National League West Preview: Don't Discount The Colorado Rockies Bullpen

Most experts are predicting that the 2009 Colorado Rockies season will fall into the same category as the 2008 campaign: mediocre.

The people who write for the major media outlets are saying the the Rockies will not be able to account for the loss of slugger Matt Holliday, and all time saves leader Brian Fuentes.

The Rockies do not project well on paper, that is for sure.  They have a lineup full of either prospects, or players coming off of down years.  There is no way to project the Rockies season, so most experts anticipate a down year...again.

In a weak National League West, even if Manny Ramirez lands with the Dodgers, the Rockies have a fighting chance.

The same experts who have already written off the 2009 Rockies are the same experts who point to teams with strong bullpens being winners.  The 2009 Rockies may have the strongest bullpen in the N.L. West.

When Eric Gagne was busy setting the consecutive saves record, managers, players and analysts referred to playing the Dodgers as playing an "eight inning game."  What they meant is that a team had better do their damage in the first eight innings, because they were not going to do it in the ninth.

The Rockies have the potential of having not just one closer, but three. 

Acquired in the Matt Holliday trade, Huston Street comes over from the A's in the hope that he can return to health and return to his '05 and '06 form, Street has saved 94 games in his short big league career, and has a career 2.88 ERA.  He is only 25 years old.

Street comes into camp competing for the closer's job with '07 hero Manny Corpas.  Corpas took over the closer's role from Brian Fuentes in the second half of 2007 and saved 19 games in the regular season and had ice water in his veins during the postseason.  Corpas posted an amazing 2.08 ERA in '07.

Corpas struggled early in 2008, like much of the team, and seemed a shell of the closer that was so dominant the summer before.  He seemed to regain his form down the stretch, but was only good enough to post a 4.52 ERA.  Corpas admitted that he came into camp unfocused and out of shape, something that has been well documented. 

Good news for the Rockies is that all the reports are saying the exact opposite for Corpas this past offseason. 

Along with Street and Corpas is Taylor Buchholz. 

Buchholz emerged as the most dependable setup man for the Rockies last year.  In 2007 he bounced between the rotation and the bullpen, never finding a groove.  He made it clear in spring training last year that he was more comfortable in the 'pen, and proved that to be true.

In 66-2/3 innings last year, Buchholz posted a minuscule 2.17 ERA.  He struck out 56 while walking only 18.  His WHIP was less than 1.00. 

If Street and Corpas can be even close to what they have been in the past, and Buchholz continues to watch his career blossom, the Rockies back end of the bullpen could quickly become a feared presence in the N.L. West.

With a backend like that, the Rockies could easily find themselves as a dark horse in the race come September.