2015 Outlook

It's Opening Day 2015 and hope springs eternal in all parts of the Major League Baseball Universe.

Except in Colorado.

The Professional Rockies watchers in this town seem to be especially pessimistic this year.  The National Baseball tend to pick the Rockies 4th or 5th with Arizona in the NL West.  

And it's very understandable, the Rockies have not added major players to the roster while losing some players who have helped them the past few years.  Kyle Kendrick is the opening day starter followed by Jordan Lyles, Eddie Butler, and Tyler Matzek to start the season.   Gone is Jhoulys Chacin.  Much of the bullpen is the same including closer LaTroy Hawkins in his final year.

The offense/defense lost Michael Cuddyer but picked up Nick Hundley to back up Wilin Rosario who will back up Justin Morneau at First Base.  Utility infielder Josh Rutledge is also gone.

So here is what the Rockies will take into 2015:

Rockies Opening Day Lineup
Charlie Blackmon CF
Carlos Gonzalez RF
Troy Tulowitzki SS
Justin Morneau 1B
Nolan Arenado 3B
Corey Dickerson LF
Nick Hundley C
D.J. LeMahieu 2B
Kyle Kendrick P

I have reasons to be optimistic.   Defensively this team is solid with the infield great and the Outfield fleet.   (Dickerson, probably upgrades the OF over Cuddyer, even though Cuddyer was above average.)

Offensively this team should score.  Personally I think they should rely more on base hits and doubles to the gaps rather than long ball.

So it comes down to pitching.  Lyles was pretty sharp last year before he got hurt, Matzek had a fantastic September, Kendrick is a Coors Field type pitcher.  DeLaRosa is hurt currently and the Rockies will need him back.   Jon Grey is waiting in the wings,

The job of the starters is to keep the bullpen rested.  To do that the Starters need to get into the 7th inning consistently 3 of 5 times.  That uses the bullpen less especially early, but they cannot be constantly coming in, in the 5th like they have in recent years.

Turning to the schedule, the Rockies get tested early.  Starting next Monday, the Rox will have 25 straight games against the NL West and 32 of 38 through May 24th.  Being successful early will give them a jump on their major competitors.  Failing early will put them out of the race quickly.

Here's how it breaks out:  LA 10 games, SF 9, SD 7, and Arizona 6.  
They also finish with 25 of 32 against the West.

Lots to talk about but for now it's on to Opening Day!