NL West

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.

Seven days. You have seven days.

Don't worry, there's no unmarked videotape. There's not a girl in a well waiting to crawl out of your television. 

In fact, in seven days, you should be glued to your television/radio/computer. In seven days, you will be watching Giants baseball. It will be early in the game against the Milwaukee Brewers, and Tim Lincecum will be striking out Ryan Braun to end the inning.

Once upon a time, Will Ohman was considered to be one of the best relief pitchers on the free agent market.

Once upon a time, Will Ohman thought he had a market for his services.

Once upon a time, Will Ohman actually had a major league contract offer from the Atlanta Braves.

Once upon a time, Will Ohman thought he was in line for a huge contract similar to those given out to Jeremy Affeldt and Damaso Marte.

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."

Strange currents of economy, ownership, and agents are creating an interesting year for 2009. The National League West is highly impacted by a shaky economy and changing ownerships. 

Jeff Moorad leaving the D-backs to be the new owner of the Padres is a change of strategy for both franchises. Dodger owner Frank McCourt’s comments recently revealed his heavy hand in GM Ned Colletti’s choices of players, relieving Neddy of some of the blame.

Trade Garrett Atkins?

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

In the weeks following the conclusion of the 2008 Arizona Fall League, people weren’t really sure what to expect from San Francisco Giants infielder Emmanuel Burriss.

While he hit .318 in 24 games with the Scottsdale Scorpions, his defense was absolutely abysmal. It seemed as though he was recording an error out in the field every day at shortstop, and the sight of him being the Giants’ start there to open the 2009 season looked slim to none.

Talk to anyone who has done an interview with Colorado Rockies prospect Dexter Fowler, and they will tell you the same two things—this kid has a smile made for television, and he can run like a gazelle.

At the beginning of the spring, it seemed a given that the top outfield prospect for the Rockies, Dexter Fowler, would start the year at Triple-A Colorado Springs. After all, he was called straight to the big leagues after tearing the cover off of the ball in Double-A Tulsa.

I don't know what is worse, having both Peavy and Hoffman (twice) on the mound when all we needed was three outs to secure a playoff berth in 2007, or losing 99 games in 2008.

It's been an ugly run since that horrible weekend in Milwaukee.  Hoffman blowing the save, getting beat by Tony Gwynn Jr.  Peavy on the mound the following night, only to show that for as good as he really is, and the guy is that good, that the October spotlight on him just might be a bit too bright.