Opening Day Countdown: 5 days

Okay, I know, the Indians and White Sox play on Sunday night, but as far as we go, the Rockies have five days until Opening Day.  Apparently, the fifth-starter battle was worked out yesterday -- but not in a good way.  Both Kims managed to get hurt in a spring training game, meaning both will likely open the season on the DL.

That leaves the Rockies forced to open the season with a rotation of JJ, Cookie, Franchise, Day and Fogg.  I suppose Miguel Asencio could work his way in there, but more likely he's the swingman to open the season, with Brian Fuentes, Ray King, Mike DeJean and Jose Mesa joining him in the bullpen.  And Scott Dohmann's recent battle with a virus means you can go ahead and pencil David Cortes into the bullpen mix as well.  Then, the Rockies will probably carry a third lefty, either Jaime Cerda or Tom Martin.  This isn't a good thing.

In the "good news" department, Todd Helton is tearing the cover off the ball as spring training closes.  Look for him to have a bounce-back year.  Clint Hurdle feels pretty good about the Rockies' bullpen situation.  Other than a couple of guys (I'm looking at you, Jaime Cerda and Tom Martin) I generally feel the same way.  Other than Jose Mesa, the guys out there aren't big names, but as long as they get the job done who cares?  The best bullpens are usually made up of a bunch of no-names.

From the Rockies website: Depth helps.  I didn't like the signing of Josh Fogg, and Zach Day was a pretty small return for Preston Wilson, but now that the Rockies are faced with the prospect of having both Kims out, it's a good thing that they're around.  More news: Cuts.  JD Closser, Jeff Baker, Miguel Asencio, Jose Acevedo, Carlos Rivera and Ian Stewart were reassigned to minor league camp.  I would expect that all six, with the exception of Stewart, will start the year at Triple-A.  Stewart will start out at Tulsa.

For kicks, here's a look at what the Rockies roster will look like coming out of camp.

Starting lineup:

Barmes ss
Sullivan cf
Helton 1b
Holliday lf
Hawpe rf
Atkins 3b
Gonzalez 2b
Ardoin c

Starting rotation: Jennings, Cook, Francis, Day, Fogg

Bullpen: Fuentes (closer), DeJean (eighth-inning guy), King (lefty specialist), Cortes(seventh inning, maybe?), Asencio (swingman), Martin/Cerda (third lefty)*

Backups: Ojeda (catcher); Carroll (utility infielder); Freeman, Marrero (outfielders); Piedra (pinch-hit specialist)

DL: The Kims, Chin-hui Tsao, Dohmann?*

*Should the Rockies decide not to carry twelve pitchers, expect Jason Smith or Josh Wilson to make the roster as another backup infielder. Should Dohmann be ready to start the season, forget about the Rockies carrying three lefties in the bullpen. I think Piedra makes the squad primarily as a pinch-hit specialist, though he's had a poor spring.

With this lineup in place, the Rockies could start slow -- or they could start hot and be rolling once the Kims return.  The schedule is favorable, too, with 12 of the first 18 games at Coors.  I'm still picking the Rockies to finish third in the West.  Projected record, something like 79-83.  Tomorrow: An in-depth look at the big-league squad.