MLB Team Preview – Colorado Rockies
In 2009 MLB betting, few teams are tougher to predict than the Colorado Rockies. A year after a magical late-season run boosted them into the playoffs and the World Series, the Rockies tumbled to a 74-88 record. Which is the real Colorado team? Most online betting fans would answer “why, somewhere in between, silly,” but even that is no sure thing.As always, the Rockies have a boatload of young prospects ready to make a splash in the lineup. But, as always, the Rockies have many question marks in their rotation. They’re a true enigma in the 2009 MLB odds.
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Even for an expert baseball betting player, the first inclination is to look at Colorado’s lineup and write it off since Matt Holliday, the driving engine, was shipped to Oakland in the offseason. Looking closer, though, you can see that the Rockies have a nice mix of up-and-comers and bounce-back candidates. Dexter Fowler is the future in center field, and that future could be now since he made the team. His switch-hitting ability, great speed and solid defense should keep him in the starting lineup for good once he cracks it. Youngster Chris Iannetta showed last year why he was a hyped prospect at catcher and he should continue to grow. The well-rounded, underrated Ryan Spilborghs should finally get a chance to start this season and could very well make the most of it and post Johnny-Damon-type numbers.
MLB betting fans can’t forget about the sensational Troy Tulowitzki. After a banner rookie year, he fell under the radar in 2008, laboring through a pair of injuries. He has the youth and all-around talent to bounce back; I say he does it. The most fascinating story out of Rockies camp this spring may be the renaissance of Todd Helton, who is mashing the ball and apparently feels the healthiest he has in years. A return to anything resembling his former dominance would do wonders for the Colorado lineup. One bounce-back candidate who won’t bounce back: Garrett Atkins. He’s prone to slumps and has been exposed as a Coors Field fraud in recent years, as his career batting average is 77 points higher at home. Don’t be surprised if he’s traded.
The Rockies’ rotation is hamstrung to start the 2009 MLB odds with ace Jeff Francis expected to miss the entire season, but there’s still reason for optimism. Ubaldo Jimenez has electric stuff and proved last year that pitchers can still dominate at Coors with the right arsenal. Aaron Cook is a serviceable, if overrated, innings eater. Between Huston Street and Manny Corpas, someone will be adequate enough as a closer. For now, Street gets the ball in the ninth.
If the Rockies’ bounce-back candidates don’t bounce back and Jimenez falters, 2009 MLB betting could spell disaster at the sportsbook for the them. However, there’s still potential for this roster to do something special, so project the Rockies for .500 ball for now and consider them a boom-or-bust baseball betting pick this season.
One reply on “MLB Predictions / Previews: Colorado Rockies”
This team has more question marks than answers at this point. I do believe the talent is there to make them competitive this season, but how they actually perform could be a whole other story.