27-year old righty swinging Troy Tulowitzki is probably the best all-around shortstop in all of baseball. He played in 143 games for the Rockies last year and he was 162 of 537 (.302 avg, .916 OPS) with 81 runs scored, 30 homers, 105 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. He has now played in 697 games in his first six years with the Rockies and he is 770 of 2,632 (.293 avg, .869 OPS) with 438 runs scored, 122 homers, 443 RBIs and 51 stolen bases. Tulowitzki only had 6 errors in 140 games at SS for the Rockies last year while showing out of this world range. Look for Tulowitzki to be in the running for the N.L. MVP Award in 2012 as long as he can stay healthy.

25-year old righty swinging Thomas Field comes into this season as the Rockies’ #27 prospect according to Baseball America. Field played in 16 games for the Rockies last year and he was 13 of 48 (.271 avg, .585 OPS) with 4 runs scored, 0 homers and 3 RBIs. He also played in 134 games in AA-ball last year and he was 128 of 472 (.271 avg, .795 OPS) with 77 runs scored, 17 homers, 61 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Field only had 1 error in 15 games at SS for the Rockies last year while showing out of this world range. Field is with the wrong organization at the wrong time with Troy Tulowitzki in front of him.

31-year old righty swinging Brendan Harris will try to work his way back to the show in 2012 with the Rockies. He played in 136 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 116 of 516 (.225 avg, .613 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 10 homers, 50 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Harris last played in the majors back in 2010 with the Twins. He has now played in 485 games in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 412 of 1,587 (.260 avg, .701 OPS) with 194 runs scored, 29 homers, 158 RBIs and 4 stolen bases.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SS IN 2012: A+++++++++++++++++

The Rockies dealt for 36-year old righty swinging Marco Scutaro with the idea of making him their starting 2B in 2012. Scutaro played in 113 games for the Red Sox last year and he was 118 of 395 (.299 avg, .781 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 7 homers, 54 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 1,103 games in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 1,019 of 3,768 (.270 avg, .727 OPS) with 538 runs scored, 68 homers, 404 RBIs and 44 stolen bases. Scutaro only played in 2 games at 2B for the Red Sox last year and he made 1 error there. He also played in 109 games at SS last year for the Red Sox and he made 12 errors while showing poor range there. The Rockies are hoping that Scutaro will be solid with the bat and average defensively in 2012 at 2B.

27-year old switch-hitting Jonathan Herrera played in 104 games for the Rockies last year and he was 68 of 281 (.242 avg, .612 OPS) with 28 runs scored, 3 homers, 14 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He has now played in 208 games in his first three years with the Rockies and he is 145 of 564 (.257 avg, .639 OPS) with 67 runs scored, 4 homers, 38 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Herrera had only 2 errors in 62 games at 2B for the Rockies last year while showing awful range. He is going to have to fight to make the Rockies’ roster this spring.

26-year old righty swinging Chris Nelson played in 63 games for the Rockies last year and he was 45 of 180 (.250 avg, .664 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 4 homers, 16 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He has now played in 80 games in his first two years with the Rockies and he is 52 of 205 (.254 avg, .659 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 4 homers, 16 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Nelson had 3 errors in 29 games at 2B for the Rockies last year while showing awful range.

23-year old righty swinging D.J. LeMahieu played in 15 error-free games at 2B for the Cubs last year while showing awful range. He is a natural 3B, but he can handle 2B defensively.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2B IN 2012: C+

38-year old lefty swinging Todd Helton will be the starter at 1B for as long as his bad back allows him to. Helton played in 124 games for the Rockies last year and he was 127 of 421 (.302 avg, .850 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 14 homers and 69 RBIs. He has now played in 2,054 games in his first 15 years in the majors and he is 2,363 of 7,325 (.323 avg, .971 OPS) with 1,329 runs scored, 347 homers, 1,308 RBIs and 36 stolen bases. Helton only made 3 errors in 119 games at 1B for the Rockies last year, so he’s still a solid defender.

41-year old lefty swinging Jason Giambi will back up Todd Helton at 1B once again in 2012. Giambi played in 64 games for the Rockies last year and he was 34 for 131 (.260 avg, .958 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 13 homers and 32 RBIs. He has now played in 170 games in his first three years with the Rockies and he is 84 for 331 (.254 avg, .868 OPS) with 41 runs scored, 21 homers, 78 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Giambi has now played in 2,103 games in his first 17 years in the majors and he is 1,948 for 6,932 (.281 avg, .929 OPS) with 1,196 runs scored, 428 homers, 1,397 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. Giambi can still rake. He only made 1 error in 23 games at 1B for the Rockies last year, but he has the range of a statue.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 1B IN 2012: B-

35-year old righty swinging Ramon Hernandez is going to take over behind the plate in 2012 for the Rockies. Hernandez played in 91 games for the Reds last year and he was 84 for 298 (.282 avg, .788 OPS) with 28 runs scored, 12 homers and 36 RBIs. He has now played in 1,457 games in his first 13 years in the majors and he is 1,295 of 4,873 (.266 avg, .749 OPS) with 560 runs scored, 161 homers, 723 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. Hernandez only had 1 error and 3 passed balls in 82 games behind the plate for the Reds last year. He also threw out 18 of 62 (29%) base stealers and Reds’ pitchers had a 4.24 ERA with him behind the dish. Hernandez is a solid all-around catcher and he should help the Rockies in 2012.

23-year old righty swinging Wilin Rosario comes into this season as the Rockies’ #4 prospect according to Baseball America. Rosario played in 16 games for the Rockies in his first taste of the majors and he was 11 for 54 (.204 avg, .691 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 3 homers and 8 RBIs. Rosario didn’t show much patience at the plate as he whiffed 20 times and walked only twice for the Rockies last year. Rosario also played in 102 games in AA-ball last year and he was 101 of 405 (.249 avg, .741 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 21 homers, 48 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Rosario had 1 error and 3 passed balls in 14 games behind the plate for the Rockies last year. He also threw out a stunning 5 of 8 (62.5%) base stealers and Rockies’ pitchers had a 4.83 ERA with him behind the plate. If Rosario is deemed ready this spring, he will back up Hernandez in 2012. If he’s not ready, he will start the season in AAA-ball.

34-year old righty swinging Wil Nieves will battle Rosario for the backup job this spring. Nieves played in 20 games for the Brewers last year and he was 7 for 50 (.140 avg, .369 OPS) with 2 runs scored. He has now played in 282 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 166 of 751 (.221 avg, .557 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 5 homers, 73 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Nieves played in 17 games behind the plate for the Brewers last year and he had 1 error and 1 passed ball. He threw out 2 of 10 (20%) base stealers and Brewers’ pitchers had a 3.84 ERA with him behind the dish.

32-year old righty swinging Steve Holm played in 6 games for the Twins last year and he was 2 for 17 (.118 avg, .343 OPS) with 1 run scored. He has now played in 59 games in his first 3 years in the majors and he is 26 for 108 (.241 avg, .697 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 1 homer and 6 RBIs. Holm didn’t have any errors or passed balls in 6 games with the Twins last year. He didn’t throw out any of the 5 base stealers that took him on last year. Twins’ pitchers had a 5.44 ERA with him behind the plate last year. Holm is likely to start the 2012 season in AAA-ball.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CATCHERS IN 2012: B

The Rockies are going to have a lot of new faces in the bullpen in 2012 and they need some of them to step up. The Rockies better hope that Rafael Betancourt can handle closing because the alternatives are not too pretty. Here is a look at the Rockies’ bullpen as of right now as it pertains to 2012:

Closer: Rafael Betancourt: 36-year old righty Rafael Betancourt will be replacing Huston Street (traded to the Padres) as the Rockies’ closer in 2012. He pitched in 68 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 2-0 with 8 saves, a 2.89 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP. He has now pitched in 172 games (0 starts) in his first three years with the Rockies and he was 10-2 with 10 saves, a 3.00 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP. Betancourt has now pitched in 543 games (0 starts) in his first 9 years in the majors and he is 33-24 with 27 saves, a 3.18 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Betancourt has been an outstanding set-up man, but he didn’t last long as the Indians’ closer when given the chance. Hopefully he can handle closing this time around.

Set-Up Man: Matt Belisle: 31-year old righty Matt Belisle is going to graduate to be the Rockies’ set-up man in 2012. Belisle pitched in 74 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 10-4 with a 3.25 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He has now pitched in 174 games (0 starts) in his first three years with the Rockies and he is 20-10 with 1 save, a 3.46 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He has now pitched in 306 games (43 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 36-32 with 2 saves, a 4.48 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. The Rockies hope that Belisle can handle the role as the set-up man in 2012.

Righties: Edgmer Escalona: 25-year old Edgmer Escalona pitched in 14 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 0-0 with a 1.75 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. He also pitched in 34 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 3-1 with 1 save, a 3.18 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. Escalona has now pitched in 17 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 0-0 with a 1.71 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. The Rockies hope that Escalona can handle a full workload while pitching well for them in 2012.

Zach Putnam: 24-year old Zach Putnam came to the Rockies in a deal with the Indians over the winter. He pitched in 8 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 1-1 with a 6.14 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP in his first taste of the majors. Putnam also pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Indians last year and he was 6-3 with 9 saves, a 3.65 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. The Rockies expect Putnam to make the bullpen this spring.

Josh Roenicke: 29-year old Josh Roenicke pitched in 19 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 0-0 with a 3.78 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He has now pitched in 64 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 1-0 with a 5.17 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. The Rockies hope that Roenicke can pitched like he did last year for them in 2012.

Mike Ekstrom: 28-year old Mike Ekstrom pitched in 1 game (0 starts) for the Rays last year and he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He also pitched in 46 games (1 start) inn AAA-ball last year and he was 6-4 with 5 saves, a 4.35 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. Ekstrom has now pitched in 36 games (0 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 0-3 with a 5.36 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. Ekstrom will have a decent shot of opening the 2012 season in the Rockies’ bullpen if he has a good spring.

Esmil Rogers: 26-year old Esmil Rogers will try to make it in the bullpen this spring. He pitched in 18 games (13 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 6-6 with a 7.05 ERA and a 1.89 WHIP. Rogers has now pitched in 47 games (22 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 8-9 with a 6.57 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP. He is a longshot to make the Rockies’ pen in 2012.

Lefties: 27-year old Matt Reynolds regressed a little bit in 2011. He pitched in 73 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 1-2 with a 4.09 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Reynolds has now pitched in 94 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Rockies and he is 2-2 with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. The Rockies hope that Reynolds pitches a little better in 2012 than he did last year.

Rex Brothers: 24-year old Rex Brothers looked really solid for the Rockies in his first taste of the majors in 2011. Brothers pitched in 48 games (0 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 1-2 with 1 save, a 2.88 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. He only gave up 33 hits while whiffing 59 batters in 40 2/3 innings for the Rockies last year, which is outstanding. His only flaw was with his control as he walked 20 batters last year. If Brothers tightens up his control a bit, look out!

Josh Outman: 27-year old Josh Outman will pitch out of the bullpen in 2012 if he loses out on a rotation spot. He pitched in 13 games (9 starts) for the A’s last year and he was 3-5 with a 3.70 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Outman has now pitched in 33 games (25 starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 8-8 with a 3.75 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Outman is going to be an asset for the Rockies in 2012 no matter what his role is going to be on the pitching staff.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE BULLPEN IN 2012: C-