2011 Colorado Rockies Predictions
The NL West goes through reigning World Series champion San Francisco, but the Colorado Rockies are certainly a top contender for the division title. Led by shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and ace pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez, the Rockies may just have what it takes to march into the postseason for a third time in the last five years.
Pitching: Colorado has one of the very best in baseball in Jimenez, who is coming off the best season any Rockies’ starter has ever had. He threw the first no-hitter in franchise history and set club marks for wins (19), strikeouts (214) and starter’s ERA (2.88).
Southpaw Jorge De La Rosa and righties Jhoulys Chacin, Aaron Cook and Jason Hammel are expected to join Jimenez in the starting rotation.
The Rockies desperately need De La Rosa to stay healthy, as they are 30-13 in his last 43 games. Chacin is still developing but showed glimpses down the stretch with a 1.44 ERA in his final eight starts. Cook is coming off a rough season in which he endured a toe injury and a fractured right leg. His health is also critical in solidifying the rotation. Hammel is nothing special, but he did win 10 games last year.
I really like the Colorado pen with Huston Street, Rafel Betancourt, Matt Belisle and Matt Lindstrom heading it up. Street has been an absolute nightmare for lefties, holding them to a .218 batting average lifetime.
Lineup: The offense is built around Tulowitzki and Gonzalez. Tulowitzki hit .315 with 27 home runs and 95 RBIs in just 122 games a year ago. Gonzalez hit .336 with 34 round trippers and 117 RBIs.
First baseman Todd Helton, second baseman Jose Lopez and third baseman Ian Stewart are expected to join Tulowitzki in the infield. Helton doesn’t pack the power he once did but still fields his position extremely well. I do expect better from him at the plate after posting career lows in average, home runs, RBIs, on-base percentage and slugging.
The Rockies are hoping Lopez can pair with Tulowitzki to make up one of the best middle infields in the NL. That’s a possibility if Lopez hits the way he did prior to a down 2010.
Stewart is coming off a season in which he slugged 18 homers and drove in a total of 61 runs. Ty Wiggington gives the Rocks a nice utility guy who can spell both Stewart and Helton at the corners.
Centerfielder Dexter Fowler and right fielder Seth Smith should join Gonzalez in the outfield. Fowler, who is a terrific defensive player, led the majors in triples (14) last year. Smith and Ryan Spilborghs should both see time in right. Smith had 17 jacks and 52 RBIs in 2010 but really struggled after the All-Star break. Spilborghs thrived at Coors, where he hit .320 last year.
Chris Iannetta and José Morales will platoon behind home plate.
Prediction – 2nd Place NL West: Colorado was an impressive 52-29 at home but a disappointing 31-50 on the road in 2010. The Rockies will have a shot to win the West if they can become more consistent on the road this season. That starts at the plate. Colorado’s .226 road batting average was the worst in the NL last year. The Rockies are listed at +175 to win the NL West.
