1. This team will come up short because they do not have enough starting pitching. At best they are a 3rd place team.

2. This team is especially difficult to predict – they could finish anywhere from 2nd to 5th in the NL West. 

• Yes, I realize that neither of these possibilities call for a first ever division title for the franchise. I do not imagine that even the most optimistic projections will have the team winning the NL West, and if an “analyst” does make that prediction, I have a feeling he will be wearing glasses and a fake mustache and his real name will rhyme with Roy Dulowitzki.

There is a general consensus that the lineup, despite being considerably older, will produce. The bullpen is the part of the team that tends to be overlooked in these general conversations; for now it is safe to say that nobody finds it to be a glaring problem. The predictions, from failure to uncertainty, hinge on the fluid and confusing situation that the Rockies will call the competition for the starting rotation when spring training commences.

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All that’s worth writing is that the Rockies lost 10-3 to the Cardinals, Ubaldo Jimenez gave up a career-high 12 hits, the bullpen faltered again, the offense only managed five hits, and Jim Tracy once again let players stay in the game far too long then they should have been (example: Ubaldo Jimenez going 7 innings and giving up 12 hits).

So, at the risk of sounding redundant, the Rockies need to take a serious look at finding someone who can spark the offense, they need to find a way to greatly strengthen the bullpen, and the Rockies need to look at newer options for their manager.

Any ideas? Comment below.