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The Rockies Can Win the NL West

They're not the favorite by any means - that would be Arizona in my mind - but their starting pitchers are particularly well suited to Coors Field. Aaron Cook is an extreme ground ball pitcher (2.31 GB/FB), a big advantage in that park, Ubaldo Jimenez keeps it on the ground, too (1.88 GB/FB) and even Jason Marquis (1.26 in 2008, 1.54 in 2007) is above average in that department. Jorge De la Rosa was solid in the second half, and even he did a better job of keeping it on the ground last year (1.27).

With Huston Street and Manny Corpas in the pen, they've got a classic stopper capable of elite numbers when healthy and an extreme ground-baller, who like the starters, is well suited to his home park.

On the offensive side, Todd Heltoncould finally be healthy - remember this was a .928 OPS guy in 2007, Troy Tulowitzki is healthy, Chris Iannetta gives them a lot of production at the catcher spot, Brad Hawpe is serviceable and prospect Ian Stewart could easily take a step forward. The team will need at least one of its other young outfielders (Carlos Gonzalez, Seth Smith, Dexter Fowler) to produce, and Garrett Atkins to perform closer to his 2007 level (forget about 2006), but it seems like the Rockies are finally building a team that's tailored to its unique playing environment.

The over/under for the team is 77.5 wins - in that division, I'll take the over.