2019 Pre-Season Profile: Colorado Rockies

#7

The Colorado Rockies made a solid run into the postseason in 2018.  Will that be followed up by another serious run at a title in 2019?

2018 Predictions

2nd in NL West, WILD CARD, lose in NLCS

2018 Results

91-72, 2nd in NL West, WILD CARD, lost in NLDS

The Rockies finally showed the promise their roster had and pushed through into the playoffs for the first time since 2009.  It took a crazy route of losing a one game playoff with the Dodgers for the division title, then beating the Cubs in the Wild Card Game.  All this came to nothing as they were swept by the Brewers in the divisional round.

Additions / Subtractions

The Rockies worked to supplement their roster to try and make it a little further this time around.  There was one key addition, one key subtraction, and one key extension.  First, they brought in Daniel Murphy to help give some extra pop and stability to the middle of the order.  Unfortunately, their bullpen was weakened some by Adam Ottavino signing elsewhere.  Last, their giant extension given to Nolan Arenado ensured their best player would be in Denver for a long time.

Most Important Hitter

David Dahl

The Rockies let a couple veteran outfielders in Gerardo Parra and Carlos Gonzalez leave in free agency as well.  This is because they are relying on a full season from David Dahl.  Dahl is entering his age 25 season and is a potential star ready to break out if he can stay on the field.  That has turned out to be a big if though.  Dahl played 63 games in 2016 before injuries forced him to miss the entire 2017 season.  Last year, he only played 77 games with the big club.  When healthy, he has been a solid hitter.  A full season will allow him to grow and progress even more.  The Rockies will need that production from him, which means they will need a full season from him.

Most Important Pitcher

Kyle Freeland

In 2018, Kyle Freeland emerged as something the Rockies have been looking for forever: an ace.  In only his second full season, Freeland seemed to overcome the curse of Coors Field by posting a 2.85 ERA over 202 innings.  He had an ERA+ of 164 which shows just how elite he was.  He was recognized for this great season by finishing 4th in the Cy Young voting.  Now the Rockies need him to do it again.  They need Freeland to continue to become one of the elite starting pitchers in the game.  If he can, he will stabilize a rotation that is always needing stability in the high elevation.

Prospect to Watch

Brendan Rodgers

The 3rd overall pick in the 2015 Draft, Brendan Rodgers is a 22 year old infielder that is ready to burst onto the scene.  Rockies fans have been aware of Rodgers ever since he was drafted as a can't-miss prospect.  Now, with DJ LeMahieu moving on, there is a spot for him at second base that he will most likely take sometime beofre the All Star Break.  Once he does, watch out!

2019 Prediction

2nd in NL West, WILD CARD, lose in NLDS

I have the Rockies getting the same distance they got last year.  Their offense can be something special.  It is, as always in the Mile High City, if the pitching can keep up.  They finally have some young arms that can perform at the high altitudes, but the bullpen lost some luster.  The National League is really deep, and the Rockies look to be just into the second tier of the elite.  They will consistently be a playoff team, but they need just a little more to really be a threat in the NL.

Fearless Prediction

Nolan Arenado will win the National League MVP.

Arenado has come very close to this the last few years.  He has finished in the top 8 each of the last four years in MVP voting, moving up the list each year (8th in '15, 5th in '16, 4th in '17, 3rd in '18).  With his new extension in hand, and another playoff run in sight, look for him to finally get the award his talent deserves.

2017 Pre-Season Profile: Chicago Cubs

#3

The Chicago Cubs made history in 2016 and finally ended the curse that kept them from winning a championship since 1908.  Can they make history again in 2017 and repeat?

My 2016 Predictions

1st in NL Central, lose in NLDS

Jake Arrieta will spend at least 1-2 months on the DL.

2016 Results

103-58, 1st in NL Central, won the World Series

Going into the 2016 season, few would argue against the fact that the Cubs were the most talented team in the league.  Being so young, I thought they were one or two years away from finally putting it all together.  I was wrong.  They dominated the regular season and showed that destiny was on their side by making their way all the way to the championship.  It is impressive to pull off something like this when the pressure of so much futility is on your backs.  The Cubs overcame that and did the impossible.  As for my Fearless Prediction, Jake Arrieta may not have ended up on the DL, but he did see a drop off in production as his work load finally caught up with him.

Additions / Subtractions

The scary part when you think about the 2017 Cubs is they are bringing back almost the exact same roster they had in 2016.  Very few changes were made simply because so much of their roster is so young.  Aroldis Chapman went back to the Yankees, but the Cubs traded Jorge Soler to the Royals for the dominant Wade Davis.  Jason Hammel signed elsewhere in free agency, but he was replaced with veteran Brett Anderson.  Dexter Fowler signed with the Cardinals, but he was replaced internally with the Cubs' outstanding farm system.  Not to mention, Kyle Schwarber is now healthy, considered one of the best young hitters in baseball.

Most Important Hitter

Jason Heyward

If anyone on the Cubs was disappointed by the way the 2016 season turned out, it was Jason Heyward.  After signing the huge contract before 2016, Heyward's bat fell asleep, leading to a .230 average with 7 home runs and 49 RBI's.  This led to Heyward watching most of the postseason from the bench.  The Cubs are talented all over the field, but unless Heyward starts to produce at the plate like he is capable of, 2016 might be remembered for both the World Series win and one of the worst free agent contracts ever given.

Most Important Pitcher

Kyle Hendricks

For the second year in a row, a pitcher for the Cubs came out of nowhere and is now considered one of the best in the game.  2015 brought us Jake Arrieta.  2016 brought us Kyle Hendricks.  Although the Cubs' lineup is filled with young talent, their starting rotation is quite old, with Hendricks the only pitcher under 30 starting the year in the rotation.  With Jon Lester continuing to age and Jake Arrieta entering his contract year, the Cubs need Hendricks to emerge as the ace of the staff moving into the future.

Player to Watch

Albert Almora, Jr.

The player benefiting the most from the absence of Dexter Fowler in the Cubs' outfield is rookie Albert Almora, Jr.  Almora got a decent run last season, playing in 47 games.  He barely kept his rookie status for 2017, and now he is entering the season as the team's starting centerfielder.  The Cubs have an outstanding farm system, but Almora is one of the few great prospects they have that is poised to make an impact for the Cubs this season.  Some might have an impact through trade, but Almora will be patrolling the outfield for the Cubs for awhile.

2017 Prediction

1st in NL Central, lose in NLCS

The Cubs are once again the most talented team in baseball.  I see them once again having the best record in baseball.  With all that said, it is extremely hard to win back-to-back World Series championships.  It hasn't happened in almost 20 years, and it has only happened three times for a National League team.  (One of those three just happens to be the last time the Cubs won...)  The Cubs will have a good run, but I see the age of their pitching catch up to them, leaving them just short of the World Series.

Fearless Prediction

The Chicago Cubs will set the record for most wins in a season in 2017.

I see the Cubs writing a similar script to the Golden State Warriors in 2017.  The Warriors were the up-and-coming team everyone loved that played their way to a championship in 2015.  The 2016 Warriors won more games than any other NBA team in history, but they couldn't win the title.  I see the Cubs following a similar path.  Everyone loved the 2016 Cubs as they won their title.  With the makeup of this team, I could see them respond this season by having a historic run.  However, it seems every historic run ends in something less than a championship.  Look for the Cubs to top the 116 win total set by the 2001 Mariners and the 1906 Cubs.