The 2009 Colorado Rockies: Bullpen

I don't know about you guys, but I'm already getting the baseball itch.

And yeah, I'm ready to talk Rockies.

Assuming that the Rockies Spring Training roster is more or less established as we set our sights on Tucson (or wherever they might be calling home nowadays), we can begin to make more concrete analysis on what the upcoming 2009 season may bring.

Having already outlined my predictions for how the starting rotation will shake out (with a regrettable omission of Franklin Morales who, now that he understands that he should TELL people when he has an injury, should be very much in the mix after a strong showing in winter ball), I'm going to take a stab at the proposed bullpen.

The Rockies' bullpen finished around the middle of the MLB pack in terms of ERA in the 2008 season (4.13.) Going into the cold, cold winter, Dealin' Dan knew he had a myriad of leaks that needed mending with this team and addressed many of them with one blockbuster deal.

In the deal that sent slugger Matt Holliday to the A's, O'Dowd acquired a late-inning arm, a back end of the rotation lefty, and a young outfielder with a higher ceiling than the Sistine Chapel.

The late-inning arm, former Athletics' closer Huston Street, will have a fair shot to earn the closer's job he lost to Brad Ziegler in Oakland last year. He'll have stiff competition, however, from a hopefully resurgent Manny Corpas who looks to bounce back with a vengeance after losing his ninth inning role in April and limping through the season to a 4.52 ERA.

The Denver Post reported that Corpas has taken a different, more workmanlike approach to his offseason training. He's trimmed down the excess baby fat he packed on last season and has already headed to Denver to start his new training program. 

If he starts the season as Corpas v. 2.007, his pairing with Street in the late innings will be dynamic if not dominating.

Street also struggled in 2008, amassing a career high 3.73 ERA, leaving scouts grumbling about a supposed loss of velocity in his fastball. 

Talk of Street's demise, however, may have been a bit premature.  In his last 17 appearances spanning 19.2 innings, Street only allowed three runs while striking out 20 compared to five walks.  And don't look now, but his fastball topped out around 95 mph. 

Rounding out the rest of the bullpen will be another former Oaklander in veteran lefty Alan Embree, joining his lucky number 13th Major League ballclub. Embree can fulfill the role of both a situational lefty and a Jeremy Affeldt-type who can attack righties as well. 

Taylor Buchholz came into 2008 without a role, but ended the season as one of the top setup men in all of baseball.  His snapdragon curveball broke more knees than John Gotti and his 2.17 ERA was the second lowest of any reliever in Rockies' history. 

Jason Grilli, like Buchholz, finally found his niche in the bullpen in 2008 amassing a 3.00 ERA in 60 appearances.  His mid to upper 90s fastball flustered hitters all season and his slider improved dramatically once his role became defined in the later innings. 

Guys like Ryan Speier, Steven Register, Juan Morillo, and Glendon Rusch will more than likely be asked to fill out the remaining spots with possible help from the young, hotshot starter who isn't quite ready for prime time in the starting rotation with the big club.

Next up:  the infield.