Colorado Rockies' Everyday Lineup Is in the Air

Many Rockies fans have been wondering this offseason how the everyday lineup will shake out for their team.

Last year at this time, most fans were debating whether or not Todd Helton was still worthy of the cleanup spot. There are many more questions going into the 2009 season.

The lineup has been a question since the team dealt slugger Matt Holliday to the Oakland Athletics for pitchers Huston Street, Greg Smith, and outfield prospect Carlos Gonzalez. 

The other factor in the lineup will be the health of Todd Helton. Helton underwent back surgery in October to resolve a disc problem that was causing numbness in his left leg. Helton is reportedly on track to be ready for Spring Training, but with any back injury, proof will come on the field. 

If Helton is healthy, he will be at first base. This poses a problem for the Rockies.  When Helton went down last year, after a few different experiments, the Rockies finally decided to move Garrett Atkins, their everyday third baseman, to first base, and brought former first round draft choice, and highly touted prospect Ian Stewart up from Triple-A Colorado Springs to man third base. 

Stewart performed well enough in the second half of the season for the team to believe that he is ready for a spot in the lineup. With Helton healthy, there needs to be a spot created for Stewart. That spot might end up being left field.

That scenario would leave the lineup as follows: CF Ryan Spilborghs, SS Troy Tulowitzki, LF Ian Stewart, 3B Garrett Atkins, RF Brad Hawpe, C Chris Iannetta, 1B Todd Helton, 2B Clint Barmes/Jeff Baker, P-Pitcher.

That could change as well depending on where Clint Hurdle decides to hit Tulowitzki, who has made his opinion known that he would like to hit in the two hole. 

Also, with Helton's career numbers, he may hit higher than the seven hole.

The second scenario is that Todd Helton's back is not to full strength and he is not ready for opening day.

If Helton is not ready to go, that would slide Stewart to third base, and Atkins to first.  This leaves left field open. Many believe that the favorite for this spot would be 2007 postseason hero Seth Smith. Smith showed promise in his time up in 2008, and seems to be well suited for the roll of left field.

Smith in left field is not exactly set in stone. The Rockies are hoping for the opportunity to let Gonzalez spend some time in Triple-A Colorado Springs, but if Smith shows that he may not be ready for everyday duty, Gonzalez may get the opportunity to show what the scouts have said he is capable of.

Gonzalez was originally dealt to the A's by the Diamondbacks last offseason in the trade that sent Dan Haren to the Diamondbacks. He has long been seen as a top prospect ready to blossom into a great everyday player in the big leagues.

Another option for left field is Spilborghs. Prospect Dexter Fowler, who made his Major League debut in September, is another player the Rockies would like see groom his skills further in Triple-A.

However, if he has a great Spring Training, one in which he shows that spending time in Triple-A would be a waste of time, the team may just be convinced enough to give Fowler the centerfield nod.

If the latter scenario happens, it would slide Spilborghs to left field and put Fowler in the leadoff spot.

One other lineup thrown around has been putting Stewart at second base, a spot that he played when he made his debut after Tulowitzki got injured, sliding Clint Barmes to shortstop. 

This would allow the outfield to be slightly more settled with Smith and Spilborghs being the favorites and youngsters Fowler and Gonzalez being the backup plans, respectively.

Either way, it should be an interesting spring to see how the Rockies lineup shakes out.  One thing is for sure, the lineup will still be feared by pitchers of the National League West, even with the loss of Matt Holliday.