Fall Tradition

A few of us (John, Robert, Augie, and I) have a tradition of speculating what the following positions will look like for the Rockies upcoming opening day:

• Starting Lineup
• Bench Players
• Starting Rotation
• Bullpen
• Set-up Man
• Closer
  

This year we continued the trend. This is what I came up with:

Starting Lineup:

1. 2B Barmes
2. SS Tulo
3. 3B Stewart
4. LF Holliday
5. RF Hawpe
6. C Iannetta
7. 1B Helton
8. CF Smith

Bench Players:

• Baker
• Spilborghs
• Fowler (although probably starting in AAA)
• Quintanilla
• Herrera
• Bellorin
• Podsednik

Starting Rotation:

1. Cook
2. Francis
3. Jimenez
4. Blackburn
5. De La Rosa

Bullpen:

• Vizcaino
• Rusch
• Grilli
• Speier
• Hirsh
• Morillo

Setup:

• Buchholz

Closer:

• Corpas

Unfortunately, you can see that there is an absence of Garrett Atkins in this lineup. I think he is the guy that they trade away to get some pitching help (Blackburn from the Twins, who are looking for a 3B). I think the Rockies management would like to continue to try and sign Holliday to a long term deal if they can't do it this offseason. Tavares is also gone. Not really sure where or for whom. But we don't need his .145 OBP anymore! I think they also trade Yorbit to someone who needs a starting catcher. He's not happy with his playing time, and the Rockies have Iannetta. Fuentes is probably gone as well. Any way you look at it, the Rockies need to make some changes this offseason. Standing pat is not acceptable with the way this team looked in 2008. Pitching needs to be addressed and we have the position players to make some deals.

What do you all think?