Projected batting order Jay Payton, LF Chris Stynes, 3B Larry Walker, RF Todd Helton, 1B Preston Wilson, CF Jose Hernandez, SS Charles Johnson, C Ronnie Belliard, 2B Rotation Jason Jennings, RHP Denny Stark, RHP Denny Neagle, LHP Aaron Cook, RHP Bench Brent Butler, INF Bobby Estalella, C Gabe Kapler, OF Pablo Ozuna, 2B Chris Richard, OF Bullpen Jose Jimenez, RHP (CL) Brian Fuentes, LHP Todd Jones, RHP Steve Reed, RHP Justin Speier, RHP Complete Rockies roster  ESPN's Take Q: Can the rotation get enough hitters out to make the re-emphasis on power work? The Rockies are trying to readjust their thinking in Coors Field and go back to power hitting and pitchers who throw strikes, which won them a lot of games in the '90s. Last year Jennings and Stark did a helluva job and were very impressive. Stark came close to becoming the first starting pitcher in Rockies' history to have an ERA of less than 4.00. I think the pitching will be better and will improve the Rockies' record, but the acquisitions they made won't be enough to win the NL West. -- Tony Gwynn OK, if Jose Hernandez can put up those numbers in a moribund lineup for a 100-loss team, what can he do in the rarified air of Coors Field? Yes, Hernandez's stock soared after he became a Rockie, because 30 homers appear guaranteed. Move him up your lists, too. Jason Jennings is the NL's defending top rookie, but he still should scare off fantasy owners. First, you cannot predict another 16 wins for him. It could just as easily be 10. Second, he's a Rockie. There have been pitchers who figured things out for a season, but success over the long term? Just don't overrate him. -- Eric Karabell Jason Young, RHP Polished Stanford product, more of a fly-ball pitcher than Cook is, which could be a problem. Otherwise he has everything you look for: velocity, command, control.

Manager: Clint Hurdle  Home: Coors Field (50,200)  '02 record: 73-89  Team page | Schedule | Offseason moves

Catcher: Charles Johnson Johnson owns four Gold Gloves; among NL catchers, only Johnny Bench has more (6). He's one of six active backstops with over 500 RBIs. But, injured early in '02 and not happy with new Marlins management, he finished with career lows in ABs (244), BA (.217), HRs (6) and RBIs (36), and was sluggish behind the plate as well. Coors may be his ticket to rejuvenation. First Base: Todd Helton A bone spur in his right elbow and a benign growth in his back led to a subpar year, meaning Helton slipped to fourth in the league in batting average (.329), fifth in OPS (1.006) and runs scored (107), eighth in RBIs (109) and out of the top 10 in HRs (30). The elbow has been repaired, but surgery isn't an option for Helton's back, so he'll play in pain, especially after long plane trips. Second Base: Ron Belliard Belliard had a good year or two in Milwaukee, posting a .295 BA and a .379 OBP in 1999, but he has steadily declined. He seemed to be turning things around a bit in 2001, but was derailed by a sprained ankle in August, and spent last year as a reserve. Brent Butler and Pablo Ozuna will be ready when needed. Third Base: Chris Stynes/Greg Norton Stynes is a career .286 hitter, but his production has declined the past two years. He finished last year at .241 in 195 ABs. Norton hit career highs in 1999 with 26 doubles, 16 HRs, 50 RBIs and 60 runs, then got hot again in '01, putting up 13 doubles, 13 HRs, 40 RBIs and 30 runs in over 200 fewer ABs. If the pattern holds, he could do some damage. Shortstop: Jose Hernandez Hernandez led the majors in strikeouts the past two years (372 combined), but he's also hit 49 HRs in that time, second to only Rich Aurilia among NL shortstops. In 30 career games at Coors Field (107 ABs), Hernandez has 12 HRs and 28 RBIs. He's also has a strong arm and quick feet, and can play virtually every position behind the pitcher. Left Field: Jay Payton Payton improved his batting average steadily from April through June. Then, after a .351 July, the Mets dealt him to Colorado. In 47 games for the Rockies, Payton hit .335, though he cooled off in September, hitting just .270. Payton's career average at Coors is .494 (43-for-87), best among all players with at least 80 ABs there. Center Field: Preston Wilson The last time Jose Hernandez didn't lead the league in K's, Wilson did, with 187 in 2000. But, unlike Hernandez, who hits HRs toward right field, Wilson has been a dead pull hitter, which will not serve him as well at Coors as it did as Pro Player. In 61 career ABs in his new home park, Wilson has just three HRs. Right Field: Larry Walker Like Todd Helton, the 36-year-old Walker struggled just a bit in '02. The previous year's batting champ (.350) fell to second place in '02 (.338), his OPS dropped from 1.111 to 1.023, and his RBI total was down to 104 from 123. It's tough to get old. No. 1 Starter: Jason Jennings The NL Rookie of the Year went 16-8 to lead his team in wins and came within one victory of tying its all-time single-season record. His win total and .667 winning percentage were both ninth-best in the NL. But Jennings' ERA at Coors, where he went 9-4, was 5.65, higher than Denny Neagle's, who came in at 5.16 with a 3-5 record. No. 2 Starter: Denny Stark Stark was 8-1 with a sizzling 3.21 ERA at Coors and compiled an overall winning percentage of .733, tops among major-league rookies. But like teammates Denny Neagle and Mike Hampton, he was worse on the road, going 3-3 with a 5.48 ERA, and like Jason Jennings, he'll be victimized by his own success, as he finds himself matched up against the opposition's best pitchers. No. 3 Starter: Denny Neagle After rising four straight years, Neagle's ERA dipped slightly in '02, to 5.26. He had a good August after returning from a demotion to the 'pen, but struggled in September due to a bone chip in his elbow, which was surgically removed in October. If the Rockies can find a team willing to pay Neagle's salary, they might convince yet another team to take him off their hands. No. 4 Starter: Aaron Cook Last year Cook went 11-6, 2.37 with 90 K's in 159 IPs at Double-A Carolina and Triple-A Colorado Springs combined, and the club thinks the right-hander may be its second straight ROY. Called up in August, Cook's road numbers gave the Rockies reason to hope (3.86, 7 K's and 1 BB in 14 IPs), but his 4.99, 7 K's and 12 BBs in 21.2 innings at Coors are less encouraging. Bullpen: Todd Jones, Justin Speier, Brian Fuentes, Steve Reed Jones was third in the NL with 30 holds last year, and quickly bounced back after the few disastrous outings he had at Coors. With 42 saves for the Tigers in 2000, he's ready to step up if Jimenez falters. Speier had 18 holds and led the team in WHIP (1.12). Fuentes is a southpaw who in 26.2 IPs struck out 38 batters, including 25 righties. Reed compiled a 2.01 ERA in 67 innings last year; at 3.18 he has the lowest Coors ERA among active pitchers. Closer: Jose Jimenez Jimenez notched 41 saves, converting 23 of 27 opportunities at Coors, where his ERA was 2.90, but, like three of the five starters, he posted a higher ERA (4.36) in away games. Overall, Jimenez had a positive year, but he is a pitcher who is more likely to induce grounders than rack up strikeouts and is probably better suited for a set-up role.

-- Dave Sutter, ESPN The Magazine

Record: 73-89 | Finish: 4th in NL West | Results | Statistics: Batting | Pitching Offense (NL rank) Defense (NL rank) 778 runs (4th) Home: 498 (1st) Road: 280 (16th) 989 runs allowed (16th) Home: 491 (16th) Road: 407 (13th) 2002 Stats Leaders   Average: Larry Walker, .338 Runs: Todd Helton, 107 On-base pct: Helton, .429 Stolen bases: Juan Pierre, 47 Wins: Jason Jennings, 16 Saves: Jose Jimenez, 41 Home runs: Helton, 30 RBI: Helton, 109 Slugging pct.: Walker, .602 OPS:Walker, 1.023 ERA: Denny Stark, 4.00 Strikeouts: Jennings, 127