The 2010 (and 2012) Colorado Rockies

[Rockies GM (A)]

This year's team is a step back from my 07-09 teams.

Lineup
1. CF Scott Podsednik
2. C Joe Mauer
3. SS Hanley Ramirez
4. LF Shin Soo Choo
5. RF Juan Rivera
6. 1B Danny Dorn/Marcus Thames
7. 3B Brendan Harris
8. 2B David Eckstein

My 2-4 hitters match with any team in the league, and the rest is pretty problematic. Defensively we should be average to slightly below average. This team isn’t really playing for much this year, but I don’t think we’ll finish last either.

Rotation
1. LHP Scott Kazmir
2. RHP Justin Masterson
3. LHP Marc Rzepcynski
4. RHP Kevin Hart
5. LHP Scott Lewis

Yuck. I need my young guys to get good fast.

Bullpen
1. Matt Capps
2. Mike Adams
3. Dennys Reyes
4. Carlos Rosa
5. Sean Green
6. David Hernandez

Below average. Adams and Capps got useful projections, so we’ll go with the hot hand at closer. Reyes seemingly always gets a good projection from ZIPS.

This year’s squad should score some runs and be exciting. They should also let in a ton with a cruddy rotation and sub-par defense. The two year outlook (below) paints a warmer picture, though.

[Rockies GM (A)]

Let's Zoom out a couple years and see what we look like to open the 2012 season

Lineup
1. CF Drew Stubbs/Reymond Fuentes
2. C Joe Mauer
3. SS Hanley Ramirez
4. 1B Yondor Alonso/Eric Hosmer
5. 3B Wilmer Flores
6. LF Shin Soo Choo
7. RF Josh Reddick
8. 2B Jeff Kobernus/Jason Donald

That’s more impressive. With pretty good young players at center and first, we’ll go with whoever puts it together. Flores should have plenty of bat to survive a move to 3rd and most analysts see him there or an outfield corner. Mauer, Hanley, and Choo should still be in their primes, and the supporting cast looks like one that could do some damage.

Rotation
A little fuzzy, but we can make out some names. I expect to see
1. LHP Scott Kazmir
2. RHP Justin Masterson
3. LHP Marc Rzepcynski
Mixed in with some combination of the following pitchers (with Sickles Ratings)
1. (R) Tanner Scheppers (B+)
2. (L) Trevor Reckling (B)
3. (R) Michael Bowden (B)
4. (R) Michael Pineda (B-)
5. (R) Nick Barnese (B-)
6. (R) Jordan Walden (B-)
7. (R) Chad Jenkins (B-)
8. (R) Jason Knapp (B-)
9. (L) Rudy Owens (C+)
10. (R) Ross Seaton (C+)
11. (L) Matt Bashore (C+)

I have to figure I can get two above average pitchers out of that mess. I think hoping for four above average pitchers probably isn’t crazy which would give me nice depth to work from. It's arguable there’s no one with ACE like potential in that group; but a rotation of 5 number 2-type guys would be pretty impressive with that lineup.

Bullpen will probably be a mix of some of the above guys along with guys like Bill Bullock (B-) and Carlos Gutierrez (C+). I’ve also got a couple good guys who should still be around in Matt Capps and Carlos Rosa.

This team should be a top squad even accounting for a few flameouts. I have a few other useful prospects that could turn into big league players or excellent trade bait. Catchers Alex Avilia (B), and Tommy Joseph (B-) could impress. Shortstop Ehire Adrianza (C) has an impressive glove, Infielders Jason Donald (C+) and Jed Lowrie should be valuable bench guys if nothing else and Outfielders Daryl Jones (B-), Justin Maxwell (C+), and Kellen Kullbacki (C+) could end up regulars.