After Some Success, A Change in Direction

Starter Aaron Cook and the Rockies probably will hold on to last place. (By Francis Specker -- Associated Press)

After years of trying (mostly in vain) to outslug people in their high-altitude park, and just scrounge up enough pitching to survive, the Rockies last year cranked up the humidors -- which keep the baseballs from turning into missiles -- and tried to win with pitching.

The results were encouraging, at least for a while. They went 44-43 in the first half, then crashed and burned after the break, returning to their customary last place.

Why, then, would they trade their ace, Jason Jennings, for a slap-hitting center fielder, Willy Taveras? We're not sure. But in any case, this doesn't look like a team ready to win in the NL West.

They probably should have traded Todd Helton a few years ago, back when he would have brought something spectacular in return. Instead, they held on to him too long and found he wouldn't bring back much this winter. Too bad. He deserved to get out.

BATTING ORDER			ROTATION			FARM SYSTEM
CF	Willy Taveras	.278			RHP	Aaron Cook	4.23
2B	Kaz Matsui	.267			LHP	Jeff Francis	4.16
3B	Garrett Atkins	.329			RHP	Rodrigo Lopez	5.90
1B	Todd Helton	.302			RHP	Jason Hirsh	6.04
LF	Matt Holliday	.326			RHP	Josh Fogg	5.49
RF	Brad Hawpe	.293								Top prospects
SS	Troy Tulowitzki	.240			Closer			SS	Troy Tulowitzki
C	Chris Iannetta	.260			LHP	Brian Fuentes	3.44			LHP	Franklin Morales
										RHP	Jason Hirsh