Hooch: Kiz is on vacation, so I wrangled Rockies writer Nick Groke for this week’s installment of awesome. OK, there are a handful of possibilities regarding which player will hit the most homers for the Rockies. If Troy Tulowitzki is healthy, it’s probably him, but he hasn’t remained healthy since the days of Yohan Flande’s Bar Mitzvah. And Jorge De La Rosa is the Rockies’ best starting pitcher, but when will he start pitching?
Groke: The Rockies will win more games than the Nuggets. Book it, Hoochie. Last week, Tulowitzki hit a 441-foot homer off the Texas Rangers’ Colby Lewis that landed somewhere near the casino across the Pima Freeway. Tulo played basically a half season last year and still knocked 21 longballs, second on the team. He’s a lock this year for most home runs, healthy or not.
Hooch: I heard The Associated Press has eliminated “dinger” from the sports lexicon. Now . And as for home runs, who will finish first on the Rockies? That will be Corey Dickerson, who I think will be an all-star this season. He blasted 24 dingers last season in 131 games. I see this kid swatting 33 this season, one more than Tulo will.
Groke: Predicting the Rockies’ winningest pitcher is more difficult, Benjie. Kinda like guessing which Interstate 70 lane is quickest on the way to Vail. You’re stuck either way. The Rox have had just one 15-game winner since 2010. Last year, De La Rosa (14-11) was the only guy above seven wins. But I’ll pick Tyler Matzek because he’s healthy (even if his total is, like, 12). His shutout of the San Diego Padres at Coors Field last September was a good sign.
Hooch: See, I was getting all excited about baseball beginning, until I started thinking about the Rockies’ starting pitching. I hate to say it, but I think the dude who’ll have the most wins will also be the dude with the most losses — Kyle Kendrick, a.k.a. “Ace.” In the past two seasons, he tallied 182 and 199 innings pitched, so I can see the guy gobbling innings and maybe even having an ERA and FIP in the 4s … but finishing like 14-12. Second-most Colorado wins? Bryn Smith.
Groke: Kendrick is a robot. In six of his eight seasons, he has won 10 or 11 games. So mark him for 10½ this year. That’s possible, right? Been-Jammin’, here’s a toughie: Will Tulo and Carlos Gonzalez combine for more home runs than the Rockies’ top five pitchers combine for wins? I’ll say yes. But I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. But it’s definitely a Rockies thing.
