Colorado Rockies 2003 Finish: 74-88, 4th NL West	Select Team Angels Astros Athletics Blue Jays Braves Brewers Cardinals Cubs Devil Rays Diamondbacks Dodgers Expos Giants Indians Mariners Marlins Mets Orioles Padres Phillies Pirates Rangers Red Sox Reds Rockies Royals Tigers Twins White Sox Yankees

Todd Helton Brian Bahr/Getty Images
Batting Order
2B	Aaron Miles 27-year-old rookie who has spent nine years in the minors.
SS	Royce Clayton Superb defensive player must add offense to stay at No. 2.
1B	Todd Helton Five consecutive seasons with at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs.
CF	Preston Wilson True center fielder with power, which the Rockies have never had.
RF	Larry Walker At 37, he'll try to rebound from an off-year.
3B	Vinny Castilla Returns to the Rockies after a four-year absence.
LF	Jeromy Burnitz Has hit 30 or more homers in four of the past five years.
C	Charles Johnson Club record for a catcher with 20 homers, one off career high.
Rotation
RHP	Jason Jennings First since 1995-96 to lead team in starts first two seasons.
LHP	Joe Kennedy He's 24 with a great arm but mechanics need work.
RHP	Scott Elarton Could provide stability now that he's healthy and throwing well.
RHP	Denny Stark Rockies hope he'll return to 2002 form after being injured last year.
RHP	Chin-Hui Tsao 2005 probably more realistic for making the rotation.
Bullpen
RHP	Shawn Chacon Becomes closer after 71 appearances in big leagues, all starts.
RHP	Steve Reed Stranded 31-of-39 inherited runners, finishing fifth in the league.
LHP	Brian Fuentes Has averaged 10.6 Ks per 9 IP in two seasons with Colorado.
LHP	Javier Lopez Held opponents to .209 batting average at Coors Field.
LHP	Matt White Rule 5 pick will be given opportunity to be third lefty reliever.
RHP	Adam Bernero Two runs allowed in first 13.2 innings in Colorado.
RHP	Mark Kroon Will try to parlay successful winter into a bullpen job.
Prospects
LHP	Jeff Francis Superb control pitcher with solid fastball.
2B	Jayson Nix Plus power potential for middle infielder with solid defensive skills.
RHP	Ubaldo Jimenez Power pitcher with plus curve who needs to develop a changeup.

The Rockies have a more potent lineup, featuring ideal left-right balance and power from the third-through-eighth spots in the order. Plus, the NL West appears less formidable. Will that translate into meaningful September games after three consecutive losing seasons and only one winning season in the past six? Assuming that Colorado will have an improved offense, the Rockies' season will hinge on their pitching. They need a smooth transition by Shawn Chacon to the closer's role and success from starters who are either young -- like Jason Jennings, Joe Kennedy, Chin-Hui Tsao and Aaron Cook (who will likely begin the year in Triple-A) -- or returning to full strength, like Scott Elarton and Denny Stark.

It's young, promising and could have some free agent veterans in the mix capable of adding stability and guidance. Based on how well he threw in winter workouts, the Rockies expect Scott Elarton, fully recovered from major shoulder surgery in March 2002, to be a big contributor. Jennings admitted trying to do too much last year after winning Rookie of the Year honors in 2002. Because his fastball location suffered, Jennings fell behind in the count and didn't throw his changeup enough. Still, he won 12 games and led the team in innings. Kennedy, a left-hander acquired from Tampa Bay, has a terrific arm and throws strikes but needs to clean up his delivery. The Rockies believe his 2003 struggles will help him adapt to the rigors of Coors Field, because he has already dealt with adversity. Late movement, and plenty of heart, enhance Stark's average velocity. Tsao and Cook will compete for starting jobs.

Chacon appears to have the necessary stuff, demeanor and temperament for a closer. An elbow injury limited him to six starts in the second half last year, and the Rockies believe he'll stay healthier in his new role. Left-handers Brian Fuentes and Javier Lopez have unorthodox deliveries, thrive at Coors Field and throw strikes. Fuentes, an ideal eighth-inning type, also averages more than one strikeout per inning. Fuentes had a 2.40 ERA at Coors Field; Lopez was even better at home with a 1.71. Left-hander Matt White, a Rule 5 pick from Cleveland, will be protected in middle relief. Sidearming right-hander Steve Reed is dependable and durable but vulnerable against left-handed hitters. The Rockies have signed Mark Kroon, Travis Driskill and Jeff Tam to minor league contracts to compete for two right-handed relief jobs.

Versatile Damian Jackson will compete with switch-hitting Aaron Miles for the second base job. Miles is a David Eckstein-type, a heady player with average tools and a clear understanding of the team concept. Spring invitee Royce Clayton is a solid defensive shortstop, and his outstanding range can compensate for third baseman Vinny Castilla's deficiencies in that area. The Rockies aren't counting on a whole lot of offense from Clayton, but they expect his defensive soundness to help their young pitchers.

Todd Helton combines Gold Glove defense at first base with superior slugging. Moved to third in the lineup last year, Helton came within one hit of winning his second batting title and led the majors by hitting .417 with runners in scoring position. That was no fluke, since Helton is a career .361 hitter in such situations. Rockies third basemen combined to hit .237 with 11 homers and 79 RBIs last year. Castilla, who returns after playing for the Rockies from 1993-1999, will be an upgrade. He has a strong, accurate arm and sure hands but limited range.

Preston Wilson and right fielder Larry Walker play Gold Glove-caliber defense. In his first year with the Rockies, Wilson was a godsend at spacious Coors Field, where a premier center fielder is mandatory, and his clubhouse presence was an added bonus. Left fielder Jeromy Burnitz is average defensively but does have a strong arm. All three outfielders are power hitters, capable of at least 35 homers. Walker's selectivity has improved -- he drew a career-high 98 walks last year with little protection. He has lost the bulk he added before last season, so if he's healthy, it's likely his power figures will rise to his typically productive levels after 16 homers and 79 RBIs last year. Wilson -- who thrived batting cleanup between Todd Helton and Walker -- and Burnitz strike out excessively. The lefthanded-hitting Burnitz was better against left-handed pitchers last year but historically has had trouble with them.

Charles Johnson gives the Rockies a power bat deep in their lineup, as will Todd Greene when he plays. Johnson's .153 average on the road is why he was only able to parlay Coors Field into an overall .230 average. Johnson strikes out often, doesn't walk much and is one of the slowest players in the game. He does an adequate job calling a game and working with pitchers, but his receiving skills have declined markedly and his throwing has slipped in recent years.

Greene is a veteran complement to Johnson, although both bat right-handed. Greene is a high-strikeout, low-walk hitter, albeit with power, and he doesn't throw well. A slew of spring invitees will have a chance to stick. Benji Gil gives Colorado a veteran infield presence to go with Luis Gonzalez, another right-handed hitter, who was selected from Cleveland in the Rule 5 draft and is coming off a very productive winter in Venezuela. Mark Sweeney is a potent bat off the bench, hitting .295 last season as a pinch-hitter, raising his career average in that role to .270. Corner infielder Kit Pellow's ability to catch enhances his chances of making the team. Rene Reyes makes very steady contact but must show more initiative, particularly on defense. Denny Hocking's ability to play all the infield and outfield positions helped Minnesota reach the playoffs the last two years.

Colorado has too much money tied up in too few players, a situation that will last through 2005. After that season, the Rockies will be out from under the large contracts of Denny Neagle, Johnson, Walker and Wilson and have more financial latitude. Aware of this plight, ownership made sure general manager Dan O'Dowd and manager Clint Hurdle will be on board through 2006 when the team has more payroll flexibility. O'Dowd was given a two-year extension, and the Rockies picked up manager Hurdle's two option years. From the top down, the Rockies' management team shares the same vision and philosophy.

Until 2006, better results on the field will require continued wise spending by O'Dowd with limited dollars and improved play by young, homegrown players. With the teams at the top of the NL West getting weaker, and the Rockies and Padres building, the division should be tighter even if the final order doesn't change.

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