Rockies have smokin’ arms to go with bats

The humidor helps, but good arms help more. Finally, the Colorado Rockies have good, young arms.

In their first 13 seasons, the Rockies finished last or next-to-last in the National League in earned-run average. Then they set club records with a 4.66 ERA in 2006 and a 4.32 ERA last year, the latter figure good for eighth in the 16-team league. Matt Holliday could have hit a home run every day last September -- it only seems as if he did -- and the Rockies would not have won 21 of 22 games without a 3.66 ERA from their starters and a 2.26 ERA from the relievers.

Young pitchers have a tendency to regress after a surprising October run, but the Rockies managed their kids well. The innings for ace Jeff Francis have increased gradually, from 184 to 199 to 232. If Ubaldo Jimenez, Franklin Morales and Jason Hirsh (currently sidelined because of a shoulder injury) blossom behind Francis, the Rockies can have a solid if anonymous rotation. With by far the best offense in the division, that’s good enough for an October encore.