Colorado
Rockies

Tracy and Don Baylor, currently the Rockies' hitting coach, are the only Colorado managers to win the honor. Baylor was NL Manager of the Year in 1995.

Tracy took over a team May 29 that went 18-28 under Clint Hurdle and had just been swept in three games at home by the Dodgers and outscored 31-13. At the time, the Rockies were 14 games behind in the NL West and 9 1/2 games out in the wild-card race. They went 74-42 (.638) under Tracy. The Rockies finished 92-70, setting a club record for victories. They won 15 of their first 20 games and 20 of their first 27 under Tracy, who is the 13th manager since the advent of divisional play in 1969 to take over a team in season and make it to the postseason.

Tracy is only the fourth manager to earn a Manager of the Year award after taking over midseason. The BBWAA, which began giving the award in 1983, honored Jack McKeon of Florida in 2003 when the Marlins won the World Series. The Associated Press, which gave the award before 1983, honored Harvey Kuenn of Milwaukee in 1982 and Bob Lemon of the Yankees in 1978.

None of those three, however, survived more than two additional years in their jobs. In fact, of the 12 previous managers to parlay midseason hirings into a spot in the postseason, only two survived at least three full seasons after that initial success.

Dick Howser replaced Jim Frey in Kansas City in 1981 when play resumed after a strike and managed the Royals until 1987 spring training, when a malignant brain tumor that had been diagnosed the previous July forced him to resign. Cito Gaston managed eight full seasons in Toronto after he replaced Jimy Williams 37 games into the 1989 season.

--The Rockies have nine players eligible for salary arbitration, at least officially. But 3B Garrett Atkins, who became a bench player last year while making $7.05 million, will not get to that point with the Rockies, since they will not tender him a contract by the Dec. 12 deadline. The Rockies could even release Atkins on Nov. 20 when 40-man rosters must be set, if they feel any mild trade possibilities won't become realistic in a few more weeks. It's hard to see any club trading for Atkins and only being able to cut his salary 20 percent and being at the mercy of the arbitration process when he's about to become a free agent.

The other Rockies who are eligible for arbitration with their service time include 2B Clint Barmes, RHP Taylor Buchholz, LHP Jorge De La Rosa, RHP Jason Hammel, C Chris Iannetta, OF Matt Murton, OF Ryan Spilborghs and RHP Huston Street.

The Rockies have 10 free agents -- LHPs Joe Beimel and Alan Embree; RHPs Rafael Betancourt, Jose Contreras, Josh Fogg, Jason Marquis, Matt Herges and Juan Rincon; C Yorvit Torrealba and 1B Jason Giambi.

--CF Dexter Fowler finished in a four-way tie for eighth in National League Rookie of the Year voting with one point from one third-place vote. Late in the season, manager Jim Tracy said Fowler went from trying to survive at the start of the year to being able to contribute. His final totals included a .266 average, .363 on-base percentage and .406 slugging percentage, 27 stolen bases in 37 attempts, 29 doubles, four homers, 34 RBIs and 116 strikeouts in 433 at-bats.

--Fifteen players from the Rockies organization filed for minor league free agency, including RHP Ryan Speier. Others filing who have had major league experience include LHP Damian Moss, RHP Scott Munter, C Sal Fasano, INFs Mark Bellhorn and Dan Ortmeier and OF Paul McAnulty.

Other Rockies minor-leaguers who filed include LHP Adam Bright, RHPs Jonathan George and Matt Wilhite, INFs Christian Colonel, Kenny Perez, Rex Rundgren and Danny Sandoval and OF Ryan Harvey.

--The Rockies will close the exhibition season next spring in Albuquerque with a pair of games against the Mariners on April 2-3. Colorado opens the 2010 regular season April 5 against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

--A groundbreaking ceremony was held Nov. 16 in Scottsdale, Ariz., on the spring training facility the Rockies will share with the Diamondbacks beginning in 2011. The complex is being built on 140 acres on Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community land. The Rockies have held spring training since their 1993 inception in Tucson and will train there a final time in 2010. The new facility, the first to be built on Native American land, will feature a main stadium with a capacity of 11,000 -- 7,000 fixed seats and room for 4,000 on the grass berm. Each team will have a total of six practice fields, two practice infields, three bunting fields and 10 covered batting cages with separate clubhouses and offices.

BY THE NUMBERS: 3.08 -- ERA for RHP Ubaldo Jimenez after the All-Star break, when he went 9-3 in 15 starts. The Rockies went 11-4 in those games. Overall, Jimenez went 15-12 with a 3.47 ERA, and the Rockies were 17-16 in his 33 starts.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's probably as flattering an experience as I've come to realize during the course of my professional career in athletics, and obviously a new contract is extremely exciting. But what is more intriguing for me is what is still out there for our ballclub." -- Jim Tracy, on being chosen National League Manager of the Year and agreeing to a three-year contract extension.

BIGGEST NEEDS: The Rockies need a right-handed hitter, preferably one who can play first base, third base or the outfield and hit with power. Their only imposing right-handed hitter is SS Troy Tulowitzki, who became the full-time cleanup hitter in early August. Colorado went 27-26 against left-handed starting pitchers during the regular season while averaging 4.85 runs per game. The Rockies were 19-10 against left-handed starters at home, averaging 6.41 runs per game, and 8-16 on the road, averaging 2.96 runs per game. In the NL Division Series, which they lost in four games, the Phillies started four left-handers.

A 2010 rebound by C Chris Iannetta, who had a disappointing season that resulted in him losing his starting job in mid-August, would give the Rockies some much-needed right-handed hitting punch.

DEPARTURE: INF Mike McCoy (claimed off waivers by Blue Jays).

FREE AGENTS: RHP Jason Marquis, LHP Alan Embree, C Yorvit Torrealba, RHP Rafael Betancourt, RHP Josh Fogg, RHP Matt Herges, 1B Jason Giambi, LHP Joe Beimel, RHP Juan Rincon, RHP Jose Contreras, RHP Joel Peralta.

Marquis is hoping to go to the Mets and won't be resigned after fading in the second half, which has been his history. Rather than pick up Betancourt's $5.4 million option for 2010, the Rockies are likely to seek a two-year deal at a lesser amount annually. The Rockies won't pick up the $4 million option on Torrealba, who could return in a part-time role with a salary of about $1 million to go with his $500,000 buyout. Giambi was a great clubhouse presence, but the Rockies need a roster spot for a right-handed hitter who can play the corner infield, and Giambi bats left-handed. Beimel is unlikely to be back. Peralta chose free agency when he was outrighted off the 40-man roster.

ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: 3B Garrett Atkins, 2B Clint Barmes, RHP Taylor Buchholz, LHP Jorge De La Rosa, RHP Jason Hammel, C Chris Iannetta, OF Matt Murton, OF Ryan Spilborghs, RHP Huston Street.

The Rockies likely will try to sign Barmes to a multiyear deal, and they must decide whether to do so with Street and De La Rosa, both free agents after 2010. Atkins is not expected to be tendered a 2010 contract after becoming a $7.05 million bench player this year.

IN LIMBO: RF Brad Hawpe and OF Ryan Spilborghs could be traded. Hawpe, a first-time All-Star in 2009 whose output fell off badly in the second half, is signed for $7.5 million in 2010 with an $11 million club option for 2011 that Hawpe can void if he's traded. The improved play of younger OFs Carlos Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler and Seth Smith make it likely the Rockies will explore trading Hawpe and Spilborghs, both 30.

MEDICAL WATCH:

LHP Jeff Francis (left shoulder surgery in February 2009) missed the entire 2009 season but pitched without pain in three games in September in the Instructional League. He should be ready to start spring training and will be counted on to replace RHP Jason Marquis in the rotation.

RHP Taylor Buchholz (Tommy John surgery in June 2009) is expected to return by the 2010 All-Star break.

RHP Manuel Corpas (bone chips in right elbow) underwent surgery July 24 and later developed a staph infection. He pitched in the Instructional League and should be ready for the start of spring training.

LHP Alan Embree (broken right tibia) had his 2009 season end July 10 when struck by a line drive. He'll be 40 in January but wants to play in 2010. Embree was throwing at the end of the season and should have full mobility by spring training.