If you reading this recalling how you predicted the Rockies would win the NL last season, we're going to call you a liar. Those people who made that prediction are on a beach somewhere in Cabo still counting their Las Vegas winnings. That prediction was a real moneymaker.
Now the rebuilding Rockies are a burgeoning dynasty. OK, that might be taking it too far, but any team with a core of Matt Holliday, Troy Tulowitzki and Jeff Francis figures to be going places. You just couldn't have predicted they would have already been there by now.
"There" being the World Series, of course.
The Rockies remain a team of intriguing Fantasy sluggers, because of the still-friendly air in Coors Field, but the pitching came around last year thanks in part to the humidor. Francis, Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales look like a second coming of Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Steve Avery. Oh, and that Manny Corpas guy wound up being a really good Fantasy closer, too.
The Rockies will be more sought-after than ever on Draft Day, which might make them a bit overvalued, but no one can discredit you for picking up some of the best young talent in baseball. There's more to come on the farm, too.
Spring position battles
Second base -- Ian Stewart vs. Marcus Giles, Clint Barmes, Jayson Nix, Jeff Baker and Omar Quintanilla
Stewart is a guy that once figured to force Garrett Atkins out of town. Now, he is being tried at second base. If he proves defensively capable and ready for big league at-bats, look out. This could be the next Chase Utley -- or at least a poor man's version as a run-producing second baseman that hits like a third baseman, which is what Stewart was/is. Giles and Barmes look washed up to us, while Nix and Baker have talent but come with more questions than Stewart. Quintanilla looks like a career reserve at best. Consider Stewart a sleeper NL Rookie of the Year candidate and a must-have in all deeper leagues if he is named the starter at second this spring.
Center field -- Willy Taveras vs. Scott Podsednik, Ryan Spilborghs and Cory Sullivan
This is not a thrilling position battle, save for the Rotisserie leagues that value Taveras' of Podsednik's 30-40 steals potential. With Kazuo Matsui gone via free agency, we expect Taveras to win this job because of his ability to lead off and set the table for what continues to be a young lineup that improves every year. Podsednik is similar, but much older. The fact Taveras is still competing for a starting job at this point in his career tells us you shouldn't consider him in Head-to-Head points leagues. He is a Rotisserie-only guy, albeit a good value in the latter rounds. The other guys are nothing more than reserves for the deepest of NL-only leagues.
Catcher -- Yorvit Torrealba vs. Chris Iannetta
Another position you might not care much about in Fantasy outside of deeper leagues. Torrealba had a career year last year and did just enough to be a low-end Fantasy backstop for deeper leagues. Iannetta has considerably more potential offensively, but since the Rockies are a contender, expect them to give time to Torrealba amid a pennant race and because he has handled the young pitching staff well. Iannetta is nothing more than an NL-only reserve catcher until he proves worthy of regular at-bats.
Starting pitchers Nos. 4-5 -- Franklin Morales and Jason Hirsh vs. Kip Wells, Josh Towers and Ramon Ortiz
Morales doesn't have a rotation spot locked down like Jimenez does, but he is equally intriguing as a Fantasy sleeper -- especially for a team that figures to get him ample run support and should win games again. Hirsh is coming off a season-ending injury, but he has innings-eater potential. Consider him an overlooked sophomore sleeper. Wells, Towers and Ortiz are now journeymen who are only around in case the young talent falters or is injured. They can be ignored on Draft Day.
| Colorado Rockies Outlook | |||||
| Projected lineup | Pos. | Projected Rotation | |||
| 1 | Willy Taveras | CF | 1 | Jeff Francis | LH |
| 2 | Todd Helton | 1B | 2 | Aaron Cook | RH |
| 3 | Matt Holliday | LF | 3 | Ubaldo Jimenez | RH |
| 4 | Garrett Atkins | 3B | 4 | Franklin Morales | LH |
| 5 | Troy Tulowitzki | SS | 5 | Jason Hirsh | RH |
| 6 | Brad Hawpe | RF | Alt | Kip Wells | RH |
| 7 | Yorvit Torrealba | C | Top bullpen arms | ||
| 8 | Ian Stewart | 2B | CL | Manny Corpas | RH |
| Top bench options | SU | Brian Fuentes | LH | ||
| R | Jeff Baker | UTL | RP | Luis Vizcaino | RH |
| R | Ryan Spilborghs | OF | RP | Matt Herges | RH |
| Rookies/Prospects | Age | Pos. | 2007 high | Destination | |
| 1 | Ian Stewart | 22 | 3B/2B | Majors | Majors |
| Offseason trial at second opens up huge opportunity for awesome talent. | |||||
| 2 | Franklin Morales | 22 | LH SP | Majors | Majors |
| Strong finish and postseason contributions give him job to lose this spring. | |||||
| 3 | Greg Reynolds | 22 | RH SP | Double-A | Triple-A |
| Immense talent will miss first month or two, but can star by summer. | |||||
| 4 | Joe Koshansky | 25 | 1B | Triple-A | Triple-A |
| Yet another power corner infielder, but it's a crowded situation for him. | |||||
| 5 | Chris Nelson | 22 | SS | Double-A | Triple-A |
| Great numbers but he needs a new position with Tulo around long term. | |||||
| Best of the rest: 2B Jayson Nix, 2B Eric Young, SP Chaz Roe, OF Dexter Fowler, OF Seth Smith, OF Joe Gaetti, 2B Daniel Mayora, SS Hector Gomez, SP Brandon Hynick, OF Matt Miller, P Juan Morillo, SP Shane Lindsay, P Casey Weathers, SP Samuel Deduno, SP Anuery Rodriguez, RP Ryan Speier, OF Sean Barker, SS Jonathan Herrera, 2B Corey Wimberly, P Pedro Strop, P Parker Frazier, OF Brian Rike, P Connor Graham, P Keith Weiser, C Lars Davis, P Isaiah Froneberger, P Darren Clarke, P Alberto Arias, P Josh Newman. | |||||
You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball questions to dmfantasybaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Rockies outlook in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state.
