We at Razzball realize that exporting our views across the country has damaging consequences on the blogosphere. To help make amends, we are reaching out to leading team blogs and featuring their locally blogged answers to pressing 2010 fantasy baseball questions regarding their team. We feel this approach will be fresher, more sustainable, and require less energy consumption (for us anyway). The 2010 Rockies Fantasy Baseball Preview comes courtesy of Purple Row.
1) I really liked Chris Iannetta’s promise for 2010 going into November, then Olivo happened. What kind of ABs do you see Iannetta now getting? What kind of numbers?
Despite little statements here and there in the traditional media about Spring Training determining the amount of playing time for both catchers, it’s hard to see how Olivo will overcome Iannetta. Olivo hits for more power, but he also takes hacks at pitches that hit the ground in front of home plate. Iannetta knows how to get on base, and bringing up his low batting average in 2009 is not the way to start an argument on who should be the Rockies’ starting catcher. With a bit more normal BABIP, Iannetta’s average will rise to the .250-.260 range. A season similar to his 2008 campaign (.264/.390/.505) would cement his place as the Rockies’ starter well into the future.
2) The Rockies are a dream team of upside for fantasy baseball. Besides Iannetta, there’s Eric Young Jr., Dexter Fowler and Carlos Gonzalez. The problem with lots of upside is usually managers just want producers in there — Barmes, Spilborghs, Smith, etc. Will Young get 400 ABs without a 80 pound slab of deer meat falling from the sky onto Barmes? Will Fowler and CarGo get 500 ABs each? What kind of numbers do you see for these three in 2010? (Note: This question was asked before the Rockies announced Young would probably start the year in the minors.)
It’ll be hard for EY Jr. to gain that much playing time with Spilborghs and Smith able to backup the outfield corners and Barmes the starting second baseman. He’ll also receive a bit of a test from utility man Ryan Freel in Spring Training. And if the Rockies still have interest in Fernando Tatis, EY Jr. may find himself in the minors.
Fowler and CarGo are the starters in center and left, so 500 ABs for each isn’t out of the question. CarGo seems to be further along at this point with a strong final two months of the season. If you’re looking for stolen bases, Fowler should be a good flier (though he’ll also have a high number of CS), and you may just be surprised with what else he puts up.
3) I’ve got Rocky Mountain high-apple-pie-in-the-sky hopes for Ian Stewart. Tell me my meds haven’t got me thinking all crazy again.
Your meds haven’t messed with your thinking. . . well, not that much. Stewart’s going to be the starting third baseman without any competition since Garrett Atkins is plying his trade with the Orioles now. It’d be nice to see Stew strike out less and bring up his low line drive percentage (14.1%) in order to use that potential we’ve seen since he was drafted in 2003.
4) Jorge de la Rosa’s FIP was 3.91 while he rocked a 4.38 ERA, so something was amiss. Looks like it might be his strand rate, but his free passes sure don’t help. His Ks are tantalizing for fantasy, but he also looks very risky. What do you see for him in 2010?
I see a more confident De La Rosa taking the mound with numbers around the same as his 2009 ones. He’s going to be relied on heavily with Ubaldo Jimenez and Aaron Cook at the front of the rotation and Jeff Francis returning from a lost 2009 season.
5) Denver is home to hundreds of microbreweries, but what’s your favorite Rockies-themed beer? A) Franklin Mor-Ales A) Helton’s Jesus Lager C) Stale Hawpes
Franklin Mor-Ales, because we still expect more from him, either out of the bullpen or in the rotation.
