The Colorado Rockies come into Spring Training with a lot of promise. Last year, without much notable national attention, the Rockies found a way to make the playoffs. They did so with a combination of timely pitching, including surprising performances from their starters. They also pooled veteran and young hitting to propel them all the way to the new heights.

Of course, the year was 2008.

By October, the Rockies’ promise did not bloom into playoff rewards. They finished the year 74-88.

The 2007 ‘Rocktober’ run ended up feeling like a fluke after the 2008 season. Matt Holliday, a cornerstone of the team that made the 2007 World Series, was traded after the season.

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The Colorado Rockies come into Spring Training with a lot of promise. After defying the odds with a new manager, they look to take the next step to National League contender. Getting a taste of the playoffs was nice, but they want to compete for a division title and do some damage in the playoffs. They believe they have one or two MVP candidates on their roster. Also, a no-hitter from a pitcher isn’t out of the question.

Of course, the year was 2010.

After losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Wild Card round in 2009, the Rockies’ future looked good. With the emergence of some key players like Carlos Gonzalez, there was no reason to think that the Rockies couldn’t compete for more. In 2010, Ubaldo Jimenez would throw the team’s first and only no-hitter (to date). They stayed in the National League Western Division race until September, when they fell apart. The Rockies lost 13 of their last 14 games that year and the San Francisco Giants surpassed Colorado on the way to the World Series.

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The Colorado Rockies come into Spring Training with a lot of promise. It feels great to be down at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Arizona. People believe that the best starting pitcher in team history might be on the roster. They are confident that recent success can be sustainable. They’re ready to prove that they can compete for the playoffs every year.

Of course, the year was 2011.

Ubaldo Jimenez was traded that summer. The Rockies finished with a 73-89 record. It was the last time Todd Helton and Troy Tulowitzki played meaningful baseball for the Rockies. In years to come, the embarrassment would include opening the party deck, implementing the piggyback pitching system and running Jim Tracy out of the manager’s job.

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 The Colorado Rockies come into Spring Training with a lot of promise. For the first time in their history, they have a homegrown starting pitching unit. They spent more money than any other team to secure their bullpen and have three of the best players in the game mining at-bats in the field.

While Rockies fans are trying to be cautiously optimistic, it’s really hard given the consistency they showed last year. The mood instead is real excitement around the Purple Pinstripes. The big question is whether all of their young players are ready to take the next step. They have passed on a couple of reliable veterans, including Carlos Gonzalez and Mark Reynolds, in constructing their current roster. Also, there’s a new giant video scoreboard!

Of course, the year is 2018…