No. 11 ROCKIES

Enemy Lines

A rival scout sizes up the ROCKIES

I like what they've done. Everyone knows his role a bit more, and the comfort level is better. They could be a surprise team in the division.... BRETT ANDERSON has looked sharp. He'll bolster that staff tremendously. I think when JHOULYS CHACIN comes back, they'll have a pretty good 1-2-3 with him, JORGE DE LA ROSA and Anderson.... The bullpen might be a weakness; it's not deep. I think REX BROTHERS will end up taking over as closer. LATROY HAWKINS is there now, but his velocity is down. Last year he was throwing 94--95, this spring he's been at 91.... JUSTIN MORNEAU's a question mark at first base. He looks rigid on both sides of the ball.... TROY TULOWITZKI's feet and body look good. I don't know how many more years he'll be a shortstop, but for now he's as good as it gets. I think trading him or CARLOS GONZALEZ is unlikely.... They're still trying to [figure out] centerfield. It looks like CarGo's going back to left, so it'll probably be DREW STUBBS, CHARLIE BLACKMON or COREY DICKERSON. BRANDON BARNES is also in the fold. Detroit is looking for a lefthanded-hitting outfielder. It's watching those guys.... I think DJ LEMAHIEU will win the second base job. He has an inside-out swing with little pop, but he runs well and plays a surprisingly good second base for someone so tall (6'4").... WILIN ROSARIO is an offensive catcher, but he has really improved in handling the staff. He'll probably see some time at first base too.... They've got two horses on the way in EDDIE BUTLER and JONATHAN GRAY, two young power arms. You might see Butler in the rotation in May or June, and Gray in August or September.

The Lineup

2014 Projected Statistics and Run Totals by ROTOWIRE.COM

[originallink:10897626:1012605]

PROJECTED RUNS SCORED

500

ROCKIES 722

NL AVERAGE 667

PROJECTED RUNS ALLOWED

500

ROCKIES 752

NL AVERAGE 677

Modest Proposal

After losing 88 games last season the Rockies made roster moves that were confounding to say the least. On one hand, they dealt away starting centerfielder Dexter Fowler. On the other, they signed a veteran closer in LATROY HAWKINS and gave 32-year-old JUSTIN MORNEAU a two-year deal to play first base. They need to pick a direction, and it shouldn't be the stockpiling of ex-Twins. It should be rebuilding. Colorado's pitching isn't nearly good enough to support a pennant run, and the Rockies don't have the offense they'd need to win 90 games. It's time to start over, and that means trading star shortstop TROY TULOWITZKI. Tulo, 29, is the one Rockie who could command a return that would make a long-term difference. (The model should be the 2007 deal in which the Rangers received five players 22 or younger for Mark Teixeira.) The Rockies are wasting Tulowitzki's peak; they should use what's left of it to get players who will be here when the team is ready to win.

PHOTO

DOUG PENSINGER/GETTY IMAGES

Carlos Gonzalez

PHOTO

DOUG PENSINGER/GETTY IMAGES

Troy Tulowitzki

TWO CHARTS

PHOTO