Looking Ahead: To A Worse Today

Because let's face it, Greg Smith is going to give up a hit, maybe even a run or two.

Smith vs. Jurrjens

Following a no-hitter has to be about the least enviable task a starting pitcher could face. Then again, in the case of Greg Smith, who's coming off maybe the best start of his ML career, the pressure must feel pretty low, and the confidence has to be at an all-time high.

The adjustments he made between starts one and two were exactly what I'd hoped they would be. He was aggressive. He approached the ABs like he was in control. Most importantly, he trusted his stuff could get ML hitters out, and his stuff did just that. Now I'm really looking to how he backs up that start.

I might suggest Jason Hammel take a close at how Smith fares as well. It's early yet, not sure when Francis will return, but you have to figure Smith COULD earn his way into the rotation one way or another. And even if that's not a possibility, I wouldn't mind Smith and Hammel thinking it was.

Atlanta's Jair Jurrjens is a damn good pitcher coming off a disaster in San Diego. That means one of two things: he's hurting, or he's bouncing back with something pretty good today.

I hope that somehow neither are true when I write my Rock Solid Recap.

My Lineup Card

LF Gonzalez
CF Fowler
1B Helton
SS Tulowitzki
RF Hawpe
C Olivo
3B Stewart
2B Mora
P Smith

Simulation

Rockies 7, Braves 4

The Rockies put together another big 8th inning to take a simulated series victory in Atlanta.

Down 4-2, Colorado plated 5 in said 8th inning, with 5 different players (Tulowitzki, Stewart, Mora, Giambi and Gonzalez) contributing an RBI. This made a winner out of Manny Corpas, who allowed one run in the 7th on a Matt Diaz inside-the-park homer.

Huston Street (still not available in reality) picked up his second save in as many days. Greg Smith's line was 6 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 2 BB and 2 K.

I would definitely take that line and this score this afternoon.

Interesting note on the simulated series... Atlanta outhomered Colorado 7-1.