Manager: Clint Hurdle
Arrivals: RP Jose Capellan, 2B Marcus Giles, OF Scott Podsednik, SP Josh Towers, RP Luis Vizcaino, SP Kip Wells, RP Victor Zambrano
Departures: P Jerey Affeldt, P Denny Bautista, SP Josh Fogg, RP LaTroy Hawkins, RP Jorge Julio, SP Rodrigo Lopez*, 2B Kaz Matsui
Offseason grade: C+
Starting rotation
Despite their magical playoff run last year, the Rockies' rotation is still somewhat nondescript. Jeff Francis headlines the group that will also trot out Aaron Cook, Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Hirsch, and either Franklin Morales, Kip Wells, Mark Redman, or Josh Towers.
Francis posted good numbers last year, going 17-9 with a 4.22 ERA. Before you go jumping to say that Francis' ERA was that high because he pitched at Coors Field, realize that his ERA was actually lower in road games (4.20) than in home games (4.24).
Even though his ERA may not be that of an ace, Francis will still win games like one.
Cook lost out on about eight starts and a spot on the Rockies' NLDS and NLCS rosters due to an injury last year. In the 25 games he did start, he put up decent numbers, going 8-7 with a 4.12 ERA.
If healthy, I can see Cook being a pretty good No. 2 starter.
However, when you look at the other 1-2 punches of the NL West–Brandon Webb/Dan Haren, Jake Peavy/Chris Young, Brad Penny/Derek Lowe, and Matt Cain/Tim Lincecum (without the massive contract, Barry Zito is nothing more than a No. 4)–Francis/Cook is probably the worst of them all.
Ubaldo Jimenez has great stuff and should improve over the course of the 30 or so starts he should get in 2008. Conceivably, he could end the season as Colorado's best starter in terms of ERA. If he can put his ERA below 4, winning games won't be a problem–which, after all, is all that matters in the end.
Jason Hirsch is another guy who missed some time last year due to an injury but should be back in 2008. Hirsch should settle in as a very nice No. 4 starter for the Rockies, winning 12 or so games with a 4.50 ERA.
Rounding out the Rockies rotation will be either Morales, Wells, Redman, or Towers. Morales is probably the best option of the four, but it appears the Rockies may send him to the bullpen so he doesn't throw too many innings.
Wells is an absolutely horrible option. If Wells was a college football team, he'd be Baylor (no coincidence that he went there, mind you). If he couldn't pitch in a fairly pitcher-friendly park in St. Louis, what makes anybody think he can pitch in Colorado?
Redman isn't all that an attractive of an option, either. I've always had an affinity for soft-tossing lefties, and Redman is one, but he simply isn't that good. Too many times do his pitches float over the middle of the plate to get smacked for base hits.
Finally, that leaves Towers, right? Well, he's no guarantee to make the team and even has a clause in his contract that would pay him $400,000 if he gets cut. Towers hasn't had a respectable ERA since 2005 and his only claim to fame is being about the only pitcher to wear a single digit on his uniform (#7).
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