Looking Ahead: Man Up Or Shut Up

Greg Smith vs. Wade LeBlanc

It's getting to be now or never time for Greg.

Jeff Francis has a rehab start scheduled. Jason Hammel is working his way closer. Jhoulys Chacin made his presense felt over the weekend. And then there's Esmil Rogers kinda hovering around looking for opportunities.

The Rockies aren't asking Smith to be an ace, workhorse, or even a stopper, they just need him to keep them in games. That obviously didn't happen last time out, and I imagine Jim Tracy will have a quick hook for him again if things don't get off on the right track this time around.

I have a strange feeling he's going to man up and come through. There's probably a lot of false hope and confidence involved in that feeling, but I like to stick by the guys I supported all spring. Smith was pretty clearly at the top of that list.

Wade LeBlanc is another in the line of San Diego pitchers that I consider to be 4th starters. Kevin Correia, Jon Garland and Clayton Richard also fall into that category. LeBlanc probably has the highest upside of those pitchers.

Offensively the Rockies are having much improved ABs in scoring situations. As long as that continues tonight, I think they'll stand a good chance of clinching their first road series win with one game to spare.

My Lineup Card

LF Young
CF Fowler
1B Helton
SS Tulowitzki
RF Gonzalez
C Olivo
3B Stewart
2B Barmes
P Jimenez

Simulation

Padres 6, Rockies 5 (10)

2nd Inning

Rockies jumped up 3-0 in the second on an Ian Stewart 3-run HR. Padres struck right back in the bottom half on a 2-run Scott Hairston HR. 3-2 Rockies.

3rd Inning

San Diego jumps ahead on a David Eckstein RBI and a 2-run double by Scott Hairston. 5-3 Padres

5th Inning

Tulowitzki singles home Fowler. 5-4 Padres

8th Inning

Carlos Gonzalez ties the game with a solo HR.

10th Inning

Yorvit Torrealba singles off Todd Helton's glove. Will Venable scores the winning run from second.

Smith: 5 2/3 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K. Franklin Morales took the loss.