Rock Solid Recrap: Four Reasons It Wasn't All Jeff Nelson's Fault

Braves 4, Rockies 3

Reason #1

When your pitching combines to walk 11 batters, your chances of winning that game are significantly hampered.

Reason #2

Dexter Fowler led off the 6th with a single. He quickly stole second and advanced to third on Brian McCann's throwing error...

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Running Thoughts: Smith vs. Jurrjens

No clue how players handle these quick turnarounds.  Pretty sure I'll be ready for a nap by the 4th inning.

Seth Smith starts in place of Brad Hawpe, who's being held out as a precaution after some ginger baserunning last night.  Smith hits 5th and plays left, Gonzalez shifts over to right.  Chris Iannetta also back in the lineup tonight hitting 6th.  Otherwise it's all the regulars we've come to know and love.  Probably doesn't hurt that last night's game was played so quickly and without a whole lot of stress.

Atlanta has Matt Diaz leading off today.  Not sure how that'll work.

How about a series victory in Atlanta and a jovial flight to Washington to play a better expected Nationals club.

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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.

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