Countdown to Opening Day: #14 Colorado Rockies

By Andrew Marcus

Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Pirates, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, biggest spring training question and top prospect

PROJECTED LINEUP

CF Dexter Fowler

RF Seth Smith

LF Carlos Gonzalez

SS Troy Tulowitzki

1B Todd Helton

3B Ian Stewart

2B Jose Lopez

C Chris Iannetta

P Ubaldo Jimenez

PROJECTED ROTATION

Ubaldo Jimenez

Jorge delaRosa

Jhoulys Chacin

Aaron Cook

Jason Hammel

PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - Huston Street
Set-up - Rafael Betancourt

Top Prospect - Tyler Matzak (LHP)

Breakout

Jhoulys Chacin - Over 137 innings last season Chacin fanned 138 batters. Maybe I have a soft  spot for strikeout pitchers, but I can see Chacin becoming the clear cut number two behind Jimenez in the Colorado rotation. His ERA was already at a tighty 3.28,which will probaby go up as he approaches 175 innings, but overall he should be one of the better starters in the National League.

Bust

Jose Lopez -The Rockies have too many options at second base to sit back and let Lopez struggle early. Even if he is not awful I'm sure manager Jim Tracy will want to give Ty Wigginton, Eric Young Jr. and Jonathan Herrera some playing time throughout the season. Don't expect a .280 average and 25 homers from the former Mariner - those days are over.

Biggest Spring Training Question

Can the arms hold up - There is no question the Rockies have one of the best offenses in the NL, led by Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki. There is no question that they have a bonafide ace in Ubaldo Jimenez. But there is some question with the 11 other pitchers on the staff. From the number two starter, Jorge de la Rosa, to the closer Huston Street, and everyone in between has injury and efficiency questions. The arms in Mile High will make or break this squad.

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 83-79

It's Tulo's time to lead the Rockies

PROJECTED FINISH: 3rd in the National League West

***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
 

Check back tomorrow for the Toronto Blue Jays