Rock Solid Recrap: Nauseated

Diamondbacks 12, Rockies 11 (10 innings)

What can you say after a game like that? Probably not a whole lot more than I said while the game was going on. Feel free to go back and read that again if your stomach can handle it.

Losing Player: Greg Smith

It all boils down to how AWFUL Greg Smith was today. Absolutely brutal.

I have defended this guy all spring. I've been in his corner despite his early season troubles. There's nothing I can say anymore to defend him. I still do like this talent, but talent doesn't equal a whole lot when you have no confidence in your best pitches or your ability to retire big leaguers.

It's a mnetal hurdle he has to overcome every time out there, and you can just tell how his day is going to go with the first batter. It happened in Miwaukee. He was up 0-2 on Rickie Weeks and ended up walking him. He was up 1-2 today on Kelly Johnson... walked him.

And then it spiraled. Rockies can't afford anymore of this. Not with the circumstances having changed to tremendously in a short time.

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Running Thoughts: Smith. vs Benson

Miguel Olivo played just hours after passing two kidney stones?  That dude really does have stones!

How about this lineup... EY Jr. starting again, leading off again... and playing LF.  Alright.  Let's see how this goes.

Fowler, Helton, Tulowitzki, Gonzalez, Olivo, Stewart.  No surprises there.

Melvin Mora gets the nod over Barmes at second.  Could be an interesting defense day again as we've seen a few when Mora plays.

Only notable resting for Arizona is SS Stephen Drew.  That makes sense against the lefty Smith.

Alright... time to take another series.

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Looking Ahead: But Not Too Far Ahead

Have to focus on this big game at home before the big trip to San Francisco and beyond.

Greg Smith vs. Kris Benson

Hello, Greg Smith, you're now the #3 starter. That happened fast, didn't it? No pressure or anything, you just might need to go more than 5-6 innings these next few starts while we wait for everyone to get well again, or at least until we know what Rogers and Chacin are capable of.

It's possible they settle right in quickly, taking a lot of the pressure off you, but, for now, let's try to target that 7th inning.

Kris Benson on the mound for Arizona.

He's no Dan Haren. Heck, he's no Edwin Jackson, either. I would be extremely shocked if the Rockies don't pound him into the ground by the 4th inning. And even more so disappointed if they don't find a way to win the game. Gotta have it!

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