Colorado Rockies fantasy draft: Five different all-franchise teams

Kevin Larson’s team

Catcher – Yorvit Torrealba

First base – Justin Morneau

Second base – Kaz Matsui

Shortstop – Troy Tulowitzki

Third base – Vinny Castilla

Left field – Matt Holliday

Center field – Ellis Burks

Right field – Carlos Gonzalez

Bench – Yonder Alonso, Ryan Spilborghs, Quinton McCracken, Ryan McMahon, Miguel Olivo

Starting Pitcher – Jhoulys Chacin

Starting Pitcher – Tyler Chatwood

Starting Pitcher – Jason Hammel

Starting Pitcher – Tyler Anderson

Reliever – Armando Reynoso

Reliever – Alex White

Reliever – Dave Veres

Reliever – Steve Reed

Reliever – Carlos Estevez

Reliever – Greg Holland

Reliever – Jairo Diaz

Reliever – Pat Neshek

Reliever – Ian Desmond

If this roster makes you think, “Hey, I think they’d actually probably compete for the playoffs,” well then that’s because they basically did. Behind guys like Troy Tulowitzki, Matt Holliday, Yorvit Torrealba and Kaz Matsui, there should be no doubt this team would compete in a World Series. I mean we’ve also got Vinny Castilla, Ellis Burks and CarGo flanking this lineup. Not to mention Justin Morneau just chillin’ there at first base holding a batting title like, “What’s up guys? Remember me?”

And that lineup’s offensive prowess is needed. As with most Rockies rosters, we’re not going to be all that reliant on pitching. This staff’s headlined by guys like Jhoulys Chacin (85 ERA-) and Tyler Chatwood (87 ERA-). No one’s going to overpower you, but they’ll hang in there long enough.

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The bullpen’s a little stronger than you think with some pretty surprising ERA- numbers. Gabe White checks in with an ERA- of 75. Dave Veres at 73. Steve Reed’s sitting pretty at 74. Holland’s our closer sitting at 72. For what Neshek did in the Wild Card game because that ERA- is at 49! You know Diaz (87) and Estevez (94).

But the real highlight of this bullpen? Holding the best ERA, and therefore ERA-, in Rockies’ bullpen history is Ian Freakin’ Desmond. That’s right. Big fat goose eggs in those columns. So what if it was only one inning in L.A. during a blowout? He deserves a spot because everyone loves a position player pitching. And hey, the stats back him up.

The bench is nothing to look over either. Yonder Alonso can give Morneau days off without much power being missed at the plate. Ryan Spilborghs owns one of the highest wRC+ as a pinch hitter in Rockies history (119) and also created one of the most memorable Rockies moments ever. Quinton McCracken’s going to light up the basepaths late in games. Ryan McMahon will provide versatility in the infield and Miguel Olivo will be a good fill-in for Torrealba.

This roster will compete and is too much fun. How is any roster better? The answer is they can’t be. This roster destroys and you know it.