Running Thoughts: De La Rosa vs. Richard

Preview

The usual lineup with the lone exception being Miguel Olivo getting a second straight start behind the plate.  It's early, but the pressure may already be mounting on Chris Iannetta.

1st Inning 

• Baseball is back in Denver.  What a beautiful day.  
• De La Rosa breezes through the first, capping it with a strikeout of Adrian Gonzalez.
• Clayton Richard returns the favor, shutting the Rockies down 1-2-3.  

2nd Inning

• San Diego's Kyle Blanks is one impressive specimen.  A large man of 6'6" 275 LBs, and he nearly beat out a fairly routine grounder to Stewart.  Great athlete.
• DLR is dealing through two innings.  
• First and third situation results in nada as Stewart GIDP.  That's 0-for-1 with RISP today.
  

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Looking Ahead: Game 4 (vs San Diego)

Well, now that we've lost our chance for a perfect season, lost our first series, and fallen into a three-way tie for last place in the NL West, there's only one thing I can say right now...

It's Good To Be Home

Unless you're the Washington Nationals and you're hosting the Philadelphia Phillies, nothing beats the home opener!

The Rockies open the home schedule with one of their most favoritest opponents: the San Diego Padres.

It seems the Padres always show up when the Rockies need them most.  If you recall, it was the season opener of 2005 when the Rockies rallied off Trevor Hoffman in the 9th inning to steal a victory.  Everybody remembers the series in San Diego and the amazing Game 163 in 2007.  And then, in 2009, it was the Padres who supplied the opposition as the Rockies began to right the ship under Jim Tracy.

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Rock Solid Recap: RISP Fail

Brewers 5, Rockies 4

Old Habits Die Hard

The Rockies oldest, dirtiest and most annoying habit has been failure to hit with runners in scoring position. It plagued them all through last season, and it reared its nasty little head once again today in Milwaukee.

1-for-12.

You go 1-for-12, you lose. If you didn't lose, you deserved to. It's pretty cut and dry that way.

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Rock Solid Recap: A Mixed Bag For Smith

Brewers 7, Rockies 5

Not exactly the debut Greg Smith or the Rockies were looking for.

I was hoping we'd see Smith come out aggressive. Attacking hitters. Looking to establish himself right off the bat.   Instead, he set a bad tone early by getting up 0-2 on Rickie Weeks, only to tiptoe around him with the next four.  After retiring Carlos Gomez and Ryan Braun, he nibbled again and walked Prince Fielder.  That allowed one bad mistake to Casey McGehee to cost him three runs.

When anybody mentions limiting the traffic, that's exactly what they mean.  Two free runs just along for the ride.

He also used up 34 bullets in that first inning.  That's always a guarantee for a short night.

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Running Thoughts: Smith vs Wolf

What can I say, I'm excited to Greg Smith get the ball tonight. He should be doing so with far less pressure than had the Rockies lost their opener. 0-2 isn't the end of the world ever of course, but no one wants it.

He'll see a right-handed dominant order from the Crew tonight. I'll be focusing mostly on how he approaches and handles the top of the Brewers order -- Rickie Weeks, Carlos Gomez and Ryan Braun. Keeping them in check will go a long ways towards keeping his team in the game. I'm hoping for six innings and two runs.

Pre-game notes

• Dexter Fowler is the only change in the lineup tonight.  

1st Inning

• You could boil an egg on Carlos Gonzalez right now.  5-for-6 to open the season.  He ends up coming around on a Todd Helton single to give the Rockies a 1-0 lead.  
• Brad Hawpe is overmatched by Randy Wolf on three pitches.  Sure hope we see more of Spilborghs against lefties.  Tomorrow would be a good time to start that trend.    
• Smith jumped out 0-2 on Rickie Weeks and then start nibbling away.  Ends up walking him and wasting four bullets.  Have to be more aggressive than that.  
• More aggressive he was with Braun, impressively striking him out with the runner at third.  
• Smith then turns around and walks Fielder, a guy he should attack, and serves up a 3-run homer to Casey McGehee.  
• 34 pitch first inning for Smith.  That about says it all.  
• 3-1 Brewers.
  
  

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