Given that the story behind their surge into the postseason last year was built on young talent, it's not at all surprising that the Denver Post is reporting today that rookie Jayson Nix has won the Rockies' starting second base job. Colorado brought a bunch of guys into camp with theoretical shots at the position, including the organization's own Clint Barmes, Jeff Baker, and Ian Stewart and veteran Marcus Giles, but Nix had the inside shot all along. He's shown the ability to play the position better than shortstop Barmes and third basemen Baker and Stewart and hit better this spring than Giles, whom the Rockies released.

Nix has more upside potential than some but not all of those other options offensively, but the principal significance of this decision is that it maintains the quality of the Rockies' infield defense (save for Garrett Atkins at third). Nix isn't experienced enough to say he'll be as good as Kazuo Matsui right away, but all the scouting books speak highly of his glove.