Colorado Dreamin'

The Colorado Rockies need to be active this off- season. The Rox have David Wright in the crosshairs, which would be expensive but exciting. They're reportedly also interested in Martin Prado and Grady Sizemore. But consider this unlikelihood from an alternate reality: the Rox should sign Jose Reyes to a multi-year deal instead.

Why, you may ask, when they already have Tulo at SS? Well, besides the fact Reyes is about the coolest player in the game, and the Miami Marlins seem to be on the same wavelength (with Hanley Ramirez at SS), here are some less subjective reasons...

1) Because Reyes can play 2B. Thankfully, the Rockies let their old friend Jamie Carroll sign with Minnesota, and last year's pickup Mark Ellis signed with the Dodgers. The Rockies are now left with Eric Young Jr. - who for whatever reason isn't the guy they believe in.

2) Because Reyes is a switch-hitting lead-off man who won the NL batting title and steals lots of bases. The Rockies haven't had a good lead-off hitter since Eric Young, Sr back in the mid 90's. Imagine what Reyes could do at Coors! Triples, homers, doubles, oh my!

3) Because the Rockies need versatility in the infield. For whatever reason, Colorado infielders are consistently getting injured. EY and Herrera and Stewart and Tulo and Helton, all spend lots of time on the DL. And perhaps Tulo's 10 yr. contract and 6'4", 220lb frame suggests he may have to move to third base at some point down the road. Although make no mistake: he's currently the best defensive shortstop in the majors. Even if that's a ridiculous non-concern right now, think of how versatile the Rockies infield would be with Reyes able to play 2b, 3b, and more-than-adequately fill in for Tulo at SS. Unless of course Reyes himself gets injured. Again.

4) Because the Rockies will obviously never have good pitching. But emphasizing stellar defense, speed, and incredible hitting (a faster version of the Blake Street Bombers, with multiple batting title winners and perennial MVP candidates) might just be enough to win the NL West and return to the playoffs.

5) And most importantly, because their lineup would be the fastest, most exciting, and most fun to watch in all of baseball. Dexter Fowler could return to the two-hole where he's said several times he feels more comfortable. And if they're serious about giving Ian Stewart another shot, then drop him to 8th in the order and take a lot of the run-producing pressure off. The lineup looks amazing...

1. Reyes - 2b

2. Fowler - CF
3. Gonzalez - LF
4. Tulowitzki - SS
5. Smith - RF
6. Helton - 1b
7. Pacheco/Iannetta - C
8. Stewart - 3b
9. Pitcher

Otherwise, if the Rockies are completely unwilling to go all-out for Reyes, they're gonna have to sign both Prado and Sizemore -- as it looks like Seth Smith would be part of the Prado trade -- needing not only a solid starting outfielder to replace Smith, but also an above-average infielder like Prado (seeing as how there are gaping holes at both 2b and 3b).

In that case, the lineup could look like this...

1) Fowler - CF
2) Prado - 2b
3) Gonzalez - LF
4) Tulowitzki - SS
5) Sizemore - RF
6) Helton - 1b
7) Pacheco/Iannetta - C
8) Stewart - 3b
9) Pitcher

Hmmm...that ain't too shabby either.

In the third scenario, one that also looks pretty damn good, the Rockies get David Wright and allow EY Jr. (and perhaps Jonathan Herrera) to man the keystone position.


1) Young - 2b
2) Fowler - CF
3) Gonzalez - LF
4) Tulowitzki - SS
5) Wright - 3b
6) Helton - 1b
7) Pacheco/Iannetta - C
8) Smith - RF
9) Pitcher


Bottom line is that the Rockies gotta do something. Getting the affordable James Loney, whom the Dodgers don't give a shit about, would be a smart move. The dude loves hitting at Coors (.337/.385/.581) and has a good enough glove to replace the ancient (but capable) Todd Helton. But that'll never happen as long as Helton gets paid tens of millions of dollars yet again this season.

Here's one more lineup to ponder over...

1) Young - 2b
2) Sizemore -RF
3) Gonzalez - LF
4) Tulowitzki - SS
5) Prado - 3b
6) Helton - 1b
7) Iannetta/Pacheco - C
8) Fowler - CF
9) Pitcher

Pitching will forever remain anathema to Denver baseball fans. Signing Colorado-native Brad Lidge on the cheap might be a good idea, thus letting closer Huston Street walk. But starting pitching will be a huge problem for the Rox. JDLR won't be ready until May and none of our highly-touted prospects look ready to be in a major league rotation. We gotta go after Wandy Rodriguez, C.J. Wilson, and Edwin Jackson. Then we might just have a competitive rotation.

But I fear that the hot stove will soon burn all these half-baked ideas into a cloud of smelly smoke...and the Rockies will once again end up dishing out silly one-year deals to guys like Ty Wigginton and Jose Lopez.

May the winter meetings have mercy on us all.