New Year, New Hope

   Unlike winters past, the Colorado Rockies made some moves that could prove fruitful heading into the 2014 season. They did not make any big splashes in the free agent market, but added some much needed depth at starting pitcher and bullpen. The front office is hoping that the moves they made are going to make them competitive against the competition in the National League West against the money pit in Los Angeles, the Diamondbacks, Giants and Padres. The Rockies are hoping to become the Cinderella story in 2014, and regain the LODO magic that they had in 2007 and 2009. They have something that they have not had in a while in options on the mound. This could be the deepest pitching staff that the Rockies have ever had. It is a clean slate and the Rockies are ready to get back to business and shake things up around Major League Baseball.

     They say you can never have enough pitching, and the Rockies took that advice to heart during the winter as they made moves to bolster their bullpen and starting rotation. The biggest need heading into the off-season was the lack of decent arms coming out of the bullpen. Last year the Rockies blew too many games to count in which they had a lead heading into the seventh inning. This was evidenced early in the season when newly acquired reliever Wilton Lopez blew a lead in the 8th inning against the Brewers in the opening series of the year. Unfortunately this was a trend for Lopez throughout the year. Even Matt Belisle had a down year which may be attributed to the amount of appearances and innings that he has accumulated over the course of the last three seasons. The first signing for the Rockies in the off-season was of veteran right handed pitcher and former Rockies pitcher Latroy Hawkins. The well traveled 41 year old will begin his second stint with the Rockies and will look to add stability to the back end of the bullpen. In 2013 Hawkins had one of his best years at the Major League level. Pitching for the Mets he compiled a 2.93 ERA spanning over 72 games. He struck out 55 and walked only 10. Next the Rockies signed former Yankees left hander Boone Logan. The 6'5" 215 lb 29 year old has made his name as a left handed specialist in the American League. Over the last four years he has stifled hitters in the AL East. In 2013 he posted a 3.23 ERA over 61 appearances. The Rockies will have a bonafide left handed specialist this year which will be a vital tool for success throughout the year. The Rockies will also be welcoming back Franklin Morales who was traded to the Rockies along with minor league pitcher Chris Martin. 27 year old Martin could be a key piece to the trade as he has put up some great numbers throughout the last couple of years and could easily fit into the bullpen with the Rockies this year. Another talented pitching acquisition for the Rockies was the signing of Brett Anderson. Anderson was a top pitching prospect for the Oakland A's but has been plagued by injuries in the last couple of years. He threw 175 innings in his rookie season in 2009 and then 112 in his second year with the team, but has failed to throw more than 83 innings in a year since then. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2011 and was out of baseball rehabbing for 13 months. After his return he pitched in six games before being placed on the DL again with an oblique strain. He missed time last season after being diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right foot. The good news is that he has not battled any arm issues since the Tommy John surgery but he has been unable to stay healthy for an extended amount of time. He looked good in the spring for the Rockies as he threw 22 innings and had a 3.27 ERA over five appearances. He struck out 11 and walked only two. He will be the Rockies number two starter coming out of camp because of the injury to Jhoulys Chacin. Anderson was aquired by the Rockies in a trade that sent Drew Pomeranz to the A's. His fastball works in the low 90's and he mixes in a curve slider and a change. Should he be able to stay healthy then he has a chance to be a very good pitcher for the Rockies this year.

Latroy Hawkins
By: ESPN

Boone Logan
By:ESPN

Brett Anderson
By: ESPN       

    The Rockies also added depth to their already talented outfield. The Rockies made a move to acquire Brandon Barnes from the Houston Astros and then acquired Drew Stubbs from the Cleveland Indians. Brandon Barnes is a high energy player who gives everything that he has every time that he takes the field. He may not be the most talented of players, but he makes up for it with the way that he plays the game. So often in the game today you will see players who could care less about the game and would much rather pull up and let a ball drop in the outfield as opposed to laying out and making the effort. Barnes, who came over i in the Dexter Fowler trade, hit .240 last year for the Astros with eight homeruns and 41 RBI. He will not be a player that will produce much offensively, but he will be the spark plug that the Rockies have desperately needed that will provide a boost to the players around him whenever he is inserted into the lineup. Barnes may struggle to find playing time this year because as of right now he is the fifth or sixth outfielder on the team. If he struggles during Spring Training then he may be headed back the minor leagues for more development. Drew Stubbs is an interesting player that the Rockies have taken a chance on. When he was a prospect with the Reds, there was a lot of hype surrounding his game. He has a power and speed combination was something that is rare to find, but he has struggled to make contact at the plate and that has made him expendable by his former teams. His struggles at the plate have kept him off the base paths and eliminated his speed from the game. His power is still evident, but his batting average has seen a steady decline since he hit .255 in his first full season at the Major League level, and that has cost him playing time throughout the last couple of years. He looked good in the spring and has earned the nod heading into Opening Day to be the center fielder for the Rockies.

Drew Stubbs
By: ESPN

Brandon Barnes
By: ESPN

  


 







     
     The Rockies Opening Day roster was announced yesterday and to the surprise of many people the Rockies have decided to stick with six outfielders on the roster and only have five infielders. Josh Rutledge was the biggest name to be sent down with the announcement but will surely be up at some point throughout the year to provide depth at second and short. The depth on the mound will be tested early on in the year as Jhoulys Chacin will begin the year on the DL, and Franklin Morales will take a role as the fifth starter for the Rockies. Tyler Chatwood will also be in question for the start of the year after he pulled up with a tight hamstring in his final outing of the Spring. Fortunately for the Rockies they are the deepest they have ever been and will be able to weather the storm of some of the injuries that have cost them seasons in the past.

     The Rockies are about 24 hours from beginning a season that could turn out to be one of the most successful seasons in their history. Can the Rockies defeat the demons that have plagued them in the past and ultimately take their game to the next level? Only time will tell. The quest for the west begins in Miami tomorrow night!