Less than 6 hours to the first pitch. Here is a preview of the series.
Colorado at Arizona
VENUE: Bank One Ballpark
GAME: Colorado Rockies (74-88) at Arizona Diamondbacks (84-78).
TIME: Tuesday, 6:05 p.m. EDT.
The Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies hope to produce more runs this season.
They get their first chance when the two teams meet at Bank One Ballpark for a three-game series to open the season.
Arizona manager Bob Brenly has made the offense a priority for the Diamondbacks this year.
"Score more runs," he said. "That was our downfall last year. Our pitching was really good. Our defense was good enough. But we just didn't score enough runs."
The Diamondbacks - who managed just 717 runs last year, 10th in the National League - added power-hitting Richie Sexson to the lineup and veteran second baseman Roberto Alomar. They expect to contend in an NL West that could be one of the weakest divisions in baseball.
"That's why we brought in Richie Sexson and Robby Alomar to give our offense a little bit more of a potent look," Brenly said.
Luis Gonzalez, who led the team in home runs, RBIs, and runs last season, loves the prospect of batting ahead of the power-hitting Sexson in the No. 3 spot. The first baseman, who came from Milwaukee, has flourished in his games at Arizona, hitting .378 with six home runs in 45 at-bats.
"Obviously when you have a big man like that behind you, you're going to get better pitches to see," Gonzalez said. "We feel we've got a capable bunch of guys to go out there and make a run at it."
Unlike last year's punchless squad, this team is designed to score runs, and protect any lead with a strong bullpen.
Closer Matt Mantei was bothered by torn fingernail problems throughout the spring but was confident he would get the situation resolved by the start of regular season.
"We think that's our strength," Brenly said. "Even with the health issues that we've had through spring training, as we're getting close to opening day guys are showing that we're ready to go. The seven guys that we have in the bullpen to start the season we think match up with anybody's bullpen."
The questions this season lie in the Diamondbacks' rotation.
With the loss of Curt Schilling to Boston, Randy Johnson alone anchors the starters. The five-time Cy Young Award winner struggled with injuries last year. The 40-year-old is eager to improve on last season's 6-8 record.
Colorado finished 74-88 last season, just a one-win improvement over the mark they posted the two previous years. General manager Dan O'Dowd still had to dismantle the roster because of payroll concerns and declining gate revenue.
"I'd like to see us find a way to put more people in the seats, to re-establish that aura downtown," manager Clint Hurdle said. "I'd like to see Denver get excited again over Rockies baseball."
One way to do that is to bolster the lineup with big hitters.
Vinny Castilla, who hit at least 30 homers in five straight seasons for Colorado, is back after a four-year absence. He joins Todd Helton, Preston Wilson and Jeromy Burnitz - all capable of hitting 30-plus homers this season.
Helton had 33 homers and 117 RBIs, and with an average of .358 he nearly overtook St. Louis' Albert Pujols for the NL batting title. Wilson led the team with 36 homers and the league with 141 in RBIs. He was slowed this spring by a sore left knee, which could curtail his playing time.
Burnitz, who signed a free-agent contract with Colorado in December, hit a combined 31 homers with the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers last year. Castilla had 22 homers and 76 RBIs for Atlanta last season.
Colorado may benefit from the confines of hitter-friendly Coors Field, but it will have to figure out a way to improve on a 25-56 record on the road last year - the worst in franchise history.
Asked his expectations of this year's team, Helton said, "Make the playoffs, plain and simple. It's do-able."
2003 STANDINGS: Rockies - 4th place, 26½ NL West. Diamondbacks - 3rd place, 16½ GB, NL West. ROCKIES PROBABLE STARTER: Shawn Estes (8-11, 5.73 ERA). For the Chicago Cubs last season, Estes made 28 starts and pitched 152.1 innings, allowing 93 earned runs. The left-hander is just 2-8 with a 5.55 ERA in 12 career starts against Arizona.
DIAMONDBACKS PROBABLE STARTER: Johnson (6-8, 4.26 ERA). Johnson will be making his 11th opening day career start. The left-hander is 13-4 with a 2.30 ERA and two shutouts against the Rockies in his career.
