Note: CU Independent Rockies Beat Writer Justin Guerriero is covering the team live during Spring Training play in Scottsdale, AZ from March 23-29.
The 2014 Rockies won only 66 games and finished fourth in the NL West Division. Despite that, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki believes the team will succeed this season. Without a doubt, the Rockies were strongest at the plate last year. They had a team batting average of .276, good for second in the Major Leagues, and were barely edged by the Detroit Tigers for first place in that department, who led baseball with a .277 team average.
“I think we have some good players on this team, so we’re definitely capable of [duplicating last year’s great hitting],” Tulowitzki said. “Every year is new and I think that’s what we enjoy most about this fresh start; we have a chance to win.”
As for Tulowitzki himself, who was menacing opposing pitchers with a .340 average, 21 homers, and 52 RBIs before an injury ended his season in July, he hopes to replicate that success this year, as well.
He stressed the importance of “leaning on preparation and telling yourself that all the hard work that you put in is going to pay off.”
Tulo’s optimism is nothing less that you’d expect from a team leader. But should his hopes be taken seriously given the strength of the NL West this year? The Rockies will be competing with the San Fransisco Giants, the defending World Series champions, and the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers. And that’s just the top of the list. Don’t forget about the San Diego Padres, who picked up star outfielder Matt Kemp from the Dodgers this offseason. Also, if the Arizona Diamondbacks are at least somewhat competitive, the NL West will be arguably the toughest division in baseball. Tulowitzki seemed unworried about the intimidating divisional foes that the Rockies will be squaring off with all season.
“It’s a tough division. One of the best, if not the best in baseball. So we know we have a challenge ahead of us,” he said. “We’re not concerned with the other teams, we’re concerned with ourselves and what we need to do to play our best baseball. If we do that and come together as a team, anything can happen.”
So what will the key to success be for the Rockies this year? They led most of baseball last season in hitting, but that only won them 66 games.
“The key to success is, overall, believing that we can win. There’s a lot of doubters out there, a lot of people that don’t think we can win,” Tulo said. “So if the guys in this clubhouse can believe, anything is possible in sports.”
Tulowitzki is not off the mark. There aren’t a lot of people out there who think the Rockies are going to do anything impressive this season, especially after a relatively quiet offseason where only a few moves were made to acquire free agent help.
Despite the low expectations, this Spring Training will hopefully provide some solace for fans. So far, the Rockies have a team ERA of 3.80, good for eighth in the MLB. Pitching was truly the poison that killed the Rockies last season, as the team ERA ranked second to last in the Majors. However, pitching as a whole has been sound in this year’s Spring Training, and if that can transition into the regular season, the Rockies will be in the driver’s seat, ready for a successful year.
Contact CU Independent Rockies Beat Writer Justin Guerriero at justin.guerriero@colorado.edu and follow him on Twitter @TheHungry_Hippo.
