Rockies As Of November 2011

As of Monday, November 20, 2011, the Rockies have only been able to add by subtraction. The Rox gave Ty Wigginton to the Pirates for a player to be named later or cash. Essentially the Rockies gave Ty an unconditional release but they may get a beer vendor and two hot dog vendors for him. The holes on this team would make a seamstress concerned. Take second base, please. They will have to go with what they had last year, a patchwork of Herrera, Nelson and Young Jr. Each has his good features but none of them have proven to be a full-time player in the Majors. Then there’s third base, where Ian Stewart flopped in astronomical proportions. However, the real concern for the Rockies is pitching. They will lose 90 games in 2012 if they don’t get a pitcher or three. Maybe De LaRosa will return but the website seems to believe he will miss a major portion of the 2012 season. That means that Jhoulys Chacin is the ace of the staff. Add Chacin to Jason Hammel, Juan Nicasio, Drew Pomeranz and Alex White and you’ll have National League hitters shaking in their boots from laughing so hard. The Rockies have a wonderful, maybe even pennant winning pitching staff. Unfortunately they are not going to be allowed to compete at the AAA level. If the Rockies trade Huston Street for a starting pitcher, it better be a quality pitcher because Rafael Betancourt, the newly crowned Rockies closer, will be saving more beers than ballgames. I don’t think Verlander or Halladay are available. If the Rockies do add a pitcher or three, then they’ll need a third baseman, a second baseman, maybe a catcher and some time off for Todd Helton. The Rockies have fine setup pitchers in the Matt brothers, Lindstom and Reynolds. Add that to Troy Tulowitski, the best shortstop on the planet, and Carlos Gonzales, the best outfielder in Colorado, and they’re looking at a minimum of 65 wins. They’ll have to show me something in the hot stove league and Spring Training to get over 70. Without something major happening, the Rockies will not be a .500 club again in 2012. You heard it here first and I’m a fan of the Rockies!