Day four brings us to the cold, mountainous terrain of what is Denver, Colorado, where the Rockies make their home. The 2015 Colorado Rockies made some upgrades, notably at the back end of the rotation, and retain their big time stars in Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, both of whom are healthy and looking to complete a full season of work. The Rockies will be the next team to be examined.
Team Overview: 2015 Colorado Rockies
Rockies fans in and around the Mile High City have been waiting for their unit to produce a solid season. Four straight losing seasons, including a 98-loss 2012 and 96-loss 2014, have fans shaking their heads. The Rockies have a young team of core players who have the potential to produce and score runs, but injuries have caught up to them very often. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez are aiming to be 100% healthy for a full season, with Tulowitzki’s production being top of the line before a hip injury ended his season, which required surgery, and Gonzalez, who required surgery on his knee, making a huge impact in the line-up. Both recently took significant steps in their rehabilitation, running the bases at Rockies’ Spring Training in Scottsdale, Arizona. Another big season from Charlie Blackmon, an improved season from Nolan Arenado and solid performances from their rotation will help the Rockies to an improved record in 2015.
Roster Moves
He’s Here: P John Axford, 2B Daniel Descalso, P David Hale, C Nick Hundley, P Kyle Kendrick, P Gus Schlosser
Non-Roster Invitees with chance to make roster: P John Lannan
He’s Gone: P Brett Anderson, P Matt Belisle, P Mitchell Boggs, OF Michael Cuddyer, P Chris Martin, P Franklin Morales, P Juan Nicasio, 2B Josh Rutledge, P Rob Scahill
Playing Out in the Thin Air
The Rockies home of Coors Field has always provided trouble for not only their pitchers but opposing teams as a whole because of the reduced air and the ability of the balls to fly out the park at high rates. The Rockies rotation was anything but strong last year, with the eight pitchers who started double digit games going 43-59, with Jorge de la Rosa having 14 of those 43 wins. Normally dependable Jhoulys Chacin went 1-7 with a 5.40 ERA while battling injuries, while one of his fill-ins, Yohan Flande, went 0-6 with a 5.19 ERA. Chacin, de la Rosa, and Jordan Lyles look to be the returning pitchers to the rotation, with Juan Nicasio going to the Dodgers and Franklin Morales going to the Royals. Tyler Matzek, who showed potential in 2014, will be battling for the five spot in the rotation, along with Christian Bergman and recently acquired David Hale. The four spot in the rotation will most likely be Kyle Kendrick, an off-season signee of the Rockies who spent his entire career in the Phillies organization from the year they drafted him in 2003. The one-year contract allows Colorado to monitor how well Kendrick does in the air of Coors Field and if they could keep him for a longer time period.
The line-up will look mostly the same, with injuries on the way to being healed (Tulo, Gonzalez, and Justin Morneau) and a new acquisition in second baseman Daniel Descalso, along with a catcher in Nick Hundley to pair up with Willin Rosario and Michael McKenry. Otherwise, most other positions retain the same players, with good depth coming from the bench, including D.J. LeMahieu, Charlie Culberson, Drew Stubbs, and Brandon Barnes. Another solid season from Corey Dickerson and Charlie Blackmon will supplement the line-up, and outfield, very well, as well as Descalso getting a real chance to start, or at least platoon with, LeMahieu.
Team Outline
(red indicates a new acquisition)
C: Willin Rosario
1B: Justin Morneau
2B: Daniel Descalso
3B: Nolan Arenado
SS: Troy Tulowitzki
LF: Corey Dickerson
CF: Charlie Blackmon
RF: Carlos Gonzalez
The Rockies outfield depth on paper is incredible, especially if, as mentioned before, Blackmon and Dickerson can repeat their 2014 seasons and CarGo can remain healthy. Defense is a huge factor on this team, with Morneau at first, Tulo at short and Arenado at third.
1. Jhouyls Chacin
2. Jorge de la Rosa
3. Jordan Lyles
4. Kyle Kendrick
5. Tyler Matzek/David Hale
Depending on the Spring Training performances and decision of manager Walt Weiss, Chacin and de la Rosa could get switched around in the rotation, and the competition for the five spot is leaning in Matzek’s favor right now due to his time and performance with the team. Weiss has available depth for a spot where his team did not do too well in 2014.
Bottom Line
Health will play a major factor in Colorado’s 2015 run. Solid and consistent seasons from unexpected players will lift the Rockies to more wins this season, and more help from the rotation would turn in more wins for them also. The Rockies started 2014 hot but then dropped off the map quick, so this year they need a run that can be sustained for a whole seven months. Look for young pitching and good defense to steal the show in Colorado this year. As for their finish, the National League West is a tough division, so anywhere around 76-80 wins is reasonable for the Rockies, along with the potential for 3rd or 4th place.
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