Colorado Rockies

Though the Rox faithful weren't brimming with optimism heading into opening day, there was talk that the pieces were in place for the Rockies to make a run in the wide-open National League West.

There were a lot of unquantifiable "ifs" involved however. 

IF Ubaldo Jimenez, Franklin Morales, and Jorge De la Rosa grow up and start pitching up to their potential.

IF Todd Helton's balky back holds up.

IF the new acquisitions in the bullpen would become the shutdown bunch they were supposed to be.

The Colorado Rockies are looking to rebound from their Opening Day loss in Arizona.

We have finally arrived on the eve of Opening Day after a grueling and seemingly never-ending offseason, punctuated by our resident superstar's departure to the Bay Area.

With Matt Holliday now wearing Athletic green, the Rockies are projected by the national media to struggle in replacing the power Holliday produced on a daily basis in the purple pinstripes.

Two years ago in 2007, the Colorado Rockies stumbled out of the gate in April. They finished the month 10-16, good enough for last place in the National League West.

The team found their groove in mid-May.

The key to a team's early season success is the production coming from all parts of their lineup. 

This doesn't mean just hitting. It means hitting, pitching, and fielding all together.

The Rockies are in a position they have never been in before this season. Every year since their inception into the MLB, they have had at least one big-name star anchoring their lineup.

Not this year.

With the trade of Matt Holliday to the Oakland A's, that star's presence left the franchise. 

It was a difficult decision.

One that couldn’t be made until four simple days before Opening Day.

But nonetheless, it’s becoming a reoccurring decision for the Rockies organization lately.

We have entered the Twilight Zone of spring training.

This is the time where most of the players still getting time on the fields are just looking not to get injured before the season starts while still getting enough work in to earn their paychecks when the games finally start to matter.

Since we have arrived at this most agonizing of hours when Opening Day can be seen on the horizon, but five days still await the first pitch, it's about time for an official, dyn-o-mite 2009 preview of yours, mine, and our Colorado Rockies.

With one week to go before the season begins, the Colorado Rockies are slowly but surely whittling their roster down to the final 25.

In a surprise move, newly-acquired Matt Murton was optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs, along with hurting pitcher Greg Smtih. Smith getting sent down was no surprise, but Murton was a shock to many Rockies followers.

Murton was hitting over .300 for the spring and had seemed to be a sure bet to be a reserve outfielder on the opening day roster.

They’re not a team made up of speed, but they’re showing aggressiveness.

“What you don't want to see is to have this type of program in spring training and then drop back to Plan B in the regular season," manger Clint Hurdle said. “We can't afford to do that. We've got to stay aggressive and look to pick up 90 feet whenever we can, with whoever is on base."

Trade Garrett Atkins?

Many probably think I’m crazy for this statement. Perhaps I am.