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Pop a Coors for Colorado

By Dan Hiergesell, Section MLB
Posted on Mon May 01 2006 at 2:45 AM EST
More on: (all tags)

Today is April 29, 2006. A well awaited weekend for the gridiron rooks, and a chance to become a NFL fan for one day before the season starts. But, besides the draft, today marks a day in the baseball season that gives a glimmer of light foreshadowing the future. Whether it's records, statistics, injuries, breakout or slump prone players, the end of April allows us to structure a hypothesis regarding seasonal outcomes. The 12-10 Yanks, the division leading Reds, or Cecil Jr. making a quick entrance, this last month has summed up many holes in baseball and has truly succeeded our prestigious times.

Yes! The weekend. No! The Giants picking who? After witnessing the Giants trade their 25th pick to Pittsburgh, and selecting some defensive chump at the 32nd pick, the world needs to inflict faith and hope into some other higher force. That force is the Colorado Rockies. Yes, those Coors Field comrades from the West, that believe it or not, have more than a snail's chance to win that weakly impaired NL West.

First off, the Rockies have managed to obtain the worst or in the top 4 worst team ERA over the past 4 years. In 2005 they posted a team ERA of 5.13 which was 4th worst in the league. In 04', they managed to have the single worst team ERA in the majors with a 5.54. Two years prior, in each season, Colorado posted a 5.20 ERA, which snagged the 3rd worst in baseball both times. Excluding the fact that they have a 4.59 team ERA now (Ranked 13th in the majors), we can exploit their shear accomplishment on improving their ERA, as prior facts would agree. Very impressive, considering they play in the most hitter friendly ballpark EVER!

Taking our minds off the pitching aspects of this season's 13-10 record (division leading), we are pulled gracefully towards that sweet offense. That Helton-less lineup that has solely won on the bats of Brad Hawpe, Matt Holliday, and Garrett Atkins, has shown us possibly the best young trio around the league. Also, we are reminded of Clint Barmes, that unpredictable shortstop who simply ravaged pitching last year until his season sadly ended shortly due to injuries. But this year, with a healthy Barmes and Helton coming back from the DL very soon, the Rockies' lineup is soon to be military like.

Still not a believer? Here are a few facts that should surely change your mind. As it stands now, after one full month of baseball (YES!), the Rockies have proven to be one of the best offenses in the league. Considering they're no 200 million dollar team, the Rockies hitting has blossomed greatly. First of all, the Rockies are ranked 6th in runs, in which they were 14th last year. Since they're 2nd in hits, 3rd in doubles and 1st in triples, there is little left for the imagination, because they are ranked 2nd in TB's. This might be too many numbers to count for you English people out there, but let me break it down for you. Basically, the Rockies are smokin'. With a near .300 team BA, and with some of the most promising players in the league, they find themselves continuosly producing and producing. Colorado, who has ranked close to the mid teens in hitting for the past few years, have made a tremendous jump to the promise land.

If their pitching can stay true, alongside the hitting core of the H Boys (sort of a cool nickname), the Rockies will be prone to pop open a Coors at the end of season. For that matter, pour a nice cold one over Clint Hurdle's head as we speak.

Convinced? You better be. Considering Bonds doesn't have enough steroids to carry a whole city on his back, the fact that the Dodgers are starting to scout doctors instead of future players, and the fact that Arizona is just plain Arizona, the Rockies find themselves battling the Padres who are in last place right now. Hands down! What do the Rockies have to do to raise some eyebrows around the league. Win? Well.....they are, and more than usual. That is what's scary. Just a little message to the NL West, sleep with one eye open.