Rox Must Sign Up for More Success

The way the 2009 Colorado Rockies began the season seemed like Bob Uecker should be on the call for KOA and Charlie Sheen should storm out of the bullpen, and with a quick switch of the skipper, the Rockies began their "Major League" climb from the depths of the NL West.

In mid-August, the resurgent Rockies find themselves five games out of first behind the Dodgers entering a series with the lowly Washington Nationals. Just one game separates the Rockies and the San Francisco Giants in the Wild Card hunt.

It's a big year for the Rockies with 65 wins already, as they usually don't hit that mark until a month from now. But the question is, will there be a Major League II or even (what was a forgettable movie) a Major League III.

That is in the hands of general manager Dan O'Dowd. The Rockies have a mix of young and inexpensive talent - shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, right fielder Brad Hawpe and catch Chris Iannetta—and veteran leadership—first baseman Todd Helton, pitcher Jason Marquis and closer Huston Street.

With a payroll in the lower two-thirds of the league the Rockies have some dough they can toss around—and the better in order to continue this mile-high climb.

Marquis' three-year contract that he signed with the Cubs expires at the end of the season. He is pulling in more than $9 million this season, and after what should be a 15-win season, he'll ask for more. Pay him.

Huston Street slammed the door early on any closer role drama with Manny Corpas and has made Rockies fans forget Brian Fuentes and his success in helping them to an NLCS win in 2007. He signed a one-year deal worth $4.5 million with the Rockies in January, and certainly look for a pay day after the numbers he's put up. Give it to him.

Backing up to the infield, O'Dowd and co. are faced with a choice. Keep Garrett Atkins—whose struggles this season are well-documented, and he costs more—or keep Clint Barmes—whose mediocre numbers and cheaper price may satisfy the Rockies.

Either way, Colorado doesn't need both. Ian Stewart is ready to break out and deserves an everyday role beginning next season. He can play either second or third (and even first), so it's either Atkins or Barmes.

Looking at the bigger picture, Barmes showed some flash in his rookie year before he had that deer meat mishap, but last season, despite a .290 average, he struggled contributing to the offense with just 44 RBI.

Atkins, on the other hand, is having a rare down year. With a career .291 average, he's batting .229 this season, lost his everyday role, and will see his streak of three seasons of 99 or more RBI broken.

Atkins certainly failed in a contract year, which may work out for the Rockies. O'Dowd should look to re-sign the third baseman for roughly the same $7 million he received this season. Let Barmes go and plug Stewart into the lineup.

Stewart, Atkins, Helton, and Tulowitzki as the Rockies' infield will put up giant offensive numbers, and should be one of the better defensive alignments in baseball.

Re-signing Ian Stewart, whose contract also ends this season, should be a top priority this offseason, rivaling inking Marquis and Street.

Catchers Chris Iannetta and Yorvit Torrealba both have expiring contracts. If the Rockies can't sign both, as they work well as a platoon, the Rockies should sign the less expensive, better offensive player and cheaper Iannetta.

In the outfield grass, three of the four outfielders also have contracts that cease in 2009. Signing the youngsters, who all currently make less than $500,000 shouldn't be an issue.

Carlos Gonzalez is a hot prospect that many believe will break out, and has showed signs recently of his potential. Seth Smith, the 2007 NLCS hero, at times showed why he deserves a promotion from a key utility man off the bench to a starter.

Dexter Fowler simply put is a terror on the base paths and one of the better no. 1 hitters the Rockies have trotted out there, sans Willy Taveras.

With the addition of Jeff Francis and Casey Weathers to the pitching staff, and perhaps a retooled bullpen, the Rockies can turn this three-month turnaround into a permanent deal.