The defending National League Champions will come into 2008 with about the same team that took them to the World Series in 2007.  Only question is, was that run to the World Series a fluke, or can they get hot once again?

You can’t start this conversation without lifetime Rockie Todd Helton.  Showing more emotion than a lot of fans have seen him show in quite some time, he helped the Rockies to their first World Series appearance in franchise history.  The 34-year-old 1st baseman enters his 12th major league season, all with the Rockies, ready to lead this young team again in 2008, but they’ll need more than a 17 HR and 91 RBI season that he had in 2007 if they’re going to keep pace in the NL West.

Matt Holliday has become one of the biggest offensive threats in not just in the National League, but in all of baseball.  He had a career year in 2007, hitting .340 with 36 HR’s and an astounding 137 RBI’s, though he still finished 3rd in baseball behind Alex Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez.  If he has another year like that in 2008, look for the Rockies to be a team to be reckoned with.

The one player that could be the most fun to watch is young SS Troy Tulowitzki, who recently signed a 6-year extension with the Rockies.  He finished the 2007 season hitting .291 with 24 HR’s and 99 RBI’s, all while playing stellar defense, one of the biggest reasons the Rockies got to the World Series.  Not only is he one of the best young players in the game, but fans of all teams should enjoy watching a player like Tulowitzki. 

The biggest key to the Rockies’ success in 2008 will be their pitching.  With guys like Aaron Cook, Jason Hirsch, Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales, then turning it over to a bullpen that bosts Manny Corpas in the 9th inning, it’s a team that doesn’t have a lot of holes.  The only thing that could keep them out of the NL West race is the health and effectiveness of their rotation.  The Rockies will need Cook and Hirsch to be just as good as they were in 2007 if they’re going to stay afloat.

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