Mile High Magic Returns: A Rockies Dynasty Is Born

[DaBull_33]

DENVER, CO -- 20 years ago, a team was born in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Professional baseball had returned to Colorado.

However, the path to success has been anything but easy. In 20 years of existence, the Colorado Rockies have only made it to the postseason a total of 3 times. For those scoring at home, that's a playoff appearance rate of .150.

Adding to the misery, the Rockies find themselves coming off the worst record in franchise history, an embarrassing 64-98 campaign in 2012. Following amazing runs into October in both 2007 and 2009, no amount of luck or good fortune could help this club last season.

But, it's not all doom and gloom in the Mile High City. Colorado boasts one of the most complete, and effective offenses in all of baseball. They were in the top 2 in almost every major offensive statistical category in the National League in 2012. Their lineup features rising superstars Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, as well as a number of complimentary pieces.

As has been the case in the last 20 years, the Rockies' fortune will rest on the arms of their pitching staff. A rotation that was decimated by injuries a year ago should return to full health. Young guys will have the opportunity to capitalize on their potential, as a bevy of quality prospects continue to hone their skills at the minor league levels.

Many may view this rag-tag team as a team in transition. Experts across the country have picked the Rockies to finish at the bottom of the NL West in 2013. Yet, this team has the very makings of a sleeper. If the pieces fall into place, the Colorado Rockies could surprise a lot of people.

This is their journey to "Rocktober."

[DaBull_33]

Many experts and publications have rated Colorado's farm system as middle-of-the-road, at best. Yet, that doesn't mean they are without talent in the minor leagues. Here's a look at the Top 10 Prospects for 2013:

David Dahl -Position: OF
Bats: L, Throws: R
Age: 19, DOB: 04/01/1994

• The Alabama high school product won Pioneer League MVP honors in his pro debut, leading the rookie-level circuit in a host of offensive categories, including batting average, total bases and OPS. Dahl can flat-out hit, with good bat speed and a better idea of what he’s doing at the plate than most hitters his age. There’s definitely extra-base pop in his bat now and he could develop decent home run power down the road. An above-average runner, he’ll be more of a base stealing threat as he learns those skills. He has a plus arm in the outfield and has the chance to be a top-notch defender in the future.

Nolan Arenado - Position: 3B
Bats: R, Throws: R
Age: 21, DOB: 04/16/1991

• Arenado can drive the ball, more with line-drive gap power than over-the-fence pop, though he can go deep from time to time. Once thought to be a defensive liability who would have to move across the infield, Arenado has worked hard to become a solid third baseman who can stay there long-term, with good actions and a strong arm. He's not too far from being ready to be an everyday big leaguer at the hot corner.

Trevor Story - Position: SS
Bats: R, Throws: R
Age: 20, DOB: 11/15/1992

• Story carries himself the right way and more than held his own as a teenager at that level. While he did strike out a good amount, he should be able to hit for average in the future. There’s some definite extra-base power as well and he already shows the ability to drive the ball the other way. A solid average runner, his instincts allow his speed to play up on the basepaths. He’s a solid defender with a good arm for shortstop, though some feel he’ll outgrow the position, not to mention the Troy Tulowitzki roadblock in Colorado. He did play some third in 2012 and a future there or at second base isn’t inconceivable.

Chad Bettis - Position: RHP
Bats: R, Throws: R
Age: 23, DOB: 04/26/1989

• When healthy, he has a fastball and slider that are above-average or better and his changeup has improved to the point of it being a Major League average offspeed pitch for him. Assuming he's healthy, he still profiles well in the middle of a rotation with that backup plan as a reliever still intact.

Kyle Parker - Position: OF
Bats: R, Throws: R
Age: 23, DOB: 09/30/1989

• He’s had two solid seasons in the Rockies organization, showing progress from one year to the next. More than anything, Parker became a much more selective hitter in 2012, cutting down on his strikeouts and drawing a lot more walks. That has helped him work better counts and give him more of an opportunity to tap into his outstanding raw power. He has bat speed and obvious athleticism, though he’s a below-average runner. His arm is strong enough for right field and his bat should profile well there, too, though his speed may make him a better left fielder. The only thing that held him back at all in 2012 were some injuries to his wrist and thumb, the latter of which kept him from playing in the Arizona Fall League. He’s ready to hit the upper levels of the Rockies’ system.

Tyler Anderson - Position: LHP
Bats: L, Throws: L
Age: 23, DOB: 12/30/1989

• The Oregon product spent his first full season of pro ball pitching in the bandbox that is Asheville's home stadium and ended up leading the organization in ERA and finishing second in batting average against. An advanced college lefty, he could start moving quickly now with a four-pitch mix at his disposal. His fastball is average, but he works it to both sides of the plate effectively, working quickly to throw strike one. His changeup is outstanding, an above-average offspeed pitch with sink. He throws a slider and a curve, with the former a touch better than the latter, and he mixes all his pitches well with a fairly deceptive delivery. His ceiling is limited, but he could fly up the ladder to the big leagues in a hurry now.

Tim Wheeler - Position: OF
Bats: L, Throws: R
Age: 25, DOB: 01/21/1988

• After beginning his pro career is ho-hum fashion, Wheeler had a breakout 2011 season and a solid follow-up in 2012. He has bat speed and some leverage, showing good raw power, though it didn’t show up in games in 2012 like it did the year prior. That was partially because of a broken hamate bone suffered at the beginning of the year, but he showed better hittability upon his return, cutting down his strikeouts and getting on base at a better clip. A solid average runner, he plays a decent center field, but he’s seen time in all three spots and probably will settle into a left field job in the future. With the power-speed output of 2011, followed up by the higher average 2012 season, it’s a little tougher to figure out what Wheeler will be, but he should hit himself to the big leagues soon.

Will Swanner - Position: C
Bats: R, Throws: R
Age: 21, DOB: 09/10/1991

• After getting an over-slot deal from the Rockies to keep him from heading to Pepperdine, Swanner spent parts of two summers in the Pioneer League honing his craft. His move to full-season ball in 2012 was a success as he swung the bat well and was a member of the South Atlantic League champion Asheville Tourists. Big and strong, Swanner doesn’t get cheated at the plate, taking aggressive swings regularly. That leads to some swings and misses, and he needs to get better at making adjustments, but he does make hard contact and has some definite power. He moves decently enough behind the plate, especially considering his size, but he’s slow in getting the ball down to second and he needs work to stay behind the dish long-term. If he has to move, though, he might have the bat that could work well at a corner position.

Edwar Cabrera - Position: LHP
Bats: L, Throws: L
Age: 25, DOB: 10/20/1987

• A year after leading the Minors in strikeouts, Cabrera pitched across two Minor League levels and made his big league debut, leading the organization in batting average against and finishing second in ERA in the process. He does it without plus stuff, relying on command of his three-pitch mix. His changeup is his best pitch, one that approaches plus, a deceptive offspeed offering that has led to most of his strikeouts. His fastball is average velocity-wise, but it has tail and sinks and he can locate it to both sides of the plate. The sink of those two pitches gets a good amount of groundball outs and he mixes in a curve for good measure. His ceiling is limited, but an ability to keep the ball down is essential for pitching success in Coors Field. He should get the chance to prove he can do it again soon.

Eddie Butler - Position: RHP
Bats: S, Throws: R
Age: 22, DOB: 03/13/1991

• A strong finish to his junior season at Radford helped Butler move into the sandwich round. He has a live arm that can deliver fastballs up to 97 mph, and he has a slider that should be a very good secondary pitch in the future. Butler has a changeup, but it’s behind the fastball-breaking ball combination. He’s not the biggest guy in the world and has had some command issues in the past, though not during his summer debut in the Pioneer League. With his power stuff and size, some see a future in the bullpen, but the Rockies sent him out as a starter and may give him the chance to stick in a rotation for the time being.

[DaBull_33]

2013 NL WEST PREVIEW

The Rockies will always find themselves in a dog fight year after year, as they battle it out in the competitive National League West.

San Francisco Giants - The Giants are coming off 2 World Series titles in the last 3 years. They don't bring much power on offense, but they have what is considered by most to be the best pitching staff in all of baseball. Two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum was less than stellar last year, but he was darn near unhittable out of the 'pen in the postseason. The champs are hoping that Tim can regain some confidence and bring a steady presence to the middle of the rotation. If that can happen, and the offense continues to push just enough runs across, and come up in big situations, then you can bet on seeing the Giants at the top of the NL West and back in the postseason.

Los Angeles Dodgers - New owners, new television deal, new money, new players. This team has gone from the dark cloud of the McCourt ownership, and the painful sting of bankruptcy, to an embarrassment of riches. The biggest question for the Dodgers is: can money buy a championship? Will this team of superstar names like Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp, and Hanley Ramirez be able to gel? Or, will it be a team of inflated egos and paychecks?

Arizona Diamondbacks - Down in the desert, the Diamondbacks continue to find themselves in a position to contend. Perhaps the polar opposite of the Dodgers, this team doesn't boast any real superstar players. What they do have is a gritty group of guys that play as a team, and a steady pitching staff. The D-Backs find ways to win for their manager Kirk Gibson, who personifies that gritty mentality. Expect them to contend in August and September.

San Diego Padres - Much like the Rockies, not much is expected of the Padres in 2013. Their offense revolves around 3rd baseman Chase Headley, coming off a break-out season in which he led the NL with 115 RBI. Their bullpen is decent, if they can stay healthy, but the rotation is nothing to write home about. Former Rule 5 draft pick Everth Cabrera led the NL in stolen bases with 44, but he doesn't get on base as much as he should. The Padres might surprise people like they did a couple of seasons ago, but a .500 record may be considered a victory this season.

[DaBull_33]

Mile High Magic Returns: A Rockies Dynasty Is Born

MLB 13 The Show
Spring Training Roster: OSFM 2013 v.1
Reg. Season Roster: OSFM Opening Day
Sliders: A/S-Marino Sliders
Hitting Difficulty: All-Star
Pitching Difficulty: All-Star


A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO:

Brady @ Simulation Sports for the banner

CountdowNxx @ Simulation Sports for the banner

[TexanFan92]

Can't wait to see this

[joshrmlb]

Nice NL West write-up. Following.

[DaBull_33]

Colorado Rockies 2013 Schedule
DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT
Feb 23	at Arizona Diamondbacks
Feb 24	vs Arizona Diamondbacks
Feb 25	vs Texas Rangers
Feb 26	at Chicago Cubs
Feb 27	at San Diego Padres
Feb 28	vs Cincinnati Reds
Mar 1	vs Milwaukee Brewers
Mar 2	at Oakland Athletics
Mar 3	vs Oakland Athletics
Mar 4	at Seattle Mariners
Mar 5	vs Chicago Cubs
Mar 6	vs Team USA (WBC)
Mar 8	vs Kansas City Royals
Mar 9	at Los Angeles Angels
Mar 10	vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Mar 11	at Chicago White Sox
Mar 12	vs Arizona Diamondbacks
Mar 13	at Chicago Cubs
Mar 15	at Cincinnati Reds
Mar 16	vs Seattle Mariners
Mar 17	at San Francisco Giants
Mar 18	vs Cincinnati Reds
Mar 19	at Kansas City Royals
Mar 21	at San Francisco Giants
Mar 22	vs San Francisco Giants (SS)
Mar 22	at Texas Rangers (SS)
Mar 23	vs San Diego Padres
Mar 24	at Milwaukee Brewers
Mar 25	vs Cleveland Indians
Mar 26	at Los Angeles Dodgers
Mar 27	at Oakland Athletics
Mar 28	vs Milwaukee Brewers
Mar 30	vs Seattle Mariners

[TexanFan92]

Good luck in spring training you should play your prospects instead of the starters