For a look at the Rockies lineup check out:
http://www.insidetherockies.com/2009/04/03/lining-up-the-rockies/

For a look at the Rockies bench check out:
http://www.insidetherockies.com/2009/04/03/balanced-bench/

For a look at the Rockies rotation checks out:
http://www.insidetherockies.com/2009/04/04/for-starters/

For a look at the Rockies bullpen check out:
http://www.insidetherockies.com/2009/04/04/is-relief-in-sight/

For the odds on the Rockies in 2009 check out:
http://www.insidetherockies.com/2009/04/04/what-are-the-odds-on/

OVERVIEW

As much as the Rockies enjoyed memories of their fantastic finish in 2007 that ended with the first World Series appearance in franchise history, the reflections on last year were a nightmare.

A team that wanted to build off the success of 2007 stumbled right back into the world of mediocrity it has spent a decade trying to escape. It didn’t sit well.

“We had an opportunity to do some honest self-evaluation,’’ said manager Clint Hurdle. “We had a taste of having success and we did not handle it as well as we could handle it.’’
With that in mind, the Rockies got back to the basics this spring.

They open the 2009 regular season at Arizona on Monday afternoon, having survived early uncertainty about the direction they were headed – they lost the first six exhibition games and there were some observers who were naïve enough to blame it on a more disciplined style of play – and finished with a flurry to go 17-17-1.

Now the challenge is to remain as focused on fundamentals when the games count as they were when they were spending the spring in Tucson. If they need any reminders, they can flip through the photo album for last year, a distasteful experience that the Rockies want to turn into a long-range positive.

“We look at last year as a growth year, not just for the players, but for the leadership of the team as well,’’ said general manager Dan O’Dowd. “We learned how hard winning is. We learned the basic fundamentals of the game can’t be ignored. The players learned the only way we can win is as a team, not focusing on individual matters.

“You can feel it slipping away as you go through the process, but until you have the chance to look back at what transpired it is hard to get a grip on the situation. In many cases, our guys tried to do too much. They tried to live up to their own expectations. In other cases, some guys lost the perspective of how we got there to begin with.’’

And the bulk of this year’s team has lived through the highs of 2007 and lows of 2008.
Thirteen of the 25 players on the 2007 post-season roster will be among the 25 players on the active roster for the season opener in Arizona, plus Jeff Francis and Taylor Buchholz are on the disabled list, and Josh Fogg is at Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Twenty-two members of Monday’s roster, plus the disabled Francis and Buchholz, were part of the 2008 struggles. The only new faces are starting pitcher Jason Marquis, who has been on a post-season team in each of seven big-league seasons, closer Huston Street, and left-handed setup man Alan Embree.

“In spring training last year the big question was if we thought we were a fluke or if we could make another run,’’ said shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. “Then we struggled and you start wondering why you aren’t playing like you did the year before. You start thinking about what you aren’t doing instead of what you are doing.’’

And the early season will be a challenge for the Rockies again this year. Six of their first 12 games are in Arizona, against a team that beat them in 15 of 18 games last year, including five of six in April. They played 11 of the first 14 games on the road – the six at Arizona plus two at the defending NL Central champion Chicago Cubs and three at defending NL West champion Los Angeles.

The only home series, next weekend, is against the defending world champion Philadelphia Phillies, who have their ace, Cole Hamels, primed to start the Rockies home opener on Friday afternoon.

“What we have to do is worry about playing the game the way we are capable of playing it,’’ said Todd Helton. “We can’t worry about who we are playing. The schedule is made. We have to play those teams at some point during the year and to be where we want to be at the end of the season we have to beat them, no matter when we play them.’’

Helton is a key part of the Rockies feeling their offense can be a factor, even with the trade of Holliday.

Limited to two appearances after July 4 last season because a three-year back problem became so severe his left leg went numb, Helton underwent surgery to relieve pressure on the nerve, and all indications in spring training were that Helton is ready for a big comeback.

Helton sat out the first nine games and worked on his rehab program, and then once he stepped into the lineup he hit .525 with a .950 slugging percentage. He also showed an ability to make the type of defensive players that have earned him a Gold Glove for fielding.

Most of all, though, it is Helton’s presence in the lineup that creates hope because of the way he impacts the pitches his teammates get, although Helton doesn’t buy the personal aspect.

“We have a chance to being a good offensive team, but we have to do the little things that it takes to be successful,’’ said Helton. “We have to do the little things, like moving runners over, from the first inning on, not starting in the seventh inning.’’