Colorado Rockies: Predicting the lineup as the new year looms

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Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies

DENVER, CO – JULY 25: Charlie Blackmon #19 of the Colorado Rockies watches his walk-off solo home run in the ninth inning against Collin McHugh #31 of the Houston Astros during interleague play at Coors Field on July 25, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Astros 3-2. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

As the clock strikes midnight on 2018, the Colorado Rockies are about 43 days from pitchers and catchers reporting and 87 days until the season opener in Miami.

This Colorado Rockies roster could certainly change before then – as most of us hope and pray it does – but it’s never too early (or fun) to speculate about lineup construction!

There is little ambiguity among Opening Day starters. In the outfield are Charlie Blackmon, David Dahl and Ian Desmond. In the infield, Nolan Arenado is at third, Trevor Story at shortstop and newly signed Daniel Murphy will take over at first base.

There is more uncertainty at second base, where Ryan McMahon is the favorite to start over Garrett Hampson. I would love to see Hampson give McMahon a run for the job (literally – the kid had the seventh-fastest sprint speed in the Majors last season, at 30.0 ft/sec.).