Colorado Rockies

What a magical season for Colorado in 2007! They lose their three time All-Star closer to four consecutive blown saves, only to pick up a closer who would have an ERA under 1.00 in the post season. They suddenly become unbeatable at the most important time of year and have a run all the way to the World Series. With a team like that, who would want to make a change? Not Colorado, who made no major moves this off-season.

Lineup

• CF Willy Taveras
• SS Troy Tulowitzki
• LF Matt Holliday
• 1B Todd Helton
• 3B Garret Atkins
• RF Brad Hawpe
• C Yorvit Torrealba
• 2B Jayson Nix

Rotation

• Jeff Francis
• Aaron Cook
• Ubaldo Jimenez
• Franklin Morales
• Jason Hirsch

Closer: Manny Corpas

Thoughts...

Zach and I both agree that it's a mystery why Taveras doesn't get more acclaim in the fantasy baseball world. He can be had fairly late, and stole 33 bases despite a leg injury limiting him to just under 100 games. 50 is not an unreasonable expectation. 

I like Francis. He's 27 this year, a great age for pitchers to have outstanding seasons. Better yet, he's been increasing his strikeout rate and decreasing his walk rate. He was a steady performer for me last year and absolutely can be had for a great price in 2008.

If you own Corpas, grab Fuentes as a handcuff. Fuentes is a three-time All-Star and even as a set-up man, he should give you solid peripherals. 

What a lineup. Holliday belongs in the first round and you know he will be productive this year. If only Hawpe could hit left-handed pitching... hope that his .214 average against lefties doesn't limit his playing time if you draft him. Atkins is a solid third baseman and I like him in the fifth round, if only because I'm not big on most of the late third basemen. Finally, it's easy to love Helton because he's been so steady for so long, but he's no longer worth starting at first base. 

Look for Colorado to define itself as it always has: big offense and just enough pitching to get by. Still, if Francis can improve, Cook can take a step forward, and the two prospects begin to grow, this team could put it all together and be World Series-caliber for years to come.