Continue reading "MLB 2008 Preview Part One: National League West"
Brad Hawpe
10 March 2008
t runs in the National League last season returns with MVP candidate Matt Holliday, Garrett Atkins, Brad Hawpe and Troy Tulowitzki. While anyone would expect a team in Colorado to score plenty of runs, it is always pitching that becomes the question. The Rockies’ pitching staff posted a very respectable 4.32 ERA last season, but what may be surprising to many, is that their road ERA was better than that of the vaunted San Diego pitching staff (4.29 to 4.42). With young fireballer Ubaldo Jiminez joining the rotation full time, a solid staff led by Jeff Francis becomes even better. Colorado may miss the playoffs this year due to a competitive division, but they will be one of the teams right there at the end battling for a berth.
Posted by Joe Sauer | No comments yet
8 March 2008
t Holiday could have been the MVP last year. Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki, Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe make for a scary middle of the order. With Willy Tavares setting the table this team will score a lot of runs. Their starting rotation is very solid too. Jeff Francis is highly underrated, Aaron Cook should bounce back after being injured most of last year and Jimenez and Morales have great young arms. The Rockies also put together a solid bullpen. Their 8th and 9th inning should be all but done with Brian Fuentes as the set-up and Manny Corpas closing games out. Other than these two they have some young arms and some question marks. If their bullpen can put it together in the middle innings this will be a dangerous team and could actually win the division this season.
Posted by Jeff Dufour | No comments yet
