Enemy Lines

an opposing team's scout sizes up the Rockies

"They got Todd Zeile for nothing, and that's exactly what they're going to get. His bat is slow, and his defense is below average....

Juan Uribe will be a star. He has all the tools—hands, feet, glove, lots of energy. He will hit with power and can be a Gold Glove defender....

Jose Ortiz is undisciplined at the plate. He's real rough around the edges, and some of the people in the organization are disappointed in his lack of progress offensively. Defensively he's not quick enough turning the double play....

Juan Pierre has an outstanding makeup, good speed, .330 ability, and he's an improving defender....

Having Todd Hollandsworth back for a full year will help a lot. The team went south when he went out last year....

Mike Hampton didn't throw well this spring. He's gone a little cutter-crazy and hasn't gotten outs with it. The velocity is there, but he's shown no confidence in his sinker or his two-seamer. He's not close to commanding his fastball, so he's going cutter, cutter, cutter. It's ass-backward....

Denny Neagle's fastball is still 82 to 86, but he can pitch and change speeds. I'd give him the ball every fifth day and figure on getting at least six innings....

I'm a big John Thomson fan. If he stays healthy, he could pitch at the top of a rotation. He throws 90 to 94 with an 87-to-88-mph turbo slider. He's had some off-the-field problems [in 2000 he spent a month in rehab for alcohol abuse], but he got married and has matured, so I look for him to have a big year."