There's not enough 'I' in the Rockies' offense. The Denver Broncos' Brandon Marshall and the Nuggets' J.R. Smith were requested to grow up, and both have been excellent players and upstanding citizens the past several weeks. It's a start. Now, the Colorado Rockies' Chris Iannetta and Ian Stewart must be asked to giddyup. The Rockies can afford to have them on the team. Iannetta agreed to a three-year, $8.3 million contract Thursday, and Stewart will receive $404,000 next season. Bargains both. But the Rockies can't afford to have them on the field full time if they hit .228 again. Each ranked 34th in batting average at his position last season. There are 30 teams in baseball. Stewart didn't get a hit in two postseason games against the Phillies, and Iannetta didn't even play in the divisional series. Yet, the Rockies intend for Iannetta and Stewart to be regulars in 2010, as one-quarter of the everyday offensive lineup. At the general managers' meetings this week in Indianapolis, nobody anticipated that the Rockies would make a noteworthy trade or sign a significant free agent. It's not as if Matt Holliday is coming back or Roy Halladay is coming home. But the Rockies have been handling their own issues, and for once we can say that's all good and well. Manager Jim Tracy was signed to a three-year deal, wisely. Rafael Betancourt was retained. Huston Street, Clint Barmes and Iannetta were offered multiyear contracts, and Iannetta grabbed hold. Yorvit Torrealba likely will return, and so will Brad Hawpe. Jason Giambi has been offered a chance to rejoin the club, and the Rockies are talking to pitchers who were part of the playoff fray. The pitching rotation already appears set, with Jeff Francis expected to return to health, and the relief corps should be strengthened with Manuel Corpas mended. Imposing youngsters Carlos Gonzalez and Dexter Fowler have become two-thirds of the outfield landscape -- CarGo.com went on a tear in the playoff series -- and Seth Smith showed up in The Show. Troy Tulowitzki turned out to be a serious MVP candidate; Barmes slid toward the end but will be solid until Eric Young Jr. takes over; and Todd Helton is Forever Young. No demands, no complaints -- which is a strange attitude at this time of the offseason. But there is the legitimate concern about Stewart and Iannetta. Sure, both are superior defensive players. Stewart could be a Gold Glover soon, and Iannetta can handle pitchers, baserunners and balls in the dirt. The 24-year-old Stewart was second to Tulo in home runs with 25, and Iannetta contributed 16. However, Stewart had only 72 other hits in 147 games, and Iannetta had a hitch in his swing and a hole in his bat until losing his job to Torrealba. Stewart was given the third-base job because Garrett Atkins lost his way as a hitter. Rox hot cornermen -- from Charlie Hayes to Atkins -- generally have been exceptional hitters. Nine seasons the third basemen batted above .300. Vinny Castilla established the standard with four .300 seasons and five years of 32 homers (or more). Nobody at the position has hit lower than .271 -- until Stewart and Atkins fell 43 and 45 percentage points short, respectively. The Rockies need 30 homers, 90 runs batted in and a .280 average from Stewart. In order to accomplish those objectives, Stewart has to work harder on his stroke in spring training (he has been a slacker on occasion) and be willing to drive the ball to left-center in the regular season. In their history, the Rox never have produced a good-hitting catcher. Ben Petrick, a second-round draft choice, was supposed to be a major-league star but turned out to be a part-timer. The club let expansion draft pick Brad Ausmus escape in a trade, and he's played 17 seasons in the majors with a .252 batting average. The Rockies could live with Iannetta hitting .252, but not .190, as he did much of last season after a promising stint in the World Baseball Classic and spring training (.345). Iannetta has promised that next season he won't press as much and for as long. Maybe this $8 mil pact will allow him to relax, and maybe a new deal with Torrealba will allow the Rockies to relax. Yorvit, who survived a difficult summer after the kidnapping (and return) of Yorvit Jr., was one of the Rockies' most valuable players in the stretch as a leader, a pitching stabilizer and a clutch hitter. Iannetta and Ian, the I's of the Rockies, must step up to, and at, the plate. At least, in this December there is hot stove, not cold freezer, talk about the Rockies. 