mental respite from the WBC final. Steve Phillips and Joe Morgan in one telecast? Somebody waterboard me or something. If a Morgan/Phillips duet isn't torture, I don't know what is. I thought Obama was supposed to change things.

Anyways... How about them Rockies?

PECOTA told me they would win 78 games and somehow that seems about right. The offense is anything but intimidating and the rotation includes Jorge De La Rosa by default. Ugh. There are still some light spots in spring training.

Let's ignore the guranteed jobs (Cook, Jimenez, Marquis, De La Rosa (crap), Street, Corpas, Buccholz, Embree, Grilli, Iannetta, Atkins, Helton, Tulo, Hawpe) and focuse on the rest.

Clint "The Hacker" Barmes more or less has the 2b job on lock, but he's kinda not really very good mostly. His defense is average and all he really provides is average, literally. His bat has little pop and he has no discipline. His spring line, though a small sample size, shows pretty much how he is as a player (.262/.279/.452). He'll get some hits, he'll never take a walk, and he'll have some Coors Field power (that .452 slugging won't happen on the road in the regular season).

On the other hand, you have Ian "The Strikeout" Stewart. He has a daunting .297/.366/.622 line in the spring. He'll provide subpar second base defense but a ton of power and actually a bit of on-base percentage (unlike Barmes). They aren't going to take third away from Atkins and at this point, Stewart has no business being in the minors. They have to put him somewhere. Why not second?

Another intriguing idea is Omar Quintanilla. He's hit quite well throughout his minor league career, he's hitting well this spring (.325/.400/.500), and, as we all know, he knows how to play some D. He probably isn't good enough to play a full season at second, but why not pretend?

Then there is the outfield mess. Spilly is an all around terrific hitter, especially against southpaws, but, let's be honest, he's not an everyday center fielder. Dexter Fowler is already a gold glove caliber center fielder. No, he doesn't have any AAA experience, but neither does Hanley Ramirez. Pujols had all of 14 AAA ABs. It wouldn't be the end of the world to let him learn on the fly. Plus, every single pitcher on the roster would much rather see Fowler gliding to fly balls in the outfield. Fowler wouldn't hit like Spilly, but there would be a noticeable difference in team ERA if Fowler was the everyday CF. It's Dex time in Lodo.

If Dex is center, all you have to do is Platoon in right and left. Seth Smith and Brad Hawpe murder right handers and Matt Murton and Spilly murder left handers. Put all that together and you have an average to decent defense and an above average offense. The pitchers would like that too.

I'll finish up with them in a day or two...

P.S. Jay Cutler says he will report to Broncos Country when things become mandatory and Mc D says that Cutler is "our quarterback." Let's hope they kiss and make up. It's time to end this mess.

Beltin' Helton Back on Track

Don't worry, everybody.

Let out that breath you've been holding in.

Stop refreshing denverpost.com to check for updates on the Jay Cutler trade saga.

Everything is copacetic in Colorado.

How is that possible, you ask?

Todd Helton is back.

Though two and a half weeks remain before rosters are set for Opening Day, Helton is already partying like it's 2001 and we've all got spots on the guest list.

Since 2005, the last season in which Helton belted at least twenty home runs, his degenerative back condition had begun to take its toll on his performance.

Once a perennial All-Star and batting champion whose prodigious offensive numbers channeled those of the late Ted Williams, among others, Helton's numbers dropped considerably as the injuries hampered his mobility and his ability to drive the ball to all fields.

Last season, the pain in Helton's back became so severe that it caused numbness in his left leg, further hindering the function of his legs. His once-powerful swing became one-dimensional and he was unable to hit pitches with the kind of authority we had grown accustomed to seeing.

On July 2, with his batting average at a paltry .266 and seven home runs to his name, Helton went on the disabled list, only to return for two pinch hit at-bats in 2008.

Helton finally made the decision to go under the knife as he headed for Southern California to undergo arthroscopic surgery.

Some were wondering if this surgery could be the end for Helton, who until Albert Pujols surpassed him, had been the active career leader in batting average and had spent his entire career loyal to the one organization that had drafted him and built their team around him.

Helton, however, is not one to take news of his demise sitting down.

Months of rehabilitation both on and off the field have brought us to the present, with Helton's name being penciled in on Clint Hurdle's lineup two to three times a week.

In only fourteen at-bats this spring, Helton leads the team in home runs with three, which gives us an inkling that the once-almighty power stroke that has deserted him in recent years, might make a comeback in 2009.

Helton will most likely not take in a full week's worth of action until the season starts, and even then Skip Hurdle will be sure to keep him well-rested by giving him plenty of scheduled off-days like he has done in the past.

Will we ever see the same Helton who averaged a .337 clip with thirty three home runs, 113 RBIs, and a .434 on base percentage during his first eight seasons?

Probably not.

But if Helton's back stays in shape and he can see action in 135-140 games, there's no reason why we couldn't see a similar line to his 2007 campaign in which he hit .320 with seventeen home runs, 91 RBIs, and a .434 on base percentage.

In a year where the Rockies need multiple regulars to rebound from abysmal '08 seasons, Helton's resurgence would be the most satisfying.

A healthy Helton not only puts butts in the seats for fans who ache to root for their hometown hero, but it adds another dimension to a Rockies lineup in dire need of top-tier production to replace the departed Matt Holliday.

Helton still commands a pitcher's respect and his plate discipline remains one of the greatest in the game.

With Helton driving in Spilly and Tulo while setting the table for Atkins and Hawpe, the Rockies lineup could once again become a force to be reckoned with in the wide-open NL West.

So turn your attention from the turmoil in Dove Valley and start setting your sights on summer nights at Coors Field because Beltin' Helton is on his way back.

Frankie K Makes Case for Rotation

It seems the Rockies have finally remembered that while Spring Training games don't necessarily mean anything come April, it doesn't hurt to come away victorious every now and then.

After losing the first seven games in Arizona, the Rockies have now won their last six, the most recent coming Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels (redundancy alert) of Anaheim and Most Parts of Southern California not Including San Bernadino or Sea World.

Though still three and a half weeks from the Apr. 6 opener, some key players on the Rockies' roster are starting to emerge from their winter hibernation. Aaron Cook enjoyed his most impressive start of the spring yesterday against Cleveland by tossing five scoreless innings while striking out seven and walking none.

Ubaldo Jimenez, in his lone World Baseball Classic appearance, nearly set baseball in the Netherlands back a decade by striking out a WBC-record ten in only four innings.

Manny Corpas also returned from the WBC yesterday to add another scoreless inning to his spring total keeping his ERA a sparkling 0.00. It sure looks a lot better than his closer's role counterpart Huston Street who needed a spotless inning in Thursday's ballgame to get his ERA under 20.00.

But the man who's making me optimistic for our 2009 starting rotation is the man who will hopefully earn the chance to round it out: Franklin Morales.

Once a hotshot prospect in the Rockies system (and still is, I guess since he only just turned 23) Franklin aided the Rox in their Rocktober run in 2007 and made the Opening Day rotation in 2008 only to find himself in AAA a month later with a battered ego and a 6.39 ERA.

It also came to light this year that he pitched all last season with back pain, yet refused to bring it up to anyone in the organization who could have helped him, either with the pain or with his flawed mechanics caused by his adjustments to try and alleviate the stiffness in his back.

His regression in 2008 was reflected in his numbers in AAA. He never regained any form of consistency, going 10-5 but sporting a 5.47 ERA and an appalling 83/82 K/BB ratio.

This spring, however, with a clean bill of health and a clearer mind on the mound, Morales has impressed the Rockies' brass with his fastball command and presence on the hill.

Though his ERA currently stands at an unimpressive 4.85, that number is skewed from a start against the Angels where he allowed seven runs in three innings pitched.

His initial appearance of the spring showed a flash of the Morales of old as he tossed two scoreless, hitless innings against the White Sox. He also struck out two, and more importantly, didn't walk a batter.

His next start against the Angels set him back, but he responded to that awful outing with a scoreless, four inning start against the Giants where he struck out three and walked none.

Thursday, facing the Angels again, Morales made the necessary adjustments from facing the Angels previously and threw four innings, allowing only two runs on four hits. He also picked off two baserunners (for what that's worth).

In the race for the fifth spot in the Rockies' starting rotation between Morales, Greg Smith, Greg Reynolds, Josh Fogg, Jason Hirsh, and Matt Belisle, Morales has shown the Rockies what they needed to see to put their faith back in a prospect once thought to be the future of the starting five.

Three out of four nearly spotless appearances will certainly go a long way in seeing Morales' name penciled in to start every fifth day in 2009.

Mc D vs. Shagler vs. Predator: Requiem

Hello again, my pretties. Oh, how I've missed you. Yay, and like John Travolta before me, I'm making a comeback. I was on the 60-day DL with non-baseballfootballitis. Luckily due to spring training and the draft coming up, my life has meaning. Oh and these frickin' Jay Cutler shenanigans.

Today on First and 10 they asked Dr. Skip Bayless, Sports MD if the Broncos/Cowboys should swap Jay Cutler for Tony Romo. Seriously? Have we come this far?

First of all, Football Outsiders ranked Jay Cutler as the fifth most valuable QB in football last year and Tony Romo eleventh. Who trades a 25-year old, Pro Bowl, top-5 QB? Nobody. Not nobody not no how.

This discussion should not happen, but it is. Cutler is under contract and only Matt Millen or a chimpanzee of average chimpanzee intelligence would trade Cutler, even for a number 1 overall pick. Ignoring this rather obvious fact, everyone involved in this situation is a moron: Mc D, Shagler, Bus "Whose career can I destroy now?" Cook, Pat "Furcoats and Trophy Wives" Bowlen.

Let me break it down for you:
Mc D - You are not all-hailed lord of football. Good leaders make their subjects enjoy what they do for their organization without feeling subjugated. Stalin shot anyone who opposed him. Don't be like Stalin! Also, I know you and Matt Cassel are BFFs but Football Outsiders had him as the 17th best QB. Comparing him and Cutler is like comparing Scot "With Legs Wide Open" Stapp's songwriting to Bob Dylan. Or that twirly Bono douche from Coldplay who probably hires someone to throw confetti over him wherever he goes to Thom Yorke. Stop.

Shagler - Ohhhhh does baby want a cookie? Or a gigantic contract? Stop crying and play football. If I made a couple million dollars a year, I would sure as shit be glad to do my job. Mike Shanahan would have rather have coached John Elway for every day of his career, but he got stuck coaching a crybaby like you. Why didn't you complain then? Pick up a football and stop whining. Trades are discussed in every sport. You are not above everyone. You haven't even won a playoff game yet. Get off your high horse and stop crying.

Bus Cook - Aaaannnnnnddddddd there you have it. We have another Scott Boras, but for football! You boned Brett Favre and now you've come for Jay Cutler. Please just fire yourself and go ruin a sport that nobody cares about, like women's basketball. Or hockey (Canada excluded).

Pat Bowlen -You shouldn't have let it get this far. At least you are taking a side and it's probably best to take your coach's side. Still, you're captian of the Broncos ship and you have a mutiny on your hands. Slap Shagler around til he plays and show Mc D you're in charge.

Please, Elway, make this stupid soap opera stop. It is embarrassing for Broncos fans everywhere and never should have happened in the first place.

(Now that I'm off the DL, I'll try and get back into posting at least a couple times per week.)

Soundtracks of the Rockies: 2009 Edition

Surfing around on the Internet can show you many things. Some are informative, some are worthless, and some are definitely not safe for work.

While scrolling through some articles on www.sportstimeohio.com, a blog associated with the television home of the Cleveland Indians, I came across an article that gave me not only inspiration for a blog entry, but some belly laughs as well.

The article was written by Indians beat writer Paul Cousineau, a very intelligent and thorough journalist, about which popular songs he believes should be adopted by the 2009 Cleveland Indians' ballplayers as their batters' and pitchers' ditties for the upcoming season.

That got me thinking about the 2009 Colorado Rockies and which songs would work with which players? Each ballplayer has their own choice of song that comes over the stadium loudspeakers whenever they come to the plate or come into pitch.

Here are a few choices that I think the Rockies should seriously consider making their own personal ditties.

Todd Helton

"The Last Waltz" by the Band

Though Helton professes to be healthy thus far this spring, chronic back injuries are incredibly difficult to come back from, especially to the form Helton displayed early on in his career when he was a flirting with .400 on a yearly basis.

This beautifully intricate waltz by one of the most underrated bands of all time, The Band, closed out their Martin Scorcese-directed 1978 documentary of the same name. The Band didn't have a closing statement. They let their music do the talking as the lights slowly faded out in the Winterland Ballroom.

We can only hope Helton has a few more waltzes left in his lumber.

Troy Tulowitzki

"Mama Said Knock You Out" by LL Cool J

One only needs the opening snarl of Ladies Love Cool James to pump up even the most apathetic of fans.

"Don't call it a comeback. I've been here for years. Rockin' my peers, and puttin' suckas in fear."

If the Rockies are going to have any chance at recapturing Rocktober, they're going to need Tulo to return to his 2007 form where he enjoyed the greatest season ever by a National League rookie shortstop.

Garrett Atkins

"Unappreciated" by Cherish

Swamped by offseason rumors that he would be wearing a different uniform come 2009, Atkins has to feel a bit miffed that his name was thrown around so freely during the Hot Stove talks.

Atkins is still a Rockie, however, and what better way to show your organization how you really feel then with a teenage, girl-group r'n'b ballad?

Brad Hawpe

"Count on Me" by Whitney Houston

Hawpe has been nothing but consistent in his three years as a starter (.289 average, 25 home runs, 95 rbis in a normal season) and with Matt Holliday taking his All-Star bat to Oakland, Hawpe will be counted on to shoulder more of the offensive load.

Whitney Houston's duet with Cece Winans about accountability in turbulent times is the perfect anthem for Hawpe's role in 2009. And it'll put a stop to that gawd-awful Nickelback song he's been using for the last two seasons.

Chris Iannetta

"Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen

Iannetta entered last season as the backup to Yorvit Torrealba and emerged on the fringe of the league's upper echelon of offensive backstops (18 homers, 65 RBI, .390 on-base percentage in 104 games). As the starter this season, he's looking to keep that positive momentum going.

No word yet if he's named his bat, Mr. Farenheit.

Ryan Spilborghs

Spilly doesn't need my help. He's a batter's ditty-connoisseur.

Aaron Cook

"99 Red Balloons" by Nena

This German pop smash single would be the perfect song for everybody's favorite red-headed right-hander. Perhaps the 99 red balloons will stand for each one of Cookie's strikeouts this year (plus one to make it an even 100).

Jeff Francis

"Sunshine on My Shoulder" by John Denver

Though Francis' shoulder is going to keep him out for the season with his decision to undergo surgery, this mellow, optimistic number from the legendary folk singer-songwriter should keep his thoughts positive while he rehabs for 2010.

Ubaldo Jimenez

"The Way" by Fastball

What better band to represent the pitcher who had the highest average fastball in baseball last year than a band called, well, Fastball?

Anyone can see the road Jimenez walks on is paved in gold as he looks to build upon his impressive first full season in the big leagues (12-12, 3.99 ERA, 172 strikeouts).

Jason Hirsh

"Running out of Time" by Hot Hot Heat

This poppy rock song can get some pep in Hirsh's step before he takes the hill.

Once a top prospect, Hirsh has never taken advantage of his chances in the big leagues and at 27, may be running out of opportunities.

Manny Corpas

"Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson

Corpas, who was admittedly out of shape and lacking focus in 2008, has reportedly shown up to camp fit and prepared to win his closer's job back. He'll have to battle Huston Street, but it seems as if he's taken a long look in the mirror and is ready to go out and make a change.

Huston Street

"New Kid in Town" by the Eagles

Street, an acquisition brought to the Mile High City in the Holliday deal, won't know many of his new teammates before he reports to Tucson, but he'll soon be just one of the guys once he starts throwing zeroes on the scoreboard.

Ian Stewart

"Ready to Roll" by Flashlight Brown

This pumped-up anthem should prepare Stewart to excel in 2009, no matter what position he's playing, be it third base or left field.

Carlos Gonzalez

"Superstar" by Lupe Fiasco

"If you are what you say you are, a superstar, then have no fear, the crowd is here."

Gonzalez has been named the top prospect in two separate organizations (the Diamondbacks and Athletics) and has come to Colorado looking to replace Holliday. Eventually, he'll have to stop living off his potential and start leading with his production.

If you guys have your own picks, be sure to leave them in the comments. I'm going to start making a playlist.

Spring Sneak Peek: The Rockies Infield

Now that I've dissected the 2009 Colorado Rockies starting rotation and bullpen as part of my season preview (albeit the last entry being over a month ago), I feel it's time to tackle the infield prospects the Rockies will be molding as they prepare for the regular season.

Let's begin with the obvious.

Troy Tulowitzki will man the shortstop position for as long he keeps his batting average above the Mendoza Line and the splintered ends of his bats out of the flesh on his palms.

If the pain in Todd Helton's back doesn't continue to be a royal pain in his ass, you can pencil the legendary lefty into the three-spot in both the batting order and the fielding lineup.

If his back pain flares up, however, it will set in motion a shuffling of players reminiscent of an old parlor game of three card monte.

Garrett Atkins, the incumbent third baseman will shift over to first bringing Ian Stewart in to replace Atkins. Stewart's time at third will give more playing time in left field to Seth Smith or Matt Murton or whoever wins the left field job coming out of Tucson.

Stewart's potential and production last year in his time with the Major League club should pay off in the form of a full season with the Rockies in whatever position Skip Hurdle needs him.

Hurdle has told the media that Stewart will be taking ground balls at third and fly balls in left in hopes of finding a spot for his powerful bat more games than not.

Second base will be an interesting option for Hurdle this year because of his options at both the Major and Minor League levels.

Clint Barmes will be given the chance to win or lose the position in Spring Training after a solid, if unspectacular performance (.290, 11, 44) at the position in 2008. Jeff Baker will also be given at bats to try and crack his way into Clint Hurdle's starting lineup, a feat he's never been able to consistently accomplish in his four years with the Rockies.

Coming up quickly through the Rockies' ranks are youngsters Eric Young, Jr., a familiar face around Tucson thanks to his father, and Chris Nelson, the 2004 number one pick who's finally starting to hit his stride offensively (.321, 6, 17 in 29 games in the Arizona Fall League).

Young absolutely tore up the AFL as he led the league in hitting with a .430 average in thirty-one games while knocking five home runs (one inside-the-park) and tallying twenty stolen bases in only twenty-one attempts. His coming-out party earned him an invite to Tucson and he projects to start the year in AAA Colorado Springs barring a spectacular performance in the month of March.

Omar Quintanilla will perennially provide dazzling defense and lackluster lumber while prospect Christian Colonel, former Rockie Luis A. Gonzalez, and pint-sized speedster Jonathan Herrera will also get the opportunity to prove they belong in the infield mix as well.

I'll profile the catchers in the next exciting installment of Generation Redemption: the 2009 Colorado Rockies.

A Plea to the Baseball Gods

Saturday's bombshell that Alex Rodriguez, arguably the best player in baseball today, had tested positive for steroids back in 2003, and today's subsequent confession on the part of the Big Apple bomber, is bound to put in motion a chain of events that will leave the charred baseball landscape with no steroid stone left unturned.

Many journalists have pontificated their opinions about how Rodriguez has completely destroyed any shred of dignity that remained of the once proud and sacred game of baseball, and since I am inclined to agree, I won't repeat their cynical sentiments.

The real issue on everybody's minds now, since Rodriguez's confession will assuage at least a part of the furor headed his way, are the names of the other 103 Major Leaguers who failed their drug tests along with A-Rod.

I refuse to even speculate which names could be on the list because in today's media world of instant gratification and a blogger to blogger rumor mill that can spread faster than the Black Death, even the mere mention of a suspected name, no matter the context, can open a Pandora's Box that could unleash a whirlwind of untruths into the blogosphere.

Instead, I'm going to make a plea.

Not to the media, or the Commissioner's office, or the players, or the organizations, or the player's union, or the player's agents, but to the gods of baseball whomever they may be.

Please, let this be the end of it.

Release the final 103 names on the list of players who tested positive back in 2003 and allow the players, organizations, and fans to put the Steroid Era in the rearview mirror, back over it a few times, and speed away, never looking back.

With the steroid testing in place right now, this list should be the last gasp from the stranglehold performance-enhancing drugs have had on the game over the last fifteen years.

With the public release of these names, it would allow the players implicated to either fight the accusations until they're up against a grand jury (see Bonds, Barry and Clemens, Roger), or to simply acquiesce and admit their wrongdoings, exonerating themselves in the court of public opinion like Andy Pettitte, Jason Giambi, and now Alex Rodriguez have done.

If A-Rod's name never would have been released, the general public would never have known of the list's existence, much less the names written on it.

Now that one name, albeit one of the top superstars in the game, has been leaked, it triggers the natural human instinct to not rest until we know the identities of the other 103 culprits.

If the rest of the list never sees the light of day, I can't say that I would be too broken up about it. I don't want the possibility of some of my favorite players, athletes I have looked up to, being forced to explain to the entire baseball world how a moment of weakness or insecurity will forever tarnish the legacy they have built in the game and in their communities.

But if we must pull the curtain back on the supposedly confidential list, all I have is this one final plea.

Please, let this be the end of it.

Many Questions Face Rox as Spring Training Nears

With the Rockies' pitchers and catchers set to report to Tucson on Friday, and the rest of the club coming in early next week, many questions still remain as to whether or not the Rox can return to the prominence they tasted in 2007.

Personally, I think a playoff run is possible when you consider a few important factors:

The NL West is completely, totally, Wyoming-ly wide open. When you look at the rosters of each of the five teams, everyone except the Padres, who are in a cost-cutting financial free fall, are seen as possible contenders for the division title.

No team made a major addition to their rosters. Matt Holliday switching leagues would be the biggest loss for any team in the NL West, and it's a veritable staring contest to see who will blink first between the Dodgers and the Giants when it comes to the Manny Ramirez sweepstakes at this point.

The NL West is still one of the more pitching-rich divisions in the game, and with each team hacking their way through Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Jake Peavy, Tim Lincecum, Chad Billingsley, Aaron Cook, and Ubaldo Jimenez, it's going to be tough for any team to build a sizable advantage in the standings.

Eighty-four wins, which the Dodgers earned last year to win the division, could very well do the trick again.

But back to the Rockies...

What are some of the major questions that must be answered before their Apr. 6 Opening Day showdown with the D-Backs?

How's Jeff Francis' shoulder?

The shoulder status of Jeff Francis will be monitored on an hourly basis as he tries to work through the scar tissue remaining in his pitching arm. He's supposedly going to make a decision about whether surgery is necessary soon after arriving in Tucson.

If he decides to go under the knife, it's bye-bye to 2009. If he breaks through said scar tissue during his daily bullpen sessions, he could be back on the mound around May or June.

How's Todd Helton's Back?

A majority of the lineup's daily movement will rest on Helton's balky back. If he's good to go, Garrett Atkins will man third while Ian Stewart either rides the bench or plays out of position in left field. If Todd needs a breather, Atkins goes to first and Stewart returns to his natural position at third base, opening up a spot for Seth Smith in left.

Who's Rounding Out the Rotation?

Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Marquis, and Jorge de la Rosa have the first four spots in the starting rotation as it stands today. The real position battle for that fifth spot will be between lefties Franklin Morales and Greg Smith and righties Jason Hirsh, Greg Reynolds, Josh Fogg, and Matt Belisle.

Smith could have the upper hand as he threw nearly 200 innings with the Athletics last season with moderate success (7-16, 4.16.) Morales has the best stuff of any of the candidates, but dealt with control issues and a bad back in 2008.

Who Will Man the Outfield?

Brad Hawpe is a lock in right. The other two spots are more up in the air. Ryan Spilborghs will be given the chance to translate his super-sub skills into a starting spot in center while Seth Smith will set up shop in left, getting spelled by Matt Murton when the team faces a tough lefty.

If any of those players should fail, hot shot prospects Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez will be waiting in the wings for their chance to shine.

How Hot is Clint Hurdle's Seat?

Maybe the reason why we never see Clint Hurdle sitting down in the dugout is because his seat is hotter than my new girlfriend, Bar Rafaeli. Hurdle's been given a seemingly infinite amount of patience on the part of the Monfort Brothers in his seven year tenure as the team's head coach, but you really have to wonder how much more losing the organization can take.

If the Rockies slink out of the gate in '09, look for Hurdle to be updating his resume come June.

Murton Added to Rockies Mix; Wimberly Subtracted From Equation

Unbeknownst to many baseball fans and highway architects alike, Oakland Athletics' general manager Billy Beane and Rockies' GM Dan O'Dowd went into the offseason with blueprints for a major project that could only be defined as "ambitious."

The plan? A pipeline that runs directly from McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. to Coors Field in Denver.

This proposed pipeline would transport not only automobiles, freight, and the occasional roadkill raccoon, but Major League Baseball players traveling between the two cities and teams behind the historic enterprise.

Alan Embree drew the short straw and took the initial trek from Cali to Colorado. Once Alan arrived safely in the Mile High City, both organizations knew their paved path was safe.

Then came the Matt Holliday deal, a 3-for-1 swap that sent relief pitcher Huston Street, starting pitcher Greg Smith, and hot-shot outfield prospect Carlos Gonzalez to the Rockies in exchange for the superstar slugger.

You thought they were done? Oh, no. The two trade-happy GMs had one more deal up their respective sleeves, finalizing a trade that sent reserve outfielder Matt Murton to Colorado for minor league speed demon Corey Wimberly.

The Rockies dealt from a position of strength within their minor league system. Wimberly was a solid young player and he led the Texas League in stolen bases. He could play a myriad of positions, but he also was stuck behind Clint Barmes and Ian Stewart at the Major League level and Eric Young Jr. and Chris Nelson in the minors.

Murton, a career .312 hitter against left-handed pitching, could form a productive platoon with Seth Smith, a career .314 hitter against righties. With Murton coming into the fold, he fills out the 40-man roster, but also adds to the slew of outfielders vying for a starting spot in 2009.

With Brad Hawpe fully entrenched in right field, there are now eight candidates for the other two positions. Ryan Spilborghs presumably has the upper hand in center with prospects Dexter Fowler and Gonzalez giving him stiff competition. Veteran Scott Podsednik was also invited to Spring Training as a non-roster player after hitting .253 in 93 games with the Rockies in 2008.

In left, Smith will have every opportunity to win the job in the spring, but if he falters in the Arizona sun, Gonzalez, Murton, and non-roster invitee Dan Ortmeier will push him for playing time.

In an effort to get Stewart consistent repetitions, he will also be put into the outfield mix to keep his thunderstick in the starting nine.

That is assuming, of course, that no more players will be making the trip down the Oakland-Denver pipeline between now and Feb. 17, when position players report to camp.

At this rate, it's anybody's guess.

The 2009 Rockies: Starting Rotation

So, now that Broncos season is, ahem, over in somewhat unceremonious fashion, it is finally time to turn both our eyes to the upcoming 2009 baseball season. Don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for the Nuggets to keep on keepin' on just as much as the next guy, but to me, it's all about baseball.

The Rockies have definitely stirred the proverbial pot this offseason by making moves both major and minor in hopes of finding the correct chemistry to put a winner on the field. They traded superstar slugger Matt Holliday for prospects, cut ties with speedster Willy Taveras, and added a bit of depth to the back end of the rotation as well as the middle innings of the bullpen.

They are also on the verge of finalizing a deal that would send high-priced reliever Luis Vizcaino to the Cubbies for high-priced starting pitcher Jason Marquis.

Viz struggled to a 5.28 ERA in 43 games last season while never carving out a niche for himself in Hurdle's bullpen. Marquis enjoyed an up and down season with the Cubs finishing with an 11-9 record and a 4.63 ERA. His signing would raise the Rox' payroll about $5 million in 2009.

Marquis would fill in a blank spot in the rotation after Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez, and a (hopefully) rejuvenated Jeff Francis. With the amount we would be paying Marquis for the 2009 season, you would have to believe that he would have the number 4 or 5 spot locked up. That would leave the other spot up for a heated competition between Jorge de la Rosa, newly acquired Greg Smith, Greg Reynolds, and Jason Hirsh when Spring Training opens.

De la Rosa overcame some early season Rick Ankiel-ness and actually ended the year in impressive fashion compiling a 5-2 record with a 2.44 ERA over the season's final two months. He has a live fastball and a biting slider with a slow curve that throws off the hitter's timing. For Rosie to be successful, it's all just a matter of getting out of his own head. Don't think. It can only hurt the ballclub.

Smith is an intriguing piece of work we received from the A's for Matt Holliday. His stats from his rookie season will not inspire confidence in the Rockies' faithful (7-16, 4.16 ERA,) but outside appearances can be deceiving. He's a Tom Glavine-type with a big-league cutter and curveball with a show-me changeup. His minor league numbers were outstanding as he had three times as many strikeouts as walks (309/105) compared to his banal Major League numbers (111/87.)

To me, that just shows some inexperience and rookie butterflies, and he should rebound in his sophomore season and remember what made him such a valuable commodity in the Minor Leagues. For what it's worth, he also has one of the better pickoff moves in baseball as he tallied 15 in his rookie year.

Reynolds, the number 2 pick in the 2006 draft (before Tim Lincecum to name a few), didn't make the kind of impression that one would hope he would. Brough up to the Majors by necessity after injuries besieged the ballclub, he made his debut in May and absorbed a loss to the Padres. It wouldn't get much better for the kid as the season went on as he racked up a 2-8 record with an 8.13 ERA while notching more walks (26) than strikeouts (22.)

Hirsh is running out of time to prove that his extensive Minor League track record (Pitcher of the Year in both AA and AAA) will translate into Major League success. He'll be 27 when the season starts hoping to find his fastball instead of relying so heavily on his changeup and slider. If he doesn't crack the rotation coming out of Spring Training, Hirsh may be relegated once again to the Minor Leagues where he's toiled for the majority of his career.

As I see it shaking out currently, the Rockies rotation will look like this:

Aaron Cook
Jeff Francis
Ubaldo Jimenez
Jason Marquis
Greg Smith/De la Rosa

Of course, whoever performs in Spring Training are going to take those bottom two spots, but I feel like Hurdle will want another lefty in the rotation. Whoever impresses most out of Smith and Rosie will take the final position.

I'll be analyzing the moves made by the Rockies as it relates to the bullpen, infield, and outfield in the coming days. I'm about to move out of Colorado to Virginia, so don't be scared if you don't hear from me for a little while.

Hiatus

Well, I guess Frost Brewed has been on hiatus over the past few weeks because of the holidays and what have you. And it will continue to be on hiatus for a few more weeks while I take a business (not) trip to Europe. When I get back, though, Frost Brewed will be back, like Howie Mandel.