Colorado Rockies Profile: 2008 Season Preview

One thing is certain for the Colorado Rockies in 2008, to make the playoffs they will have to have to win on a consistent basis, because a 20 of 21 game winning streak is not a normal occurrence.

In order to contend in the tough NL West, the Rockies' pitching is going to have to once again be dominant as it was in the second half of 2007. Staff ace Jeff Francis should have another great year, and could easily improve on his 19 wins last year to be become a coveted 20-game winner.

No. 2 Aaron Cook, 2007's opening day starter, should continue to provide a solid spot in the rotation as long as he can stay healthy. Because if Cook is absent for a long period as in 2007, more responsibility will fall on the very young Nos. 4 and 5 starters, 23-year-old Ubaldo Jimenez and 22-year-old Franklin Morales.

For Ubaldo, pressure and responsibility would be nothing new, as it was in last year's streak to the finish that Jimenez, as the defacto No.2 with Cook out, did his best work on the way to Colorado making the World Series. This year Jimenez should only improve on his vast pool of raw talent and be a solid contributor in another pennant race. It is at the Nos. 4 and 5 spots in the rotation that are considerably less solid then the top three.

Morales, when he is good, is very good. He has the stuff to dominate hitters and win games on his shoulders. But when the young lefty is bad, he only gets worse as he lets his emotions take over. With experience he has the skills to be a reliable pitcher, but even in Spring Training he has shown both flashes of brilliance and youth. With coaching from some of the older pitchers he will become a formidable opponent, but look for him to struggle as he continues to master the big leagues.

The No. 5 starter was up for grabs when the team first went down to Arizona, but as the season draws near veteran journeyman Mark Redman appears to have sown up the spot. For the final spot in the rotation Redman can be as good a fit as Josh "The Dragonslayer" Fogg was last year. If his experience shines over his diminishing talent he will anchor a solid rotation.

The bullpen has emerged this year as perhaps the strongest asset the Rockies bring to pitching. former All-Star closer Brian Fuentes now sets up young phenom closer Manny Corpas, who notched saves on many of the crucial late season wins. Pitching strength is still something of an unkown in Colorado, but 2008's edition might just have the best hurlers yet.

Colorado, especially in the post Barry Bonds NL West, is the odd duck in the division. Where Arizona, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Fransisco all have good pitching and weak hitting (Arizona won the division but had the lowest scoring offense) The Rockies compensate average, inexperienced pitching with a powerful lineup. As the late season surge in 2007 showed, almost anybody on Colorado's lineup has the ability to make the big play, be it Cory Sullivan's sacrifice fly to score Holliday in the one game playoff with San Diego, or catcher Yorvit Torrealba's playoff hitting ability. This means that behind sluggers like Todd Helton and Matt Holliday are sluggers in the making like Brad Hawpe and Troy Tulowitski.

And it is Tulowitski that sums up the strength of the Rockies, there defense. In a hitters ballpark the defense has helped the pitching to make Colorado a tough club that does not take an early exit from any game. Behind Tulowitski's amazing skills on defense and offense, the Rockies will be a playoff threat in 2008 and many years to come.