By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media
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Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515 |
To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2012 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Astros, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, each team's X-Factor and top prospect.
PROJECTED LINEUP
CF Dexter Fowler
2B Marco Scutaro
CF Carlos Gonzalez
SS Troy Tulowitzki
RF Michael Cuddyer
1B Todd Helton
3B Casey Blake
C Ramon Hernandez
P Jhoulys Chacin
PROJECTED ROTATION
Jhoulys Chacin
Jeremy Guthrie
Juan Nicasio
Guillermo Moscoso
Drew Pomeranz
**Jorge de la Rosa (out until June)
2B Marco Scutaro
CF Carlos Gonzalez
SS Troy Tulowitzki
RF Michael Cuddyer
1B Todd Helton
3B Casey Blake
C Ramon Hernandez
P Jhoulys Chacin
PROJECTED ROTATION
Jhoulys Chacin
Jeremy Guthrie
Juan Nicasio
Guillermo Moscoso
Drew Pomeranz
**Jorge de la Rosa (out until June)
PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - Rafael Betancourt
Set-up - Rex Brothers
Closer - Rafael Betancourt
Set-up - Rex Brothers
Top Prospect - Nolan Arenado (3B)
Breakout
Nolan Arenado - With only an aging Casey Blake keeping the reining Arizona Fall League MVP out of the big leagues, Arenado is sure to get his chance sometime this season. While he has never played above High A ball, Arenado has a chance to reach Mile High by May with a good spring and bad start by Blake. If that happens, Arenado has chance to hit 15 homers this season with his raw power. At 21 years of age, the left side of the infield along with Troy Tulowitzki ha bright future.
Nolan Arenado - With only an aging Casey Blake keeping the reining Arizona Fall League MVP out of the big leagues, Arenado is sure to get his chance sometime this season. While he has never played above High A ball, Arenado has a chance to reach Mile High by May with a good spring and bad start by Blake. If that happens, Arenado has chance to hit 15 homers this season with his raw power. At 21 years of age, the left side of the infield along with Troy Tulowitzki ha bright future.
Bust
Jeremy Guthrie - I think Guthrie feels getting out of Baltimore is a blessing, but Colorado is no cake walk for pitchers either. For a guy whose biggest problem has been serving up the long ball, we could be looking at a long season for Guthrie. Sure, he'll eat up innings for a thin pitching staff, but he also might be a smart pick to lead the majors in earned runs allowed.
Jeremy Guthrie - I think Guthrie feels getting out of Baltimore is a blessing, but Colorado is no cake walk for pitchers either. For a guy whose biggest problem has been serving up the long ball, we could be looking at a long season for Guthrie. Sure, he'll eat up innings for a thin pitching staff, but he also might be a smart pick to lead the majors in earned runs allowed.
X-FACTOR
Juan Nicasio - With Jorge de la Rosa recovering from Tommy John the rotation for the Rox is currently being filled out by the two top prospects from the Ubaldo Jimenez deal (Pomeranz and White), but they are guys that have yet to really test the big leagues out. If the Rockies are going to contend Jhoulys Chacin is going to need help and Nicasio is going to be counted on to become a solid starter. He's shocking the world by coming back from a hard liner to face and he's already throwing the mid 90s in the early March. Nicasio could be comeback player of the year if he pitches like he did in last July.
Juan Nicasio - With Jorge de la Rosa recovering from Tommy John the rotation for the Rox is currently being filled out by the two top prospects from the Ubaldo Jimenez deal (Pomeranz and White), but they are guys that have yet to really test the big leagues out. If the Rockies are going to contend Jhoulys Chacin is going to need help and Nicasio is going to be counted on to become a solid starter. He's shocking the world by coming back from a hard liner to face and he's already throwing the mid 90s in the early March. Nicasio could be comeback player of the year if he pitches like he did in last July.
LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 73-89
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| Helton and veteran hitters need to carry a young staff |
PROJECTED FINISH: 5th the National League West
***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
Check back tomorrow for the Cleveland Indians
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