Las Vegas evokes memories. My last trip to the desert was breathtaking. And that was just after the first sledgehammer swings onto the monster tire. Camp Tulo raced my pulse, risked my life and left me with a twitch every time I see split heavy ropes.
Vegas typically isn’t kind to the Rockies, either. Such is the case when a team enters its 20th season without having won a National League West title. Today, the Las Vegas Hilton, owner of the world’s largest sports book, will release its over-under victory numbers for all major-league teams.
Like prop bets in the Super Bowl, over-unders are a conversation starter. The Rockies typically don’t receive much love. Even last year, when the Rockies were viewed as a playoff team by most, Vegas didn’t see October in their future.
That’s what makes this season intriguing. Vegas, I am told, has warmed to the Rockies. The oddsmakers like their offseason moves. If anyone knows the “early bird special” crowd, it’s those on the strip, right? The Rockies got grizzled this winter, adding a handful of 30-somethings: Michael Cuddyer, Ramon Hernandez, Marco Scutaro and Casey Blake. The lineup has a 1995-98 vibe.
Makes me think that Vegas is going to set the Rockies’ number at 82 wins. That’s optimistic after the team spiraled to a 73-89 record last season, including 17 victories combined in May and September.
The only thing worse than a bad team is a boring one. The Rockies will provide reason to rubberneck. They are going to hit, which is why they will be a sleeper if their rotation is competitive.
The Rockies tied for second in runs in the National League last season with 735, remarkable when considering that they ranked only 11th with a .245 batting average with runners in scoring position. They won’t be that awful again. Not with Scutaro and Cuddyer taking key at-bats in two spots in the order — second and sixth — that were sinkholes last season.
A winning record is possible. Winning the division? Pump the brakes, Dinger. The reason no one is predicting the Rockies to reach the playoffs, aside from their young rotation, is the teams around them. Anyone notice what the Diamondbacks did this winter? They won 93 games last year and all they did was acquire another proven starter — Trevor Cahill — beef up the bullpen depth and sign solid outfielder Jason Kubel.
The Diamondbacks will experience some regression to the mean; in particular, Ian Kennedy and Josh Collmenter bear watching. Still, they are deep and talented, and that’s with questions about shortstop Stephen Drew’s health.
San Francisco also added offense with the acquisition of outfielder Melky Cabrera. And if catcher Buster Posey is healthy, he’s nothing short of the Giants’ Troy Tulowitzki. Los Angeles gambled on low-cost pitchers — Aaron Harang, Chris Capuano — but could benefit from a career year from a healthy Andre Ethier. San Diego added a big bat in Carlos Quentin and a new closer in Huston Street, but its season likely will hinge on Edinson Volquez resurrecting his career as Mat Latos’ replacement.
Even if Vegas likes the Rockies, they won’t pick them to contend. And that, perhaps, is the greatest argument for fans’ optimism. The lower the Rockies’ expectations, the higher their win total is.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1294 or trenck@denverpost.com
