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Rockies announce Opening Day roster

By David Adler / MLB.com | @_dadler | April 3

rd, 2016

The Rockies finalized their Opening Day roster on Sunday, a day before they begin regular-season play against the D-

backs at Chase Field. Colorado will carry 12 pitchers and 13 position players -- two catchers, six infielders and five

outfielders.

To reduce the roster to 25 players, the Rockies placed six players on the disabled list Sunday. Infielder Daniel

Descalso (left hand fracture), right-handers Jon Gray (abdominal strain) and Jason Motte (shoulder strain) and left-

handers Tyler Anderson (oblique strain) and Tyler Matzek (anxiety) were sent to the 15-day DL, retroactive to March 25.

Right-hander Jairo Diaz, who underwent ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction on his right elbow, was placed on the 60-

day DL.

The Rockies' players on the 60-day DL -- Diaz and right-hander Adam Ottavino -- as well as shortstop Jose Reyes, who is

on the restricted list, do not occupy slots on the club's 40-man roster, which is full.

Colorado's pitchers on the Opening Day roster include: right-handers Christian Bergman,Chad Bettis, Miguel Castro, Tyler

Chatwood, Jordan Lyles, Justin Miller and Chad Qualls and left-handers Jorge De La Rosa, Jason Gurka, Boone

Logan, Jake McGeeand Chris Rusin.

The Rockies' position players include: catchers Nick Hundley and Tony Wolters, infielders Cristhian Adames, Nolan

Arenado, DJ LeMahieu, Ben Paulsen, Mark Reynolds and Trevor Story and outfielders Brandon Barnes, Charlie

Blackmon, Carlos Gonzalez, Gerardo Parra and Ryan Raburn.

MEDIA CLIPS – April 4, 2016

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Chatwood eases concerns with strong spring Rockies righty has not pitched in Majors in nearly two years

By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | @harding_at_mlb | April 3

rd, 2016

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rockies right-handed pitcher Tyler Chatwood provided one of the brightest and potentially most

meaningful moments of Spring Training away from the eyes of the fans, and even outside of the gaze of manager Walt

Weiss.

On March 29, in his final tuneup game, Chatwood -- completing a comeback from a right elbow injury that cost him most

of the last two seasons -- pitched in a Triple-A game against the Angels and went seven innings on just 84 pitches. He

gave up one run on three hits.

The Rockies thought Chatwood, who last pitched in the Majors on April 29, 2014, and underwent Tommy John surgery

that July, was healthy but needed to see him work through a Spring Training to make sure. He was solid in five official

Cactus League appearances (1-0, 3.21 ERA), but never went more than four innings.

The start against the Angels didn't count on his official ledger, but was meaningful nonetheless. The Triple-A lineup was

sprinkled with big leaguers who were taking advantage of a chance for extra preparation. Weiss said he is using "common

sense" with Chatwood's workload, but Chatwood showed that the Rockies don't have to be fearful.

"My biggest thing was I wanted to mix everything up early, and I did that, and throw everything for a strike," Chatwood

said. "Just getting ahead and being able to mix it up was pretty good."

It was important to Chatwood to work through the seventh.

"I knew they only wanted me to go six, but I lobbied to go seven, just to get my pitch count up and get that feel for getting

that deep in a game," Chatwood said. "That's one of the hardest things, just getting a feel for it trying to be able to repeat

it. I was able to go out there, and I think I only threw eight pitches in the seventh, which was really good."

Before the injury, Chatwood was 14-11 with a 4.05 ERA in 43 games (36 starts) since joining the Rockies in a trade with

the Angels for catcher Chris Iannetta. At Coors, he was 10-4, 3.92, in 22 games, 18 starts. If he can resume that type of

pitching, he could joinJorge De La Rosa, with a 48-16 (.750 winning percentage) as starters who aren't adversely affected

by Coors Field.

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Knowing that Chatwood is the type that you never have to say "sic 'em," but have to be ready to say "woah" to, the

Rockies decided to schedule his 2016 debut at Arizona on Wednesday. But he is looking forward to being counted upon,

especially at home.

"Everybody gets that persona that it's Coors Field," Chatwood said. "But the way I approach it is if you make pitches,

you're going to get your outs. Minimize baserunners by limiting walks. It's the same game. It's just about making pitches.

"It's been a long time. I'm excited to get back with my teammates and compete again."

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Weiss confident in Rockies’ pitching talent

By Thomas Harding / MLB.com | @harding_at_mlb | April 3

rd, 2016

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Rockies are expected to have a lineup capable of big run totals, as every year. The pitching is

a question, as every year, but Rockies manager Walt Weiss said during a video interview with MLB.com that he believes

the pitching has the talent to offer a positive answer.

The Rockies will be trying to make forward strides in a pitching-rich division, where the Dodgers, led by Clayton Kershaw,

and Giants, with Madison Bumgarner, have been dominant in recent years and the D-backs intend to be improved after

signing former Dodgers standout Zack Greinke.

Weiss expressed confidence in all-time wins leader Jorge De La Rosa and 2015 revelation Chad Bettis. But the depth of

the rotation depends on two right-handers who have dealt with injury -- Tyler Chatwood, returning from an elbow surgery

that sidelined him since late April 2014, and Jordan Lyles, who had left hand and right big toe injuries (but no right arm

issues) limit his participation the last two years.

Having played shortstop on a bullpen-driven 1995 team that made the Rockies' first playoff trip, Weiss is excited about the

front office's attempt to reenact that type of savvy and effectiveness.

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Rockies’ Nolan Arenado, Trevor Story showed positive signs this spring While spring training stats are mostly unrevealing, some of them provide hints as to what to expect in the upcoming season

By Erica Garcia McKinley / Purple Row | @garcia_mckinley | April 4th, 2016

Spring training statistics don’t tell the whole truth about a player, but that doesn’t mean they’re lies. Things like batting

average and home runs during spring training aren’t any more revealing than a given player’s four-week run during the

regular season. In that respect, Nolan Arenado’s spring batting average should be looked at the same way as Charlie

Blackmon’s from April 2014. It’s nice, but everyone knows it’s a product of small sample size variance. That’s not the case

for all spring training stats.

Last year, Dan Rosenheck of The Economist identified some spring training stats that do provide hints as to what a player

might do during the regular season. A position player’s walk rate, strikeout rate, and isolated power (ISO, which is

slugging percentage minus batting average) can be trusted with a smaller sample size. When compared to a player’s

projections for the season (as August Fagerstrom did for some players here), they might provide a glimpse at what is to

come. Let’s look at what these stats tell us about two of the most compelling position players for the Rockies: Arenado

and his left-side partner, Trevor Story.

Let’s start with Arenado.

BB% K% ISO

ZiPS Projections 4.3 14.6 0.235

Spring training 3.2 9.8 0.492

First, Arenado will not post an ISO above .400. That’s not how we should interpret that figure. What it does mean is that

we should believe in the power he exhibited during spring training and, by extension, last year. In 2015, Arenado posted

an ISO of .287; however, he’s projected to have an ISO of .235 this season. In other words, the projection expects

regression, which is expected. Arenado’s spring training ISO is a challenge that essentially says, "maybe not."

Arenado’s walk and strikeout rates tell a mixed tale. For those expecting and/or hoping for Arenado to improve his walk

rate this season, his spring training indicates that it’s not going to happen. His 2015 5.1 percent walk rate looks like it

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might be roughly repeated this season. But if Arenado can improve on his strikeout rate, which his spring training

performance suggests might happen, then the lack of walks will matter even less. He had a 16.5 percent strikeout rate in

2015, which is already above average. Moving it closer to 10 percent means more balls in play. For someone who hits the

ball as well as Arenado, that’s a very good thing.

These are small things that provide some hints regarding how one of the best players in the National League can remain

that way, though somewhat differently. Story is more of a mystery. And unlike Arenado, Story’s spring outdoes his

projections across the board:

BB% K% ISO

ZiPS Projections 7.6 28.2 0.183

Spring training 10.2 22.1 0.452

Story won’t have an ISO above .400. Like Arenado’s exorbitant spring training ISO, it tells us that he’s someone who

should hit a lot of extra base hits in the big leagues. That’s a great sign, but the other two figures are even better signs.

Strikeout rates upwards of 28 percent aren’t uncommon anymore, but only Kris Bryant and Chris Davis types can really

get away with them because they bring a ton of power. Story has pop, but he’s not quite the power hitter that Kris and

Chris are. It would be huge if Story can keep his strikeout rate closer to 20 percent, which is about average.

A walk rate approaching 10 percent would be enormous as well for Story, as well as for the Rockies. The Rockies as a

whole have been very bad at taking walks in recent years. This is a problem because on-base percentage is a key

indicator of offensive success—you know, because it leads to scoring runs. It wouldn’t be terribly surprising if Story can do

it. Aside from his 5.8 percent walk rate in 275 plate appearances at Triple-A last year, Story posted walk rates ranging

from 8.1 to 14.2 percent during his minor league career. Again, Story’s spring doesn’t mean that he’s going to have a walk

rate of 10 percent this season; however, it means that he has a good shot of outpacing his 7.6 percent projection.

We should ignore the spring batting averages and home runs. But that doesn’t mean we should throw a wet blanket over

Cactus League performances Arenado and Story had. Some of the other stats indicate good things to come. Regarding

Arenado, we really don’t learn a lot. His spring means he’s good; we already knew that. It’s different and more important

for Story.

The takeaway from his spring training? Believe it.

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Colorado Rockies RHP Hunter Brothers creating identity apart from big bro Rex Brothers The Colorado Rockies' minor league reliever learns from his older sibling, but has his own unique attributes outside of being the kid bro.

By Bobby DeMuro / Purple Row | @BobbyDeMuro | April 4th, 2016

Scottsdale, Ariz. -- It's hard to talk to Colorado Rockies minor league reliever Hunter Brothers and not immediately ask

about his older sibling, big leaguer Rex Brothers. After all, Rex spent the majority of his career in Denver, and

experienced very high highs, and then very low lows. It doesn't help that Hunter is the spitting image of his older brother,

complete with similar mannerisms (except for that whole not being left-handed thing).

So when I caught up with Hunter at spring training, I kicked off our interview asking about Rex—and while I apologized for

it, feeling guilty that Hunter's career is immediately connected with that of his brother, the young reliever seemed to take it

in stride.

"When you spend as much time as Rex and I do together, we are pretty much together every day in the offseason, and

I’m sure if we could in the season we would be too," Hunter admitted. "But I try to carve my own identity, and get what I

can for myself. I’m not living off what he’s done by any means. Rex has a lot of knowledge, but I had to go through some

things on my own to get that extra step. He helped me out a lot with mental stuff, on and off the field."

Hunter struggled in 2014 after the Rockies drafted him in the 30th round out of Lipscomb University in Tennessee; at

rookie level Grand Junction, he appeared in 17 games and logged a 5.59 ERA and 1.60 WHIP. But a repeat at the level in

2015 saw a resurgence in Hunter's career, as he twirled 36 innings in the Pioneer League over 25 games, recording three

wins and six saves and logging just a 3.75 ERA and a .226 opponents' batting average.

Just as family familiarity has helped him in the Rockies' organization along the way, seeing Rex's recent struggles have

impacted Hunter, too. As you'd expect, the younger brother takes it personally wanting to see his older brother succeed,

and it's affected both men's perspectives on the game.

"One thing Rex has always been concrete in is his faith," Hunter said. "He’s went through some things these last couple

years, but it’s never fazed him as much as it would somebody who depends so much on baseball. Rex has shown me

through faith that you can have a good life even without baseball, and that’s kind of helped me along the way."

"If I’m struggling one day, I know that it’s going to be all right, in the midst of it all," he added. "But Rex, he is really

concrete in his faith day in and day out, and is not wavering at all."

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Having never yet played in a full-season league, Hunter's words on putting baseball into perspective greatly interested

me; after all, for a man whose identity is so carved in the game itself—and following his brother's footsteps—I found his

words an interesting and wise outlook on the sport and his life outside of it.

"For the most part, baseball is who we are, but there’s a lot of off time we have, too," Hunter noted. "And even on the field

working with a lot of guys, you see a lot of people that have the similarities of having faith in God and everything above.

For me, that helps me stay consistent off the field. I feel like the more consistent I can be off the field, with my faith, the

more consistent I can be on the field."

On the field, Hunter is content to let that consistency do the talking this summer. We'll know the organization's minor

league assignments soon enough, but Brothers ought to find himself in the Low-A Asheville Tourists' bullpen in 2016,

starting the year in the South Atlantic League, relatively close to his offseason home in Tennessee, where he spent all

winter throwing and training with Rex. For one, Hunter seemed mentally prepared to take on the next challenge of

professional baseball, refusing to get too far ahead of himself this spring.

"I've learned to really just keep my head to the grind and not look up until it’s all over," Hunter admitted. "I'm just trying to

stay humble and hungry the whole way through, and put together a good outing every night. That was one of my main

goals, just to pick up where I left off, and I feel like I’ve been doing that."

And while Rex is a wonderful asset in Hunter's corner for advice and conversation, the minor leaguer has worked hard to

learn lessons from his own experiences, too. For one, he'll take a better understanding of pitching into the season after

sometimes learning the hard way what happens at altitude in a place like Grand Junction.

"There were a lot of good hitters," Brothers admitted of his time in the Pioneer League. "You have to prepare every day,

and go with your own strengths, instead of pitching to their weaknesses. That’s one thing that kind of plays to your

confidence level, going out and doing your thing and not trying to pitch to their weakness. What you do best is what’s

going to get you there, and it’s what has gotten you this far."

"I definitely had to learn to pitch off my fastball," he added, revealing some of his strategy, "and my slider, when I get

ahead, I can throw that. I’ve developed it hopefully enough now where I can mix it in to a 1-0 count, something where I’m

behind in the count, and throw it for a strike. You have to throw something that bends a little bit at this level, and in levels

to come."

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With more good work this summer in Asheville, he ought to soon find out first hand what's expected in levels to come,

rather than just hearing about it from an older brother who's been there, done that. And as he rises through the system,

Hunter Brothers will continue to carve his own identity, more than being just the kid brother of a Major Leaguer.

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Colorado Rockies minor league scouting video: Outfielder Yonathan Daza

By Bobby DeMuro / Purple Row | @BobbyDeMuro | April 3rd, 2016

Scottsdale, Ariz. -- Yonathan Daza has been in the Colorado Rockies' organization for five years, but things didn't really

start clicking for him until a short, successful 2014 in Grand Junction—and then last summer, split between Boise and

Low-A Asheville, Daza put together a season the Rockies were probably hoping to see since they signed him out of

Venezuela back in 2011.

The 22-year-old outfielder appeared in 86 games last summer, slashing .325/.358/.451. Sure, his power has never been

significant—and that's certainly a problem if the Rockies think he can play corner outfield—but in both Boise and Asheville

he was able to hit for average, avoid striking out at too prodigious of a rate, and get on base despite low walk rates.

That leaves the outfielder likely to start 2016 in High-A Modesto, where he'll join the likes of Wes Rogers, Max White,

and Omar Carrizales in manning the large swath of land to cover in California's Central Valley. His power will be difficult to

develop in a home park notorious for not being very forgiving with home runs, but there are some short porches and

homer-heavy ballparks on the road in that league, and it might inflate his power statistics more than what he's shown in

the past.

Regardless, with just nine career home runs in 288 minor league games, if he intends to be a corner outfielder, the

Rockies will obviously need to see some more power from his bat in the lineup, you'd imagine.

Above, here's Daza working during batting practice at spring training late last month, along with intrasquad scrimmage

footage of him batting against Rockies' minor league pitchers.

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Rockies’ Nolan Arenado always rakes in a never-ending Wiffle Ball game The star third baseman plays the kids game at the end of every summer

By Nick Groke / The Denver Post | @nickgroke | April 3rd, 2016

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — When the hiss and whiz of a Wiffle Ball game really start to fly, that classic, plastic yellow bat

survives about as long as a Bomb Pop in July. So Nolan Arenado made a phone call.

"I called Old Hickory, the bat company I use, and said: 'Hey, I play Wiffle Ball with my boys. Can we make some bats?' "

Arenado said. "Because every other bat we get is terrible. And I actually got my model in a Wiffle Ball bat. It has my name

on it."

Model 28NA-Wiffle. Nolan Arenado.

The bat is just like the 34-ounce, blond-and-black, maple tree trunk he used last season to hit 42 home runs. It is just like

the one he'll use Monday night when the Rockies open their season against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix. But in

miniature.

"It's awesome," he said.

Arenado plays Wiffle Ball at the end of every summer for 2½ months. This major-leaguer, he's still a kid.

For 16 years, the Rockies' star third baseman, with his brothers and cousins and friends, wage a never-ending, always-

rambunctious game of Wiffle Ball in Lake Forest, Calif. The game is always the same, now and forever. They just have to

wait until after the 162-game major-league season.

"It's what we do. We go play Wiffle Ball," Arenado said.

He is 24 now and about to start a fourth big-league season. He was 8 when the Wiffle Ball game started.

When each regular season ends, Arenado said he is usually angry that it's done "because we didn't go to the playoffs and

baseball is over," he said. "So the only thing I look forward to is Wiffle Ball."

The rules of this Wiffle Ball game are simple.

"Can't throw your hardest. Other than that, most anything goes," Arenado said.

Standard ghost-runner rules apply if the bases are loaded. And they use the dotted Wiffle Ball rather than the slotted kind,

to avoid wild, darting pitches. Also, they can throw the ball at a runner to force him out, but not at first base — fielders

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have to throw across the diamond. And there's a basketball-style possession arrow to help resolve arguments. If they

can't agree on a call, it's settled by alternating sides.

"If you saw our fights back in the day, you'd understand why we changed that rule," Arenado said. "Now there are less

arguments. More talking trash, but less fistfights. Games actually finish now. Back then, there would be fights happening

and games would be done before they finish. We'd argue everything — someone's cheating, a safe or out call, whatever."

There are two teams. The first team, made up of professionals, is required to hit left-handed. The other three don't play

pro ball.

The Pros — Nolan Arenado, Rockies third baseman; Jonah Arenado, brother, San Francisco Giants third-base prospect;

Josh Fuentes, cousin, Rockies third-base prospect.

Vs. The Bros — Justin Fuentes, cousin; Alex Luaces, cousin; Gerardo Arenado, cousin.

And occasional call-ups — Cousy Arenado, Nolan's brother, who now lives in Los Angeles, so he doesn't play all the time;

Carlos Rodriguez, everybody's friend.

Sometimes they play in the backyard of Arenado's parents' house or in the outfield at El Toro High School so they can use

the fences. Usually the game is at a greenbelt nearby.

"There's a park that's good and the lights turn off at 9, so we usually like to start at 7," Arenado said.

People walk by and don't notice the three-time Gold Glove winner. They're just kids.

When Arenado was a 19-year-old Rockies minor-league prospect playing for Single-A Modesto, the team swung through

on a road trip about an hour north of Lake Forest.

"I was playing in Rancho Cucamonga, and I drove home with my cousins. We were like, 'Dude, let's just go play,' "

Arenado said.

"We played Wiffle Ball until like 3 in the morning. We drove behind an L.A. Fitness, because that was the only place we

could find and there were little lights. But we turned the car lights on to play.

"I had a game the next day too, and I went like 0-for-4. It was a bad game. But I raked in Wiffle Ball, so it was cool."

Awards are issued at the end of every Wiffle season. Justin was the Cy Young winner last season and Josh won a Gold

Glove. Alex finished second in MVP voting.

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"He rakes in the beginning, but then he blows it," Arenado said. "He gets cold every year. He gets figured out."

Last season's MVP?

"Oh, me," Arenado said. "They know it. Write it down. Every year. MVP: Wiffle Ball, Nolan."

Since Arenado's rookie year in 2013, the Rockies have yet to play meaningful games in September. He has never played

in the playoffs. If one day the Rockies and their star third baseman reach the postseason, it will only delay the Wiffle Ball

game.

That's why a plastic yellow bat will never work. The game will survive as long as the Old Hickory model 28NA-Wiffle will

allow.

"I can't imagine ever stopping that game," Arenado said.

"We love doing it. We talk about it all the time. The guys who don't play can't wait for us to get home to play. We all love

baseball. We love watching the game and talking about the game, arguing about different players.

"Oh, and make sure you put this in the article," Arenado said. "I win the Triple Crown every year."

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Kiszla: Rookie Trevor Story breathes life into opening day Lone way for Colorado to truly make rookie Story feel at home with Rockies is by saying goodbye to Reyes

By Mark Kiszla / The Denver Post | @markkiszla | April 3rd, 2016

PHOENIX — If the first pitch of the baseball season is all about hope and dreams, then the best reason for the Rockies to

smile is shortstop Trevor Story.

"It's every kid's dream to play in the big leagues," Story said. "And that dream is about to come true for me."

Please don't let that dream be clouded by Jose Reyes, who was a mistake from the instant last summer he was brought in

by general manager Jeff Bridich as part of the gut-wrenching trade of Troy Tulowitzki. On the field and away from the

ballpark, Reyes has been a disappointment and an embarrassment to the organization, especially after his arrest in

October on a misdemeanor charge of domestic abuse against his wife.

Reyes is an error the Rockies need to erase. Story is how Colorado can change a sad narrative.

In the top of the first inning during the opening game for the Rockies, Story will grab his bat Monday evening and walk to

home plate in Arizona. Dare to dream big. After hitting .340 in spring training and filling a black hole at shortstop with

sunshine, anything is possible for Story.

Could he be rookie of the year in the National League? Yes. Should Story be given every opportunity to win back the

hearts broken by the departure of Tulo? Yes. In a sport where players are the first to know if a new kid in the clubhouse

can play, has Story been adopted as a little brother by Rockies veterans Nolan Arenado and Carlos Gonzalez? Yes.

Colorado manager Walt Weiss, who was the American League's rookie of the year as a 24-year-old shortstop for the

Oakland A's way back in 1988, embraces the dream. Weiss wants Story to take command at shortstop, going out to play

every day as if it's his job for the next 10 years.

"I wanted to know he earned this," Weiss said. "I always say it's tough to predict even a week out in this game. So we

tend not to go there. I expect him to play really well. I'm really looking forward to watching him play that position. I think

he's going to be a really exciting player."

But this is where the Story gets complicated.

There's an elephant in the Colorado clubhouse. His name is Reyes. He has not been present during Cactus League

games, while on paid leave. But, like trouble, you can smell his presence.

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Major League Baseball has rolled out a strong, new policy designed to curb domestic violence. It's a great idea. But, in

practice, every ruling by commissioner Rob Manfred will create disorder in the court of public opinion.

Prosecutors in Hawaii moved last week to drop charges against Reyes, citing his wife's refusal to cooperate. The Rockies

have been left in the dark by the commissioner's office, uncertain how long Reyes might be suspended. The team hasn't

even been told for certain when a ruling will be made.

So here's where it could get sticky. Although there will be cries for Manfred to give Reyes a harsh penalty to prove

baseball won't tolerate domestic abuse, could the commissioner justify an 81-game suspension without pay in a country

where innocence is presumed until guilt is proved beyond a reasonable doubt? As the team's highest-paid player at $22

million per year, will the Rockies be tempted to return Reyes to the lineup as quickly as possible to protect their hefty

investment?

Well, Bridich could provide clarity by declaring: This is Story's job. Yes, when you're a 23-year-old shortstop and the next

double play you turn will be your first at the major-league level, there are no guarantees.

But the worst thing the Rockies could do is have Story haunted by the looming return of Reyes. If Story plays well, he

should be the team's No. 1 shortstop on April 4, the Fourth of July and all the way through the fourth inning in the final

game of the regular season, regardless of how much money Colorado owes Reyes.

"I don't like any elephants in the room," Weiss said. "When I told (Story) he was on the club, I went down that road with

him. He didn't say much, but it was good for me to say it and for him to hear it."

The elephant in the room won't go away, until the Rockies send away Reyes. Regardless of the length of suspension that

baseball imposes on him, there's no reason Reyes should ever play another game at shortstop for Colorado. He has

made it clear his enthusiasm to help the Rockies rebuild is low. And if the future is defined as Reyes, then this is a team

without a direction.

We could argue all summer about how justice would best be served in the case of Reyes. But, in strictly a baseball sense,

deliberations about whether Reyes should stay or go require about five seconds to reach a verdict. It's an open-and-shut

case.

If the Rockies want the narrative of the 2016 season to be all about hope and dreams, isn't the answer obvious?

All this Story needs is a chance.

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Rockies' foe Zack Greinke doesn't sweat huge Diamondbacks expectations Arizona paid Greinke $206 million over six years to take the D-Backs from also-rans to contenders

By Patrick Saunders / The Denver Post | @psaundersdp| April 3rd, 2016

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — With starting pitching projects such as Jon Gray, Jeff Hoffman, Eddie Butler and Kyle Freeland,

the Rockies are hoping for a better future.

With Zack Greinke on the mound, Arizona is all about the here and now.

The 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner makes his Diamondbacks debut Monday night in the season opener

vs. the Rockies. Arizona gave Greinke a six-year, $206 million contract to help take the D-Backs from also-rans to

contenders.

Asked how he handles the pressure of being Arizona's new ace, Greinke told Arizona reporters: "I don't try to wrap my

mind around it. It doesn't cross my mind ever, really."

Pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season, Greinke went 19-3 and was the runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award.

His 1.66 ERA was the second-lowest ERA in Dodgers history. Greinke has posted 15 or more victories in each of the last

five seasons, but a 20-win season has eluded him.

Greinke, on Arenado. Greinke has had his way with the Rockies, going 7-3 with a 3.69 ERA in 17 career games (16

starts) against them. He has also dominated third baseman Nolan Arenado, who has hit just .208 (5-for-24) with three

doubles and two RBIs vs. Greinke.

But Arenado evolved into one of baseball's best young hitters last season, belting 42 homers and driving in 130 runs.

Arenado has certainly captured the attention, and respect, of Greinke.

"He can hit every pitch," the veteran right-hander said. "That's probably the toughest part. Every pitch in every location.

There's not many guys that can do that. I don't know how he did it.

"It seems like he figured out how to hit the ball in the air more and not strike out, and he still has power. It's like the perfect

combination to hit. Early on, it seemed like he hit more groundballs. ... Now he's more line drives, flyballs. With his power

and not striking out, that's about as good as it gets."

Spring forward. Left-handed reliever Jason Gurka was slipping off the Rockies' radar. After putting up a 9.39 ERA in nine

games with Colorado last season, Gurka, 28, was removed from the 40-man roster at season's end.

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Monday, however, he will be in the Rockies' bullpen, thanks to an outstanding performance in spring training that was the

result of an improved changeup.

"He basically outpitched the entire camp," manager Walt Weiss said. "He was dominant. I don't put all my eggs into the

spring training basket, but there was a confidence that he showed this spring that lined up with the performance."

The former Baltimore Orioles minor-leaguer finished his spring with a 1.69 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 10 innings.

Roster finalized. Colorado set its opening-day roster by placing six players on the disabled list Sunday.

Infielder Daniel Descalso (fractured left hand), right-handers Jon Gray (abdominal strain) and Jason Motte (shoulder

strain) and left-handers Tyler Anderson (oblique strain) and Tyler Matzek (anxiety) were sent to the 15-day DL, retroactive

to March 25. Right-handed reliever Jairo Diaz, who underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, was placed on the

60-day DL.

The Rockies' players on the 60-day DL — Diaz, as well as right-hander Adam Ottavino (elbow) and shortstop Jose Reyes,

who is on the restricted list — do not occupy slots on the club's 40-man roster, which is full.

Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa (9-7, 4.17 ERA in 2015) at D-backs RHP Zack Greinke (19-3, 1.66), 7:40 p.m. Monday,

ROOT; 850 AM

Both opening-day starters have credentials. De La Rosa is the Rockies' franchise leader in wins (78) and strikeouts (877),

and his 48-16 record (.750 winning percentage) at Coors Field surpasses everyone else. Greinke is simply one of the best

pitchers of his generation, and he has been paid for it. He shocked the baseball world by signing a six-year, $206.5 million

deal with Arizona after a remarkable season in which he posted a 1.66 ERA for the Dodgers — the majors' lowest since

Greg Maddux in 1995. Greinke has made only one opening-day start, back in 2010 with Kansas City when he was coming

off his first Cy Young Award. In 17 career games (16 starts) vs. the Rockies, Greinke is 7-3 with a 3.69 ERA. De La Rosa

is 9-8 with a 2.94 ERA vs. the D-backs, but he has fared poorly at Chase Field, going 1-7 with a 4.22 ERA in 10 starts.

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Predicting Rockies’ 2016 season record

By Joe Peta / Special to ESPN.com | April 3rd, 2016

Reason for optimism: At age 24, Nolan Arenado emerged as the next great Rockies position player.

Reason for pessimism: When Tyler Chatwood is being counted upon to improve a pitching rotation, you've got problems.

Years ago, the Rockies' use of a humidor to store baseballs went a long way toward reducing the video game-like home

run totals common at Coors Field, but the scoring environment continues to skew an entire league's statistics. That's

because the huge playing surface in Denver, by far the largest in the majors, still rewards contact hitting and, conversely,

is a hell scape for pitch-to-contact pitchers. It also means that fielders with range and the ability to convert batted balls into

outs should be prized in Colorado above all other venues.

Yet Colorado's human resources department, for reasons unknown, seems to covet soft-tossers with questionable control

and poor fielders.

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Miller: Rockies' Nolan Arenado is pushing to join Mike Trout and Bryce Harper as game's best

By Jeff Miller / OC Register | April 1st, 2016

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – He isn’t Bryce Harper and he isn’t Mike Trout, but then who is, right?

The difference, though, is that Nolan Arenado, unlike everyone less in baseball, might be better than the reigning (and

future) National League MVP and the former (and future) American League MVP.

Hey, don’t laugh. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu looked as serious as a 12th-inning suicide squeeze when he said this

of his Colorado teammate:

“It’s still all about Harper and Trout right now when Nolan is just as good, if not better. You look at his defense alone, and

he’s better than those two guys. His offensive numbers are pretty similar.”

I’ll pause now to permit enraged Angels fans to audibly gasp before strangling their Rally Monkeys and sending

LeMahieu a direct tweet so heated that he fogs the screen on his cell phone.

Yes, those are awfully bold opinions about Arenado. But, honestly, they’re no bolder than the facts about the former El

Toro High star, who, last season ...

*Led the majors in RBI, extra-base hits and total bases and tied with Harper for the NL home run lead with 42.

* Joined Mike Schmidt as the only third basemen in history to finish with at least 40 homers and 120 RBI and win the

Gold Glove.

*Became the lone NL third baseman ever to win the Gold Glove in each of his first three seasons, two years after

becoming the first in the NL to win the Gold Glove as a rookie.

“He has to be in that conversation of the best young players in all of baseball, absolutely,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss

said. “Nolan is a pretty special kid. His heart is right. His head is right. The kid wants to be great.”

An argument could be successfully made that Arenado already is great. He was in 2015, a brilliant season during which

he did everything but emerge from the dark, chilly shadows cast by the mountains that cradle Coors Field.

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The Rockies don’t play on an island, but, along with the Arizona Diamondbacks, they’re isolated in their own time zone.

For five years, they’ve been buried in a deep NL West. They also stage half their games in a ballpark so friendly to

hitters that it’s an enemy to evaluators and analysts alike.

Add all this up and Colorado has a roster that exists mostly in obscurity, even as fantasy owners rush to draft Arenado.

Despite his 2015 performance, he finished eighth in NL MVP voting, something of a riddle that Weiss instead called “a

joke.”

Then, in January, the MLB Network – an organization generally made up of smart, experienced baseball people –

produced a list of the game’s top third basemen and Arenado was no better than sixth, incredibly behind even the

Dodgers’ Justin Turner.

The rankings, according to the network, were generated by an algorithm, which evidently is something that involves

mathematics and, quite possibly, the mass consumption of hard liquor.

“I don’t get it,” Colorado outfielder Charlie Blackmon said. “I guess that’s part of playing in Denver. But Nolan makes

things look routine that should never look routine. And, in our division, we’re facing all that pitching. He still puts up

numbers.”

Last season, Arenado homered off Clayton Kershaw. And Craig Kimbrel, then closing for the Padres. And Madison

Bumgarner. Against all the Giants, in fact, he had an OPS of 1.230.

As for the compromised resistance in mile-high Denver, Arenado’s overall offensive production was better at Coors

Field, but he hit more home runs (22) on the road.

There also is no proof that thin air enhances anything on the other side of the ball, Arenado doing for defense locally

what the Denver Nuggets have undone for years.

“Take the best tools you’ve seen from all the third basemen ever and put them into one player,” Weiss said. “That’s

Nolan.”

By the end of last season, the media covering the Rockies labeled Arenado the new face of the team and the “go-to guy”

postgame for reporters.

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This was after teammate Carlos Gonzalez had anointed him “my favorite player” and a Denver columnist had urged fans

to attend the otherwise meaningless Rockies’ games just to see the team’s “human Cirque du Soleil.”

Now, personally, all the Cirque du Soleil I’ve seen has been human. But I think we understand what the writer meant,

Colorado’s third baseman forcing observers to sometimes strain for apt comparisons.

“I don’t feel worthy of any of those kinds of words,” said Arenado, who turns 25 this month. “I’m just trying to get better

and help us win some games. I know I love this game and I’m blessed to get to play it. The attention is cool, but it’s a

little weird. It’s not my thing.”

So Arenado wasn’t completely comfortable when, during the offseason, after leaving a movie theater in South County,

he was stopped by a man who rapped on his car window seeking an autograph.

The exchange happened around 1a.m., which isn’t a time for anyone to safely drop their guard, even in a place like San

Juan Capistrano.

Arenado granted the request anyway, fully aware that more of the same is in his future, a future LeMahieu called “pretty

incredible,” a future perhaps foretold in 2011.

That year, Arenado was named MVP of the Arizona Fall League, beating out all the potential young stars, including,

among others, Bryce Harper and Mike Trout.