| | ESPN.com
Vinny Castilla lived with the tag of being one-dimensional. But in most circles, 38 homers a year qualifies as a pretty good dimension.
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ROCKIES LOWDOWN |
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|  | | Jeff Cirillo will do the "little things" right for Colorado. |
1999: 72-90
Runs: 906, 2nd in NL
Allowed: 1028, 16th in NL
Key facts
We've said it before, we'll say it again: Rockies won't win until they score more runs on the road (they were last in the NL a year ago).
With Tom Goodwin (.338 career OBP) and Neifi Perez (.311 career OBP), Rockies once again lack table-setters at top of order.
Pitchers set NL record last season with 737 BB.
Tim Kurkjian's scenarios
Best-case: They catch so many more balls than last year, throw so many more strikes and run so much faster, making them the most improved team in the league.
Worst-case: Their pitching still gets whacked around, and they don't have enough punch to win enough games 10-9.
Prediction: 4th in NL West
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That's no longer true for the Colorado Rockies. It is Jeff Cirillo, not the discarded Castilla, who represents the new, well-rounded team put together by new GM Dan O'Dowd, who wants a team that plays as well at sea level as in the oxygen-deprived air of Coors Field.
Cirillo has hit fewer home runs in his five full seasons (63) than Castilla hit in any two-year period with the Rockies. But until further notice, he is manager Buddy Bell's cleanup hitter.
Just because he's hitting cleanup doesn't mean Cirillo will forget his small-ball roots. He gave himself up with a grounder to second in one exhibition game that was tied in the late innings. The grounder allowed the go-ahead runner to advance to reach third with one out.
"That's my game," Cirillo said. "Little stuff like that can rub off."
O'Dowd, who was hired last winter, points out that the Rockies' big-boom approach had produced three consecutive losing seasons. Both his instincts and his computer models told him to put less emphasis on the long ball and more on hitters who get on base, fielders with range to take away singles and doubles and pitchers who don't make matters worse with walks.
Gone are charter Rockies Dante Bichette and Castilla, along with pitchers Bobby Jones, Jamey Wright, Dave Veres and Curtis Leskanic. The new-look Rockies might have the quickest outfield in the majors with Jeffrey Hammonds in left, Tom Goodwin in center and Larry Walker in right. They will need it with newcomers like Scott Karl and Masato Yoshii in the rotation.
"It's going to be hard building a pitching staff at Coors Field," O'Dowd said. "But you can build defense. You start with instincts."
Cirillo has long been considered one of the major leagues' best-kept secrets. His cover was almost blown with an appearance at the All-Star Game in 1997, but he slipped back into obscurity the last two seasons in Milwaukee.
He has become a centerpiece to O'Dowd's massive rebuilding program. The results will tell whether there's room at Coors Field for "little stuff."
-- Phil Rogers
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Lineup comments and grades from ESPN The Magazine
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Player
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Comment
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Grade
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T. Goodwin, CF
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Steals schmeals. Rocks signed game's fastest human to chase down rockets in OF
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B
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N. Perez, SS
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You don't have to swing on 1-0 and 2-0 counts every time: 28 BB in 690 ABs
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C
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L. Walker, RF
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Only man with three .360/20-HR seasons since WWII? Larry Ballgame
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A
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J. Cirillo, 3B
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Hates hitting cleanup, prefers hitting third, but will hit .330 anywhere
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A
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T. Helton, 1B
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Does he love the game, or what? Honeymooned this winter at club's Fantasy Camp
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B
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J. Hammonds, LF
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Last, best chance for ex-O's perennial phenom. Free agent after season
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D
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M. Lansing, 2B
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Healed back will help bat and declining range but do nothing for his iron hands
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C
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Mayne/Servais, C
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First platoon C's since 1971-72 to play on two different teams in two-year span
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C
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Pitching comments and grades from ESPN The Magazine
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Pitcher
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Comment
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Grade
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P. Astacio, SP
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Second-highest ERA (5.07) in NL history for a 17-game winner
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B
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R. Arrojo, SP
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Polished. Can win without his best stuff, even in Denver
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B
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M. Yoshii, SP
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Was Mets' best pitcher the final two months. Never seems lost on the mound
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C
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Scott Karl, SP
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Despite 84 mph "fastball," he challenges hitters inside, setting up stuff away
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D
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R. Croushore, RP
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Great screwball, but a bad outing bums him terribly. Bad attitude for altitude
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C
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Jerry DiPoto, RP
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Disc problem in neck may mean Billy Taylor becomes closer
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C
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