Troy Tulowitzki

They say that sometimes you can predict the outcome of a baseball game strictly from the first batter to take his hacks.

Unfortunately for the Colorado Rockies, that saying rang true in their opening bout with the Philadelphia Phillies in Game One of the National League Division Series.

When Dexter Fowler swung at Cliff Lee's first pitch of the game, flying out weakly to right field, it was a sad portent of things to come for the red-hot Rox in their eventual 5-1 drubbing at the hands of the NL East Champions.

In 2003, just a year and a half removed from being drafted 25th overall out of Long Beach State University, Bobby Crosby stormed into the majors and won the American League Rookie of the Year award. 

Troy Tulowitzki comes up to the plate in the eighth inning in last night's game against the Atlanta Braves.

Down 8-1 already, Tulo swings at a high strike, and grounds into a double play.

What does manager Clint Hurdle decide to do?  Bench one of the only bright spots on the team.

News flash Clint, if the city of Denver could fire you as easily as you benched Tulo, we would've done it earlier.  

The Rockies are 15-23, and 11.5 games out of the first-place Dodgers' grasp. 

Amid the myriad of problems the Colorado Rockies have encountered so far in this young season, the inconsistency of a supposedly strong bullpen has to grace the top spot on the list.

Coming into the season with the additions of former closer Huston Street and veteran lefty Alan Embree to fortify a bullpen already boasting Manny Corpas, Jason Grilli, and Taylor Buchholz, the bullpen was seen to be the least of the Rockies' worries.

But the problems began before the first pitch was even thrown.

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. 

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.