The 2010 season for the Colorado Rockies started off as if they were the favorite to win the National League West division but as we know they didn't after finishing (83-79), they didn't even come close to making it to the postseason after one point they looked like they had a shot near the end of the year. But bad pitching got them nowhere and before they knew it their season bad come to a close and in 2011 they aren't even picked to win their division because of the same issue "Bad Pitching". During the offseason the Rockies didn't make any moves to try and make their pitching staff better and to a team that in 2007 won the NL Wild Card, won the NL League Pennant, and went on to the 2007 World Series but lost to the Boston Red Sox, to now a team that doesn't look like they will reach the postseason again for a long time. Also don't forget in 2009 they won the NL Wild Card again but then lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS. The Rockies don't look like they will rock much in 2011, here's a breakdown.
Like I said the Rockies pitching staff isn't the best in the NL, they only have one good pitcher but even he broke down during the second half of the season. The Rockies best pitcher is young hard thrower Ubaldo Jimenez who in 2010 was one of five pitchers to throw a no-hitter on April 17th and during the first half of the 2010 season he was the NL CY Young award winner having won 15 games up to the All-Star break and he was lights out on the mound. He had the lowest ERA at 2.20, the most wins in the NL, but after the All-Star break Jimenez only managed to win 4 more games and after that he was no longer the best pitcher in baseball. Now Jimenez is a great young pitcher and still
has a long way to go but after showing the he couldn't finish the rest of his job in 2010 it might raise a few eye brawls. Jimenez could have easily won 25-28 games in 2010 after having 15 wins during the first half. In 2010 he finished with an ERA of 2.88, 19 wins, 8 losses, and 214 strikeouts. After Jimenez the Rockies really don't have anyone else to really worry about, they have Jorge De La Rosa who in 2010 posted a 4.22 ERA with 8 wins, 7 losses, 113 strikeouts, Jason Hammel who posted a 4.81 ERA with 10 wins, 9 losses, 141 strikeouts, Aaron Cook who at one time was a pretty good pitcher but in 2010 didn't have great season with a 5.08 ERA, 6 wins, 8 losses, 62 strikeouts, and Jhoulys Chacin who posted a 3.28 ERA, 9 wins, 11 losses, and 139 strikeouts. As you can see this is a really weak pitching rotation and in the NL West things could either get tougher or get weaker but as we know in baseball pitching is key and they don't have that. As for the Rockies bullpen that is also pretty weak but there are three pretty good pitchers in the pen that aren't too bad in set-up man Rafael Betancourt, set-up man Matt Lindstrom, and closer Huston Street and that's really it.
Their bullpen might be one of the worse the NL with having a lot guys that aren't that good or are rookies. Lindstrom who came over from Huston didn't have a bad year with the Astors in 2010, saving 23 games with a 4.39 ERA and 43 strikeouts. He throws hard and is a gamer. Betancourt has been part of this team for 2 years now has been money for the Rockies in the pen with a 3.61 ERA, 23 HLD, and 89 strikeouts. Street who has been the Rockies closer for 2 years hasn't been that bad either saving 20 games with a 3.61 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 2010.
Now the best part about this Rockies team is their line-up, it isn't the best but they have about 3 or 4 guys on this team that can carry them throughout a whole season. We start with shortstop Troy Tulowitzki who might be one of the best shortstops in the game when he is healthy. When Tulow came off the DL last year he really went on a hot streak and when I mean hot streak it was hot. He was one of the best players in the game. He hit 15 home runs, and drove in 40 RBI's from July 27th to September 30th and I bet if he would have stayed healthy he could have had a good shot at winning the NL MVP award. But not only is he a good hitter but he is a great fielder and is a leader in the club house and that's the most important thing when your team isn't doing so well.
He knows how to win and when to step up in key moments. In 2010 after missing a good part of the year he batted .327, hit 27 home runs, and drove in 95 RBI's. Next is long time veteran first baseman Todd Helton, who 2010 is another guy who was on and off the DL and is another leader in the club house. He has been part of this team since 1997 and had one of his worst seasons of his career. This is a player who always bats .300 or more and in the last 3 years he hasn't really done much. In 2009 he had a really good year but in 2008 he had another off year. So it looks like as Helton gets older he's play has gone down, but I think if he has a bounce back year the Rockies will be fine in that line-up. In 2010 Helton batted .256, hit 8 home runs, and drove in 37 RBI's. After Helton is the new third baseman they got during the offseason form the O's is Ty Wigginton. Now what Wigginton brings to this lineup is more power the only problem is he strikeouts out a lot. I think if he can cut down the strikeouts he will be a dangerous hitter in this line-up. As a fielder he is okay, not the best but he gets the job done, he can also play first base as well and in 2010 he hit .248, hit 22 home runs, and drove in 76 RBI's. Last on this line-up is star player in left field Carlos Gonzalez. Talk about a player who has it all, well this kid has it. Speed, power, arm ability, and is a hitting machine.
His breakout season was really in the 2009 postseason when the Phillies pitchers could not figure how to get him out and everyone was asking themselves who is this guy? In 2010 he showed that he going to be the next best outfielder in the game and came oh so very close to winning the NL MVP award, he was about 35 votes short behind Joey Votto who won the NL MVP award. If this kid has a season like he did in 2010 there should be no reason why should not win the MVP award this year after batting .336, hit 34 home runs, and drove in 117 RBI's.
Now in 2011 I don't really see the Rockies doing much, yes their line-up is really good when everyone is healthy but their starting five is way too weak and so is their bullpen. In 2011 don't really expect much from the Rockies, but then again they could surprise everyone like they have in the past
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