League Preview-Part 10-Continuing the National League West

Colorado Rockies

Postseason Appearances: 1995, 2007, 2009 (total-3)
World Series Titles: 0
Best Season: 2009 (92-70)
Worst Season: 1993 & 2005 (67-95)

The Rockies have been known for three things in their first 17 years of existence-a mile high stadium, abundant offense and terrible pitching. That may be changing somewhat in the last few years, with the result being two of the Rockies three lifetime postseason appearances coming since 2007.

Pitching-The Achilles heel of the Rocks, it's so thin that the team will go with 11 pitchers instead of the customary 10. The rotation will consist of Jeff Francis 2007 (17-9, 4.22), Aaron Cook 2008 (16-9, 3.96), Pedro Astacio 1997 (12-10, 4.14), Jason Jennings 2006 (9-13, 3.78) and Ubaldo Jiminez 2009 (15-12, 3.47-he may be moving on to even bigger and better things by tossing the first no-hitter of the 2010 season). The 6 man bullpen will be headed up by lefty Brian Fuentes 2005 (31 saves, 2.91) and righty Manny Corpas 2007 (19 saves, 2.08 ERA). Helping out Corpas and Fuentes will be Steve Reed 1995 (6-2-2, 2.14), Curtis Leskanic 1995 (7-3-11, 3.40), Gabe White 2000 (11-2-5, 2.36), and long men Kevin Ritz 1995 (12-12-2, 4.21) and Bruce Ruffin 1993 (6-5-2, 3.87). Expect Ritz and Ruffin to get a lot of use with the weak starting staff. The reserves are not much better, with Starvin Marvin Freeman 1994 (14-3, 2.80) the best of the bunch.

Catching-A platoon will be used here, with Jeff Reed 1997 (17, 47, .297 in just 256 AB) and Chris Iannetta 2008 (18, 65, .264). Joe Girardi 1993 (.290) and Yorvit Torrealba 2007 (.255) are the reserve catchers in case of injury.

Infield-Much of the offense for the Rocks comes from the corner infielders and the outfield. In this case, it's Todd Helton 2000 (42, 147, .372) at first and Vinny Castilla 1998 (46, 144, .319) at third. The shortstop position got a huge upgrade with the emergence of Troy Tulowitski's bat and glove in 2009 (32, 92, .297, SS 1). Second base (and leadoff position in the batting order) are covered by Eric Young 1996 (8, 74, .324, 53 SB). A deep and flexible backup crew is stocked with Terry Shumpert 1999 (10, 37, .347, 14 SB), Jamey Carroll 2006 (.300) and lefty pinch hitting specialist John Vander Wal 1995 (6, 24, .347 in only 114 AB).

Outfield-Lots of punch here. Matt Holliday 2007 (36, 137, .340) is in left, Ellis Burks 1996 (40, 128, .344) is in center, and Larry Walker 1997 (49, 130, .366) is in right. Sure, the numbers are Coors inflated, but that's still a lotta punch in the OF. Jeffrey Hammonds 200 (20, 106, .335) and Mike Kingery 1994 (.349) are the primary outfield backups; Vander Wal can also play the corner outfield positions.

Outlook-The rather wretched pitching when compared to the rest of this division will likely doom the Rockies to the cellar; anything higher than seventh will be considered a successful year.

Houston Astros
(Also known as Colt 45's 1962-64)
Postseason Appearances: 1980-81, 1986, 1997-99, 2001, 2004-05 (total-9)
World Series Titles: 0
Best Season: 1998 (102-60)
Worst Season: 1975 (64-97)

The Astros, unlike their expansion cousins the Mets, have enjoyed a relatively anonymous existence. Much of the buzz surrounding the 'Stros has come as a result of their ballparks (the Astrodome (their home from 1965-1999) was the first indoor stadium in baseball history; and Minute Maid Park, when it opened in 2000, was almost the equivalent of Coors Field in generating offense) and personnel decisions (trading for Carlos Beltran in 2004, seeing him have a monster postseason, then use that as leverage for getting a seven year deal from the Mets). It took Houston until 2004 for them to win a post season series, and 2005 to get to the World Series.

Pitching-The strong point of the Astros (especially during the Dome days); it should help keep the 'Stros afloat. The rotation will consist of five different eras of starters-Larry Dierker 1969 (20-13, 2.33), J.R. Richard 1979 (18-13, 2.71, 313 K), Mike Scott 1986 (18-10, 2.22, 306 K), Mike Hampton 1999 (22-4, 2.90) and Roy Oswalt 2005 (20-12, 2.94). The deep pen consists of Billy Wagner 1999 (39 saves, 1.57, 124 K in only 75 IP), Brad Lidge 2004 (29 saves, 1.90, 157 K in 95 IP), Frank DiPino 1983 (20 saves, 2.65), Octavio Dotel 2002 (1.85 ERA, 118 K in 97 IP) and Dave Smith 1987 (24 saves, 1.65, 73 K in 60 IP). Only DiPino (by just 4) fails to K at least one batter an inning. In reserve are Joe Sambito 1979 (22 saves, 1.78), tragic Jim Umbricht 1963 (2.61 ERA, he pitched most of the season with tumors in his leg and would not live to see the 1964 season; his number 33 was the first to be retired by the Astros), and equally tragic Don Wilson 1971 (16-10, 2.45; killed by carbon monoxide poisoning in his garage less than four years later), among others.

Catching-Another platoon situation, with Alan Ashby 1987 (14, 63, .288) and Brad Ausmus 1998 (.269). Expect Ausmus to get more starts due to his glove. John Bateman 1966 (17 HR) and Mark Bailey 1985 (10 HR) round out the catching corps.

Infield-the right side consists of two Astro icons-Jeff Bagwell 1994 (55, 163, .368) at first and Craig Biggio 1997 (22, 81, .309, 47 SB) at second. Dickie Thon 1983 (20, 76, .286, 34 SB) is at short, and Morgan Ensberg 2005 (36, 101, .283) is at third. Denis Menke 1970 (13, 92, .304) and Bill Spiers 1997 (.320) head up a deep and flexible infield reserve crew, helped out by Roger Metzger 1973 (.250, 14 triples), who will spell Thon with superb late inning defense. Utility men Chris Burke 2006 (.276) and Eric Bruntlett 2006 (.277) add depth if nothing else.

Outfield-Lots of speed and power here, with Lance Berkman 2006 (45, 136, .315) in left, Cesar Cedeno 1972 (22, 82, .320, 55 SB) in center, and Richard Hidalgo 2000 (44, 122, .314, 13 SB) in right. Cedeno and Hidalgo also bring super defense and cannon arms to the outfield. Bob Watson 1973 (.312, 94 RBI) brings some pop off the bench from the right side, Luke Scott 2006 (.336) does the same from the left side, and Jason Lane 2005 (26, 78, .267) will spell Berkman defensively in the late innings. Terry Puhl 1980 (.282) and Carl Everett 1999 (.325) are among the reserves.

Outlook-The Astros are the NL West version of the Mets-the dark horse. They have deep pitching, and perhaps just enough offense. They will have to overcome the Big Three of the division, starting with...

Los Angeles Dodgers
(played in Brooklyn through the 1957 season, moved to L.A. in 1958)
Postseason Appearances: 1916, 1920, 1941, 1947, 1949, 1952-53, 1955-56, 1959, 1963, 1965-66, 1974, 1977-78, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1995-96, 2004, 2006, 2008-09 (total-26)
World Series Titles: 1955, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1981, 1988 (total-6)
Best Season: 1953 (105-49)
Worst Season: 1905 (48-104)

The scary thing about the Dodgers is that they could have had even more postseason appearances than the 26 already in tow (second only to the Yankees). They've lost 4 playoffs (1946, 1951, 1962 and 1980), the most of any team. An overall 3-8 record in World Series play against the Yankees hasn't helped either.

Pitching-The weak spot when the Dodgers called Ebbets Field home, it has been strengthened significantly with the move to La-La Land, especially when Dodger Stadium opened in 1962. The Dodgers' steady lineup will allow them to use 11 pitchers, with a starting rotation of Sandy Koufax 1965 (26-8, 2.04, 382 K), Don Drysdale 1962 (25-9, 2.83), Don Sutton 1972 (19-9, 2.08), Dazzy Vance 1924 (28-6, 2.16) and Don Newcombe 1955 (20-5, 3.20), who doubles as the team's pinch hitting specialist (7, 23, .359 in only 117 AB). All except Newk are also Hall of Famers. The six man pen has Eric Gagne 2003 (55 saves (ZERO save chances blown), 1.20 ERA, 137 K in only 82 IP) as its stopper, helped by Jim Brewer 1972 (17 saves, 1.27 ERA), Steve Howe 1983 (18 saves, 1.44), Tom Niedenfuer 1983 (8-3-11, 1.90), Mike "Rubber Arm" Marshall 1974 (15-12-21, 2.42, a record 106 relief appearances and 208 innings), and Hollis "Sloppy" Thurston 1930 (6-4-1, 3.40). Dodger greats such as Fernando Valenzuela 1981 (19-10, 2.48, 265 K), Orel Hershiser 1988 (23-8, 2.26, record 59 consecutive scoreless innings), and Ron Perranoski 1963 (16-3-21, 1.67) are relegated to fill in work.

Catching-The backbone of the Dodger teams from 1948-57 was Roy Campanella, who garnered 3 MVP's in a 5 season span. His 1955 season (32, 107, .318) will be used here-Campy also brings a rifle arm behind the plate to deter enemy baserunners. His sucessor, John Roseboro 1966 (.276), backs him up. In reserve are Paul LoDuca 2001 (25, 90, .320) and Russell Martin 2007 (19, 87, .293, 21 SB). If you're wondering where Mike Piazza is, check the Mets-Campy's bat and glove trump Piazza's 1997 season (40 HR, .362).

Infield-Most of the infield comes from the Boys of Summer teams of the '50s-Gil Hodges 1954 (42, 130, .304) at first, Jackie Robinson 1951 (19, 88, .338, 25 SB) at second, and Pee Wee Reese 1954 (10, 69, .309) at short. Adrian Beltre 2005 (48, 121, .334) is the man for third base. Backing this stellar quartet up are Mike Sharperson 1992 (.300) and Charlie Neal 1959 (19, 83, .287), with Steve Sax 1986 (.332, 40 SB), Eric Karros 1999 (34, 112, .304), Maury Wills 1962 (.302, 104 SB) and Jim "Junior" Gilliam 1956 (.300) among a deep reserve crew.

Outfield-Zack Wheat 1924 (14, 97, .375) is in left, Duke Snider 1954 (40, 130, .341) is in center, and Babe Herman 1930 (35, 130, .393) is in right. Carl Furillo 1955 (26, 95, .314, RF 1 (-5)) will spell the defensively challenged Herman (RF 5) in the late innings, and Tommy Davis 1962 (.346, 153 RBI) & Reggie Smith 1977 (32, 87, .307, 104 walks) provide outfield depth and pinch hitting capabilites. Pete Reiser 1941 (.343) and Pedro Guerrero 1985 (.320, 33 HR) would start for most teams-just not here.

Outlook-On paper, this is the team to beat. On the field, we'll see-a lot will depend on their record against the rival Giants and the Cardinals.

Next time-We're almost there, folks-just three more teams to look at and it's time to PLAY BALL!!