259

There were a few concerns for the Colorado Rockies, the team that numerous specialists picked for the favorite to unseat the defending earth winner and department rival San Francisco Giants.
One week into the 2011 season, those expectations don't seem too out of reach.
With all the affirmatives that this season could potentially send, there are, of way, some asset the team still needs to go on.
The Rockies have one of the league's best records in 4-1 and that is a good representative of how they've fulfilled this past week. Rockies fans were rapid to ascertain the horror clasp after Ubaldo Jimenez's less-than-stellar excursion on Opening Day against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He suffered through six hard innings, giving up six runs on 7 hits when striking out one and hiking one.
Rocktober dreams appeared apt shadowy ahead they even started.
The Rotation is Successful All the Way Through
Coming into the season, the pitching rotation was one of the major concerns the national medium and Rockies fans had. One wheel through the rotation, those worries have rotated into high expectations.
Jorge De La Rosa had a gorgeous outing and looks to proceed the dominance he had last season, Jhoulys Chacin could be as good as Jimenez, Jason Hammel looks to proceed the success he base in 2010, and Esmil Rogers startled many with his jewel Thursday in Pittsburgh.
How Many Wins for the Rockies in 2011? 75-80 81-85 86-90 90 or More Submit Vote ballot to see results How Many Wins for the Rockies in 2011? 75-80 4.3% 81-85 5.3% 86-90 35.1% 90 or More 55.3% Total votes: 94
Pitching has never been a lusty point for Colorado since their inception in 1993. If Jimenez can return to manner afterward his stint above the disabled list, this circulation has the accident to be the best the Rockies have ever discerned, bar nobody.
The Bottom Third of the Lineup is Producing
Another concern that Rockies brass had was how well players like Chris Iannetta, Ian Stewart and Seth Smith could hit. All three had a dissatisfying year at the plate last season and many say that the success of the Rockies' offense hinges on the success of these three at the plate.
Stewart is still looking for his premier hit of the year, and while he hasn't been benched, he has seen decreased time at the panel while the Rockies have opted to work with infielder Ty Wigginton, principally against left-handed pitchers.
Smith is currently hitting .412, as of Friday before the Rockies' matchup with the Pirates. He has answered well to additional pressure to perform offensively. He hit left-handers well in spring education, which was someone the Rockies' coaches ambitioned him to enhance upon.
Iannetta is the biggest success article coming out of spring training. He is currently hitting .313 with one home run and two RBIs by far in 2011. He has hugged the catcher's character, instead of babysitting it fknow next to nothing ofmeone else like last season. Chris Iannetta, if he keeps hitting like he's proven he can, could be the key to the bottom third of the Rockies' lineup.
Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki
Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
Tulowitzki is Off to a Good Start
The odds-on preference for the National League MVP has never gotten off to a peppery start in April. This April, Rockies fans thought that wouldn't change. His 0-for-10 extend to start off the season was no a nice sign for the team, but he broke out against the Dodgers final week. Since April 5th, Tulowitzki is hitting .500 with 3 family escapes scampers, 6 RBIs, and one twice.
Since the two-game sweep of the Dodgers, Tulowitzki has been on launch. The question is if or not he can keep up the offensive production. He can't keep up the .500 pace he's on nowno one is inquiring that of him. But for this to be thought a successful April, Tulowitzki ambition need to hit by least .270 before May rolls nigh.
All Signs Point to a Healthy Todd Helton
Mr. Rockie has been up and down the past two years. In 2009, he had a quite successful year, hitting .325 with 15 home runs and 86 RBIs, finishing 13th in the NL MVP marathon. In 2010, although, he hit a paltry .256 with eight home runs and 37 batted in.
This offseason, he famous that a fusion of healthier eating and P90X have made his ailing behind feel juvenile afresh. Thus distant in 2011, it seems to have paid off. Through five games, Helton is hitting .294 with one home run and 4 RBIs. He'll be spelled ahead of base by both Ty Wigginton and Jason Giambi, but if he can reserve up the pace like he did in 2009, a successful year for Helton might be the key to dissimilar postseason berth.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Can the Team Stay Healthy?
The Rockies' biggest problem the elapse few years has been dodging the injury bug. Entering his sixth year in the bigs, Troy Tulowitzki has merely played in 150 games double. Todd Helton needs to regain his 2009 form, instead of what he looked like last annual.
The pitching rotation, once Jimenez returns, absences to stay healthy and dominant. A strong bullpen can aid soften some of the pressure on the rotation, yet there absences to be a fine line between the 2, instead of overusing 1 or the other.
Barring any important injuries and a complete shutdown along the pitching staff, Colorado looks to be the crew to knock in the NL West. Once they kick the playoffs, everyone knows namely they're experienced of everything. If these 5 entities ring true, Rocktober 2011 is all but in the sack.