Rockies Review: Dexter Fowler has a blast in first week of the season

Record for week of 4/6-4/12: 3-3 (2-1 against the D'Backs, 1-2 against the Phillies)

Season Record: 3-3, 3rd place in NL West

Change from 2008: +2 wins

With the first week in the books, the Colorado Rockies kicked off the 2009 season with some ups and some downs. Here's this week's breakdown.

Feeling A Mile High: The offense as a whole got off to a quick start, having hit 12 homers in the first six games. Individually, I'll give this status to Troy Tulowitzki and Dexter Fowler. Tulowitzki already has three homers this season, and, more importantly, he's walked six times to his three strike outs. He's exhibited a keen eye on the strike zone so far, and he needs to keep it up. Fowler looks better by leaps and bounds from his 2008 performance with the Rockies. Though it's only the first week of the season, Fowler already seems to be pressing Seth Smith for playing time in the outfield. If Fowler continues to emerge in this way, Ryan Spilborghs will shift over to left field to accommodate Fowler's better coverage in center field. Onward and upward!

Ubaldo Jimenez had a great start to the 2009 season, striking out eight D'Backs in seven innings on the way to his first victory. Franklin Morales took the mound the day after Jimenez shut down the D'Backs and had similar results. Going six innings, Morales struck out six and allowed one run on four hits.

At Sea Level: The pitching staff. It was a mixed bag for the entire pitching staff this week. Jimenez and Morales stood out, and Jason Marquis turned in a quality start against the Phillies. On the other hand, Jorge De La Rosa was burned for five runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Phillies and the relief pitching was all right, but not spectacular. Check it out: six of the eight relievers allowed a homer already.

Below Sea Level: Aaron Cook lasted only 2 1/3 innings in the season opener against the D'Backs, allowing six runs. His second start, which was today, was better (three runs in six innings), but he knows he must improve on this start.

This Week In Rockies Baseball: The Rockies will travel for a two-game series against the Cubs (Monday, Wednesday) before jetting off to Los Angeles for a three-game series starting on Friday.