Colorado Rockies

The 2009 starting rotation of the Colorado Rockies turned in the greatest performance of any rotation in the franchise's history. Several team records fell as the regular five hurlers took their turn and pitched very well time and time again.

Ubaldo Jimenez, Jason Marquis, Jorge De la Rosa, and Jason Hammel each started 30 or more games, and Aaron Cook got the ball 27 times. Each won 10 or more games—the only team in MLB that could make such a claim.

This marks the third edition in my new series in which I am attempting to name the top ten players in the history of each MLB franchise. This one will take a look at some of the Rockies greats.

With as prolific an offense as the Rockies have had through the years, it only makes sense that the top seven guys on this list would be hitters.

I was asked by Will from TheNatsBlog.com to help him with a collaborative article on grading how well each team did in last week's winter meetings. Obviously, for my part I will be covering the Rockies.

The Rockies' 2010 starting outfield should again be a source of strength, both defensively and offensively. Let's take a look at the five players likely to be manning the spacious outfield grass at Coors Field for the Rockies in 2010. (Player ages at the start of the 2010 season are in parentheses.)

It seems like fantasy owners are always looking for the next stud young pitcher on the precipice of making an impact. 

That involves more than just putting up a good ERA and the possibility of getting wins.  The potential to strikeout batters, and at an impressive rate, is just as important.

Of the young pitchers who could make the leap to the majors in 2010, Christian Friedrich has the potential to make an impact across the board.  Just look at the numbers the 2008 first round draft pick (25th overall) posted last season at two levels of Single-A:

The Colorado Rockies are becoming known as a come-from-behind team. In 2007 the Rockies completed the best three weeks to end a season in the history of the game.

In 2009, the Rockies recovered from a such a huge deficit that Congress may want to call Jim Tracy for some advice.

Garrett Atkins is a man without a job, yet he is still gainfully employed.

It may sound like the ultimate contradiction, but it’s merely a sign of the times in Major League Baseball.

Many teams are currently at a tipping point with overpriced, underperforming veterans.

With all due respect to the Cardinals' Tony La Russa, the National League Manager of the Year award was the easiest in the bunch. On Wednesday, Colorado Rockies Manager Jim Tracy was announced as the winner of the prestigious honor.

A week after walking away being told that their gloves are simply made of leather and not gold, the Colorado Rockies were finally recognized on Wednesday for their spectacular season.