A Look At The Detroit Red Wings

April 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Bring up the Detroit Red Wings in a conversation with a hockey fan, and you are sure to get a reaction. The Wings have become a bit like the New York Yankees of baseball. People either love them or they hate them. This is really no surprise. Just like the Yanks are considered baseball’s best team, the Wings have become hockey’s best. They are the model of hockey success. First of all, they have won more championships than any other team based in the States. Furthermore, they rank third in number of Cups won. With this in mind, we are going to talk today about their interesting history.

The team became part of the National Hockey League in 1926. In their first year, their home games were actually played in Windsor, Canada and they were called the Cougars. The next year, they played in Michigan at the Detroit Olympia. Neither year was kind to the franchise. First they finished dead last and then they finished fourth with a record of 19-19-6.

But the fans did not have a long wait before seeing success. In 1929, the Cougars made it to the playoffs. They lost, however, to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Their nickname was changed to the Red Wings in 1932. This seemed to be a good omen for the club. Between 1933 and 1966, they failed to make it to the playoffs just four times.

Detroit made it to their first Cup final series in 1934, pitted against the Chicago Blackhawks. This was exciting for the fans, though they did lose that series 3-1. They returned to the Championship Series again the following year with a different outcome. This time their opponent was the Maple Leafs, whim they beat in four games. What is more impressive is that they followed through the next year with a victory over the New York Rangers.

In 1946, the sport of hockey was gifted with the arrival of one of its best players ever. Gordie Howe, from Saskatchewan, is a legend of the game and a member of the Hall of Fame. He is called “Mr. Hockey” and for good reason. One reason is that he is the only player to play in five different decades. He skated his way to fame in the 40s through the 80s.

Adding to the justification of the nickname is his multitudes of accomplishments on the ice. He played with four Stanly Cup winning teams, led the league in scoring six times and took home six MVP awards. When Howe was 80 years old, he was presented with the first ever Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. Hockey’s teams were not always successful. Red Wing teams had a horrible stretch of time from 1967 to 1983. Fans were repeatedly frustrated year after year as they saw their team only reach the playoffs twice and win one series.

Nowadays you will receive no argument about how good the Red Wings are. Unlike their dreadful stretch during the Sixties and Eighties, the years from 1990 to the present have been remarkable. They have made the playoffs every year. This playoff streak is the longest in not just hockey, but of all major North American sports.
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Filed Under: Detroit Red Wings, NHL

Over The Years With The Boston Bruins

April 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I dare you to go to New England, especially Massachusetts, and tell a hockey fan that you are not a Boston Bruins fan. Good luck to you if you do that. Because the Bruins have a special place in the hearts of hockey fans from Bangor to Boston. This team is one of the so-called “Original Six”. With that comes a whole collection of stories and tradition. Here we will take a close look into this famous hockey franchise.

The Bruin team was brought together 1924 as the first American team to join the National Hockey League. For years the league was beset with numerous commercial conflicts. However it finally took hold as a viable enterprise during World War II, in 1942. It consisted of six teams (thus the name “Original Six”, one of which was the Boston franchise.)

The years before the war were good for the team and its players. In just 3 years, the Bruins found themselves vying for the top prize, the Stanly Cup. This is when they acquired defensive player Eddie Stone, who would one day enter the Hall of Fame. After defeating the New York Rangers in 1929 to bring home the Stanley Cup, people knew the Bruins were not a team to be taken lightly. The next season they ended with a record of 38-6, a winning percentage that has still never been surpassed.

The team would again bring home the Cup in 1939 and 1941 with victories over the Maple Leafs and the Red Wings respectively. But from 1942 until 1970, Bruins fans were tormented with one disappointment after another. It was especially horrible being a fan of the team during the stretch between 1959-67. They did not even make it to the playoffs once during that entire time.

So it was with unbridled enthusiasm that fans of the club followed the 1969-1970 team. Although the team finished second in the East Division, they did qualify for the playoffs. From there it was like they were shot out of a cannon. Beginning with a four games to two victory over the Rangers in their first round match up, they then rolled over the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-0.

The excitement in Boston and surrounding areas was blatant in hockey fans. After so long, their team finally had a chance to win the top prize. And that they did. They faced the St. Louis Blues, who frankly never had a chance at all. They were dismantled by the Bruins 4-0.

When folks look back at the Bruin team over the years, they usually think of two special players: Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr. Phil was among the most prolific scorers ever and Bobby is considered by many to be the best defensive player of all time.

It is interesting to know that the Boston Bruins made the playoffs every year from 1969 to 1997. What an accomplishment that is. And today, they are still right up there with the most competitive teams. It is safe to say that their fans are as ardent as ever.
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Filed Under: Boston Bruins

Washington Capitals Tickets, Classic Jerseys And Seating Charts

April 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Washington Capitals have come up with a new design for the jerseys specifically made for the games that will be played outside. Fans are looking forward to an amazing game in the coming matches.

The teams have changed their uniforms into something that will be appealing in the winter season. The season is loaded with plenty of games and activities and they must be complimented with appropriate uniforms. The uniforms have been personalized with exceptional designs and features although they still maintain the originality of the premier jerseys.

The designs have been created to mirror the pioneer jersey won by the team in its premier stages. These are expected to bring back the old school feeling with amazing features that get people into the mood of the game. They are carefully created with complete logos, stripes and colors which look sharp for the teams this year.

It can be said that the past season started off on a good note and this new season looks promising as well. The teams are doing relatively well. It should be noted that last year saw more prisoners being left out as the teams advanced through the games. The dedicated spirit is what has pushed the teams to record nothing else but clean wins.

The beginning of the past season saw the team clinching many awards and wins. This was enabled by the fact that the teams stared the season on a clean slate where it laid down a firm background for other fresh wins come this new season. It was also evident that the teams put on a spirited fight that saw most of them going into extra time.

There are many games that are scheduled for this year, and this has left both the fans, the players, their coaching team and other important personalities anxious, as they wait to see their team beat other teams. They are also looking forward to having a team that is more prepared and will bring more thrill and action to the field. However, there are changes that are underway to ensure that the facilities as well as the players are preparing adequately for the challenge ahead.

Host venues are credited for holding powerful matches and games. The venues keep improving with each single game. The fact that the venues are fit to hoist the games including other forms of entertainment makes them attractive to fans to come and watch the games. They are also located strategically so that fans from whichever location can access the stadium.

During the games, the players, fans and other attendants can have a chance to relate with one another. It is usually a time for the fans to offer support for rival teams. This is an amazing game with teams looking absolutely stunning in their uniforms on the pitch.

One can do a lot of things on the internet and this has made it possible for people to buy Washington Capitals tickets online as well as from stipulated points. The ticket varies in prices and this makes it possible for people to watch the game within their budget. The seating area is designed to cater for all including the patrons. Therefore from wherever one sat they will be able to watch the game comfortably.
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Filed Under: NHL, Washington Capitals

Toronto Blue Jays Add Speed, Bullpen Arms

April 27, 2011 by Leave a Comment

With Cito Gaston retired, new manager John Farrell takes over a Toronto Blue Jays team that hit a lot of home runs last season but did not get on base enough. The teams 85-77 finish was respectable but good for just fourth place behind the Rays, Yankees and Red Sox in the competitive American League East Division. The team hopes that the addition of speed and an improved bullpen will give them a better chance to compete in 2011.

Gaston, the quiet former manager who won back-to-back World Series titles with Toronto in 1992-93, managed the team from 1989 to 1997. He then took 11 years off from managing but returned in 2008 for the last three years of his 46 year career in professional baseball. Gaston played for the Atlanta Braves in the late 1960s and even made an all star team, but his career fizzled soon after. He then got into coaching and eventually was named manager of the Jays.

John Farrell is the new manager. Farrell was pitching coach of the division rival Boston Red Sox from 2006 to 2010, so he knows the A. L. East well. After working with star pitchers like Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz and Jonathan Papelbon, he will now oversee a nucleus of Blue Jays pitchers who could be on the verge of accomplishing great success.

Though they had to trade ace Roy Halladay a few years ago, the Blue Jays still have plenty of pitching. In fact, to make room in the rotation for potential Rookie of the Year Kyle Drabek, Toronto traded Shaun Marcum, who went 13-8 last season with a 3.64 earned run average in 195.1 innings.

With a few all or nothing hitters in the lineup, the Blue Jays made some moves in hopes of getting more contact hitters who can get on base ahead of their big sluggers. Rajai Davis was brought in after hitting . 284 last season with the Oakland Athletics. Davis stole 50 bases while providing speed in the outfield and he could hit lead off for Toronto. Another lead off candidate is Scott Podsednik, a key member of the 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox. Last year while playing for the Kansas City Royals and Los Angeles Dodgers, Podsednik hit . 297 while stealing 35 bases.

Of course, one of the biggest developments in the off season for Toronto was the trade of long time fan favorite Vernon Wells. Wells was traded to the Angels in a salary saving move designed to give the Blue Jays payroll flexibility in the future. In the trade, the Jays got Mike Napoli, a power hitting catcher, and Juan Rivera, an outfielder, in return. Just days after the trade, Toronto flipped Napoli to the Texas Rangers in exchange for reliever Frank Francisco. Rivera is another power bat option capable of 25 home runs if healthy.

Marc Rzepczynski 4-4, 4.95 era last year, rounds out the staff along with Drabek, with Jesse Litsch, Zach Stewart, and Dustin McGowan in reserve ready to be called on if needed. McGowan, however is recovering from two arm surgeries and has missed the last two seasons.

In addition to strong pitching and an improved bullpen, the Toronto Blue Jays feature one of the most powerful lineups in the American League. Leading the offense is third baseman Jose Bautista who had an unbelievable season in 2010, pounding out 54 home runs while driving in 124 with a . 260 average and a . 617 slugging percentage. The Jays are sure to score plenty of runs and with the potential contribution from Drabek, Toronto could contend with the Red Sox and Yankees in 2011.
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Filed Under: MLB, Tampa Bay Rays

St Louis Cardinals World Series Victories

April 26, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Since their formation in 1891, the St Louis Cardinals have won the national championship World Series ten times. Three-times victorious over the New York Yankees, the team has beaten the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox twice each. The Milwaukee Brewers, St Louis Browns and Philadelphia Athletics have all lost one Series to the mighty team from Missouri. This popular autumn sporting challenge can take place over four to seven games.

The team known colloquially as ‘the Cards’ has faced the New York Yankees five times (1926, 1928, 1942, 1943 and 1964). The 1926 Series is famous for the moment Babe Ruth failed to steal second base when pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander struck out Tony Lazeri, thus securing victory for the Cardinals. Named after 22nd American President Grover Cleveland, the championship pitcher was later portrayed in the film, ‘The Winning Team’, by Ronald Reagan, who later became the 40th President of the United States. Sixteen years later, in 1942, the Cardinals beat the Yankees convincingly, winning four games to New York’s one. During that month in history, the Alaska Highway was completed. St Louis achieved their third World Series victory in 1964. Manager Yogi Berra was subsequently fired.

Appearing in three contests with the Boston Red Sox, the St Louis team have won twice. The first time was in 1946, when they beat the beat the Dodgers two games to nil to secure the pennant. During the same month Eugene O’Neill’s play, ‘The Iceman Cometh’ premiered in New York City and an unmanned rocket ship took photographs of Earth from outer space. Their second victory took place in 1967, when Lyndon Johnson was President of the United States and ‘Hair’ premiered on Broadway.

The first time the Detroit Tigers fell to the Cardinals in a World Series was in 1934, the year that saw ‘It Happened One Night’ sweep the top for honors in the Academy Awards. Dizzy (“It-ain’t-bragging-if-you-can-do-it”) Dean pitched the team to an 11-0 victory in the seventh and final game of the championship. It was to be another sixty-two years before St Louis once again demonstrated their superiority over Detroit, when they took the championship in 2006, this time in five games.

The Philadelphia Athletics won the 1930 Series against the Cardinals only to be beaten the following year four games to three. Veteran pitcher Burleigh Grimes distinguished himself by being the last legal spitball pitcher in baseball. October 1931 also saw Al Capone sentenced to 11 years in prison for tax evasion and women in Spain gaining the right to vote.

World Series 1944 was a St Louis derby, pitching the Cards against the Browns. Embroiled as the nation was in the war between the Allies and the ‘Axis of Evil’, many players were engaged in a more serious battle. The tournament was decided in six games, with the Cardinals winning four. Their local rivals have not met them in a championship tournament since. During this time, French women acquired the right to vote and ‘Ozzie and Harriet’ made their CBS radio debut.

On October 3, 1982, Scott Weiland ran the Detroit marathon backwards in five hours. Two weeks later, the Cards beat the Milwaukee Brewers four games to three in the 79th World Series. Soon after, Steve Carlton became the first pitcher to win 4 Cy Young awards and China announced its population had grown to more than one billion.

In their 120 years as a National League team, the St Louis Cardinals have become the second most victorious team in major league baseball, winning ten championship World Series. Only the New York Yankees have won more.
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Filed Under: MLB, St. Louis Cardinals

The San Francisco Giants Have Been Running The Bases Since 1883

April 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

The San Francisco Giants have a history that stretches all the way back to the 19th century when they were based in New York and known as the Gothams. Their professional baseball debut in 1883 featured a victory against a team from Boston at what is now known as the Old Polo Grounds. Since then, the ball club has remained a formidable force in the National League despite many changes.

The first change involved the name and it came in 1885 after a win in extra innings against Philadelphia. Then manager and co-founder Jim Mutrie praised his players in an emotional post game address by calling them his giants. The club dropped the Gothams label and from that time forward, they were known as the Giants.

They secured their first National League pennant in 1888 and then won the championship series against St. Louis in ten games. The following season was tumultuous as the club bounced from venue to venue before July 1889 when they finally landed at the Second Polo Grounds. That would be their home until 1957 when the organization left the east coast and headed to northern California.

The team seemed poised to move to Toronto in 1976 when Bob Lurie and a group of investors stepped in and bought the organization. Lurie would make several attempts over the next sixteen years to get a downtown ballpark built. His unsuccessful efforts eventually led to an agreement to sell the franchise to a group based Florida. That was when several local investors led by Peter Magowan purchased the team and they were spared another cross-country relocation.

It was not long after moving into Candlestick Park that the players realized how challenging it would be to perform in their new home by the bay. Weather conditions were often extreme with high winds, cold temperatures and even fog. The players and fans would finally get relief in 2000 with the move to a new stadium in the China Basin region of downtown.

The Giants introduced the idea of using signs during games in 1902 after John McGraw was named manager. McGraw required all players to learn sign language as a way of communicating with their teammate Luther Taylor, the only deaf-mute player in the league. This also gave them a way to communicate with each other during the game without speaking.

The Alou brothers, Jesus, Matty and Felipe, made Major League history on Sept. 15, 1963 when they took to the outfield at Forbes Park in Philadelphia for the Giants. It marked the first time an outfield was comprised of three brothers. Five days earlier all three went to bat in the same inning.

The players would probably rather forget 1984. That was a season that saw the squad lose 96 games. Fans, however, will remember it as the year Crazy Crab hit the field. The bug-eyed creature was supposed to be the anti-mascot. The intent was to mock traditional sports mascots but the poor thing bore the brunt of a frustrating season. By the time he was retired at the end of the season, Crazy Crab was universally abused by players as well as fans.

When it comes to sports rivalries, there is none more fierce than the one between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The competition between the clubs has roots in the late 1800s when the two clubs played in New York. The two sides became even more determined to outdo each other when they left New York and moved west at the same time.
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Filed Under: MLB, San Francisco Giants

Looking At The San Diego Padres

April 24, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Major League Baseball expanded in 1969 with the introduction of four new teams. Two were added to the American League and two to the National League. To the AL went the Seattle Pilots (later the Milwaukee Brewers) and the Kansas City Royals. The NL saw the addition of the Montreal Expos (now the Washington Nationals) and the San Diego Padres. Success for these new teams would be far in the distance. This is especially true for the Padres.

When the Padres burst on to the baseball scene, the city of San Diego was filled with excitement and hope for their new franchise. This was not surprising, after all the team could boast of a brand new ball field, an experienced front office, and a young team. The fans’ enthusiasm proved to be premature. The Padres were dreadful. They finished dead last in the NL West in each of their first six seasons. Four of those seasons saw the team drop at least one hundred games.

They did have a few glimmers of hope. First was a player named Nate Colbert. Colbert, playing first base, was indeed a power hitter with many accomplishments. One of his amazing feats took place over the course of a double header. He hit 5 homeruns in those two games. He and Stan Musial are the only two players to do this. In addition to the homeruns, he also tallied 13 runs batted in, a record that he holds alone.

The second ray of hope was that the team was sold to a new owner, Ray Kroc. Kroc was the owner of the world’s largest fast food chain and had a burning desire to win. One of his first actions was to introduce himself to Padre Fans during a game via the PA system. It was at this time he apologized for the team’s “stupid ball playing” and pledged improvement. Unfortunately for him, the fans became distracted when a streaker took to the field while Kroc was speaking.

Very slowly but surely the team began to improve. In 1978 the team hit the . 500 mark for the first time. They actually finished six games above five hundred. This was due in no small measure to players such as Dave Winfield, Rollie Fingers, and Gaylord Perry. However the team ended up losing both Winfield and Fingers to free agency.

The Pads did see success with two pennants and appearances in the World Series in 1984 and 1998. As luck would have it, both times they were facing juggernaut teams. First was the Detroit Tigers who began their season 35-5 and went on to win the whole thing in 5 games.

The 1998 series proved to be another uphill battle against another premier American League foe – the Yankees. The Yankees had won 114 games during the regular season and were regarded by many as one of the best teams to ever take the field. But even though the Yanks swept the series, the Padres played with pluck. Three of the four games were nail biters.

The 2000s have seen unevenness of play. They were the division champs in 2005 and 2006 but other years turned out to be disappointments. Today, they remain decent, but not terrific. Time will tell what is in store for them.
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Filed Under: MLB, San Diego Padres

The New York Yankees And Henry Louis Gehrig

April 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment

During his career Gehrig had the goal of reaching twenty-five hundred games in a row and if he wouldn’t have fallen ill he would have made that goal. He had an average of three hundred and forty for his career, he played six world series championships, made four hundred and ninety three home runs, played a total of 2,130 games and had thirteen 100-RBI seasons in a row during his time with the New York Yankees.

Henry Louis Gehrig also known as The Iron Horse lost his battle to ALS in 1941, 2 years after he said goodbye to all his fans at the Yankee Stadium. Louis Gehrig loved baseball and enjoyed every day and every minute that he played.

The normal person admires people who adore their profession and work at it every day of the year, we witnessed this in 2002 When Iron Horses continuous game record was broke by Carl Ripkin Jr. This is the most commemorate time in baseball history.

First baseman Wally Pipp was replaced by the Iron Horse in 1925. He never missed a game unless ALS had him down. When he was a kid he would do his best not to miss class, he told someone once that he was ill one day and his mom asked him to stay home but as soon as she was out the door to work he left for school, she wind up having to go get him. Gary Cooper appeared in the movie “Pride of The Yankees” as Louis Gehrig.

The day he started with the team he hadn’t brought a bat so once him and the team manager got to the cages he pulled a bat off the fence, he didn’t know it but this bat belonged to Babe Ruth and was his preferred bat, astonishingly he didn’t make him replace it instead he just said hi. Louis Gehrig batted after Babe Ruth in the line up, his RBI stats stayed extremely high.

The record for the American League is one hundred and eighty four to this day which Gehrig had in 1931. Louis Gehrig made forty seven home runs in the 1927 season, Babe Ruth is the one person who has gotten more. He is amongst the top ten best baseball players in the major league. In 1939 he was placed in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Louis Gehrig received a football scholarship to attend college instead of baseball. It is rumored that if he had been drafting age at the start of World War II he would have enlisted in the Navy. When he was young he enjoyed gymnastics, playing football and baseball.

Louis Gehrig was born In New York on June 6, 1903. He was 14lbs when he was born. His parents were German immigrants. He grew to be 6 feet tall and weigh 200lbs. His Jersey #4 was the 1st number to ever be retired in American professional sports.

Louis Gehrig had a great career with the New York Yankees before he passed away in 1939. His mothers name was Christina and his fathers name was Heinrich. He was the only child of 4 who lived past infancy, 1 died before he was born and 2 died after he was born.
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Filed Under: MLB, New York Yankees

The Intriguing History Of The Florida Marlins

April 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment

In Major League Baseball, teams can qualify for playoff play even if they do not win their division. When a team does this, they are called a wildcard team. They have a disadvantage in that they are never given home field advantage during any of the playoff series. The Florida Marlins have been wildcards on two separate occasions and both times walked away with championships. This is not an easy thing to do and therefore the Marlins are a team worth talking about. Here we will talk about their history.

The Marlins entered the National League in 1993 as an expansion team. They play their games in Miami, Florida. From their inception they have played at Sun Life Stadium (formerly named Dolphin Stadium, one of many former names for the stadium.) Starting in 2012 the team is planning to play in a new park, the former site of the Orange Bowl.

The first three seasons were dreadful for the club. In their debut year, they lost 98 games and came in dead last. But for the next three years, they would get progressively improved. Each year, they finished higher and higher in the standings. They inched to fifth, then fourth, then third. In 1996 they were just two games under . 500. This was cause for their fans to be hopeful about the future of their team.

From 1993 to 1996 things were bleak for the franchise. They finished their debut season in last place, losing 98 games. It is worth noting, though, that over the next few years, they got progressively better. They crept to 5th, then 4th, then 3rd. By 1996 they ended up only two games below . 500. This gave fans good reason to be hopeful about their team.

The Fish came into that series as sizeable underdogs. Cleveland had just polished off the New York Yankees in quite an impressive fashion. This Indian series would be a good one, going all seven games. Losing in the ninth, they were able to tie it up and send it into extra innings. They proceeded to win in the eleventh.

Looking ahead to 2003, we see them again coming in second to Atlanta. Again they were the wildcard. And again, they defeated the Giants in the first round. This time, they would be facing the Chicago Cubs in round 2. It did not look good for Florida, as they were trailing in the eighth inning of the sixth, and possibly last, game of the series. In a mind blowing turn of events, a Cub fan interfered with a Cub player who was attempting to make a catch for the third out. This breathed new life into the Marlin team, who went on to win that game and the next.

If people considered them underdogs in the Cleveland series of 97, they must have considered them beyond hope in 03. The New York Yankees were fully expected to trounce the Fish. After a nail biter of a series against their archenemies the Boston Red Sox, the Yanks were flat. The young talent of the Marlin pitchers shined through and the championship went to Florida.

Recently, the team has been coming in around the middle of the standings. This is in no small part due to the fact that they consistently have one of the lowest payrolls in the league.
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Filed Under: Uncategorized

Colorado Rockies Lock Up All Stars

April 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Todd Helton enters his fourteenth season in 2011 and is 37 years old. With his contract up at the end of the year, Helton could be in his final season. If so, the Colorado Rockies have ensured that they have their nucleus for winning signed for years to come. This past winter, the team signed short stop Troy Tulowitzki and outfielder Carlos Gonzalez to new contract extensions.

In 2011, pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez almost won 20 games, finishing 19-8 with a 2.88 ERA and 214 strike outs in 221.2 innings of work. At age 27, Jimenez is the ace of the staff and the teams opening day starter. He may be the next young player that the team considers offering a multi-year contract.

There are few players in baseball at the short stop position that can even come close to Tulowtzkis combination of batting average and power production. Tulowitzki hit . 322 in 2010, with 27 long balls and 95 runs knocked in. The young short stop had a scorching month of September last season when he hit for a . 322 average, raking 15 homers while also netting 40 RBIs. The finish to last season have fans wondering what 2011 could bring.

Carlos Gonzalez was drafted by the Arizona DiamondBacks and was labeled early on as a player with limitless potential. Arizona traded Gonzalez to the Athletics before he had a chance to establish himself in the big leagues. The Athletics did not give Gonzalez much of a look either and traded him to the Rockies for Matt Holliday.

While Tulowitzki and Gonzalez are the linchpins of the offense, they do have help. Center fielder Dexter Fowler provides speed and range in spacious Coors Field. Seth Smith and Ryan Spillborghs will split time in right field and both could be starters on other teams. They will provide plenty of run production and good defense in the outfield.

The next young player the Rockies might have to sign to a long term contract is pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. Last year Jimenez helped the Rockies contend for the National Leagues Western Division by winning 19 games while losing just 8. At age 27, Jimenez threw 221.2 innings finishing with a superlative 2.88 earned run average and 214 strikeouts.

While Jimenez became the ace of the staff and will likely be the Rockies opening day starter, Jorge DeLaRosa, a lefty, is also solid and still capable of a big season. He battled injuries in 2010, finishing the season 8-7 with a 4.22 ERA in just 121.2 innings. In 2009, DelaRosa looked like he was on the verge of becoming a 20 game winner. He finished that season with a 16-9 record, a 4.38 ERA in 185 innings with 193 strikeouts. If he returns to that form, he will give the Rockies quite a one-two punch at the top of the rotation. DeLaRosa is joined in the rotation by Jason Hammel, Jhoulys Chacin and veteran Aaron Cook.

With a solid starting rotation and a hard throwing bullpen, the Rockies pitching staff should be capable of winning games and holding late inning leads in 2011. With a good blend of speed and ample power, the team should also score plenty of runs, giving them a chance to compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the defending World Champion San Francisco Giants this season.
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Filed Under: Uncategorized
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