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Here are 5 things to know about 2014

Helton’s gone; CarGo in center; Tulowitzki’s good health
Now that franchise icon Todd Helton has retired, this team belongs to Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki, both of whom must avoid injuries in 2014 for this year’s version of the Colorado Rockies to be successful.

DENVER

Five things to know about the Colorado Rockies as they start their first spring training camp in two decades without first baseman Todd Helton:

H H H

Helton received a horse as a retirement gift last season and rode off into the sunset. Well, to his farm just north of Denver, anyway.

Helton was the face of the franchise, the voice everyone listened to in the locker room.

Those are some mighty big cleats to fill. After all, Helton spent 17 seasons in the Mile High City, saving untold errors by digging out errant throws. He was one of the best in the business with the glove. He was pretty talented at the plate, too, leaving as the team’s all-time leader in virtually every offensive category.

Justin Morneau was brought in to take over at first base for Helton. And while Morneau’s bat figures to be an upgrade – Helton struggled at the plate the last few seasons – Morneau knows he can’t simply saunter into the clubhouse and be like Helton because he was “irreplaceable,” Morneau said.

“I’m going to try and do the things I do well and not really try to replace anyone or be anyone else – just help this team win ballgames.”

H H H

The Rockies were quite busy on the trade front over the winter, pulling off one deal after another. Not only did they acquire left-hander Brett Anderson from Oakland, but they sent speedy outfielder Dexter Fowler to Houston for righty Jordan Lyles, picked up lefty Franklin Morales in a deal with Boston and outfielder Drew Stubbs from Cleveland.

Anderson could figure heavily into the plans this season as he’s set to join a strong rotation that already includes Jhoulys Chacin, Tyler Chatwood and Jorge De La Rosa.

H H H

There’s no hiding from this reality: The Rockies’ bullpen was highly erratic in 2013, posing an NL-worst 4.23 earned-run average. But they addressed the need for quality relievers in the offseason, bringing in 41-year-old righty LaTroy Hawkins, who will compete with Rex Brothers for the closer’s role at spring training, and lefty Boone Logan.

Logan was 5-2 with a 3.23 last season for the New York Yankees.

Morales should give the bullpen a boost, too, now in his second stint with the team.

H H H

Slugger Carlos Gonzalez just wasn’t the same in the second half of the season after a nagging right finger injury. Still, the smooth-fielding outfielder finished with 26 homers with 70 runs batted in in 110 games last season.

Gonzalez underwent an emergency appendectomy in early January, but he showed his exuberance for a return to the field by posting on his Twitter account, “Who’s ready for Baseball? Can’t wait!”

Gonzalez will move from left field to center with Fowler now in Houston.

H H H

Once again, All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki had an injury-plagued season. He missed a month of action because of a broken rib. The year before, he sat out a majority of the year with a groin injury that eventually required surgery to remove scar tissue. He also missed a stretch of games in 2008 with a quadriceps tear.

This is Tulowitzki’s team with Helton’s departure, and the Rockies desperately need him to stay injury-free for an entire season. Tulowitzki is one of the more feared hitters in the league, especially when batting between Gonzalez and Michael Cuddyer, the reigning NL batting champion.

Colorado Rockies

Manager: Walt Weiss (second season).

2013: 74-88, fifth place.

Training Town: Scottsdale, Ariz.

Park: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.

First Workout: Feb. 17/23.

He’s Here: LHP Brett Anderson, OF Brandon Barnes, RHP LaTroy Hawkins, LHP Boone Logan, RHP Jordan Lyles, LHP Franklin Morales, 1B Justin Morneau, OF Drew Stubbs.

He’s Outta Here: RHP Rafael Betancourt, OF Dexter Fowler, LHP Jeff Francis, 1B Todd Helton, INF Jonathan Herrera, RHP Roy Oswalt, LHP Josh Outman, LHP Drew Pomeranz, C Yorvit Torrealba.

Rockies Rumpus

The Rockies were quite active this offseason, making several splashy trades and signing Morneau to take over at 1B for the retired Helton. Morneau doesn’t view it as filling Helton’s cleats, though, because Helton is “irreplaceable, the impact he had in the clubhouse,” Morneau said. Helton hung ’em up after 17 seasons in the Mile High City as the team’s career leader in virtually every offensive category.

The biggest area the Rockies shored up over the winter was their pitching staff, adding a starter in Anderson and bolstering the bullpen by signing Hawkins and Logan. They also reacquired Morales in a deal with Boston. Colorado’s relief corps struggled in 2013, posting an NL-worst 4.23 earned-run average.

Carlos Gonzalez is expected to move from left field to center after Fowler was traded to Houston. Gonzalez underwent an emergency appendectomy in early January but recently posted on his Twitter account, “Who’s ready for Baseball? Can’t wait!” Gonzalez hit 26 homers with 70 runs batted in in 110 games last season but was limited after the All-Star break by a nagging finger injury.

Associated Press



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