Scouting The Opponent: Colorado Rockies

Every series, we at Chicken Friars will ask the editor of  the FanSided team the Padres are playing some questions. We call this segment Scouting The Opponent because we are asking the questions to get to know the opposition. For our this  Scouting The Opponent segment, we interviewed Rox Pile Editor Hayden Kane.

Troy Tulowitzki has caught the injury bug the past few years. How’s his health going into 2013?

Apr 1, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (2) watches his 2-run home run in the 3rd inning during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA Today Sports

Word is that he is finally 100% healthy again after shutting it down last season to have surgery. Through spring training we received updates about Tulo’s ability to swing the bat, run the bases, and make the dipping and leaning plays that we’ve grown accustomed to seeing from him. Those reports were all good news and he certainly appeared to be his old self, both offensively and defensively, in the opening series against the Brewers.

Will future hall of famer Todd Helton retire at season’s end?

Because Helton is not one for fanfare, he did not officially announce that this is his final season. By all accounts it is, and most fans seem ready to treat this as his farewell tour. He is still considered part of the starting lineup, but he will get plenty of rest with Michael Cuddyer, Jordan Pacheco, and eventually Tyler Colvin able to fill in at first base.

Walt Weiss has no managerial experience. Why in the world was he selected to manage the Rockies?

The interesting thing is that the Rockies front office actually sought him out for the open position. Their interest in Weiss seemed to be based on a combination of the following factors: the successes of Robin Ventura and Mike Matheny, a desire to re-connect with some of the key figures from the Rockies’ short history (Dante Bichette joined the staff as hitting coach as well), and a belief that Weiss’s down-to-business approach will resonate right away. The biggest thing Weiss has going for him is his connection to Tony LaRussa, who provided a ringing endorsement for Weiss and whom Weiss identifies as his mentor.

Yorvit Torrealba is back as a Rockie. Are fans excited to have him back?

Lukewarm excitement, I suppose. The most important contributions Torrealba can make will come in the clubhouse in the form of mentorship. Wilin Rosario‘s defense and game-calling must improve. In a word, Rosario’s defense was atrocious last season. Torrealba will try to help him and then reconnect with pitchers such as Jorge De La Rosa as they try to get back on track. If he can do those things, the fact that he is over the hill will matter less.

 What’s the biggest issue surround Rockies camp?

Starting pitching. Starting pitching. And then starting pitching. The bullpen is quietly a really solid group. The offense, health pending, will produce a bunch of runs. None of that will matter if the starting pitching is historically bad again. Part of the problem last season was health and part of it was ineffectiveness. The Rockies need an immediate turnaround in both cases if they want to be relevant in 2013.