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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A Hitless Rock Solid Recap

Rockies 4, Braves 0

What a night!

Winning Player: Ubaldo Jimenez

What more can I say that I didn't say during the game and over at Bugs & Cranks.

We have a very special right arm pitching for our favorite baseball team.  The way his strength, effectiveness, filth, intensity, focus and command build and improve as a game goes along is such a joy to watch.  If he were on pitch 200 in the 16th inning right now, I wouldn't be surprised if he took it to an even higher level.

I'm as full of hyperbole as the next baseball fan, so I'll go ahead and say he's one of the top 5 arms in the game right now.  And he may be closer to #1 than #5, but he's not better than Roy Halladay.  I'll get that out of the way.

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Running Thoughts: Jimenez vs. Kawakami

Preview

It's the reunion of the Opening Day lineup... sans Chris Iannetta, who once again sits in favor of Miguel Olivo.  Whatever, at least we know Chris will play tomorrow.

Baseball time.

1st Inning

• Chip Caray back in the both tonight for Atlanta.  Opens the broadcast by telling us the Rockies are battling for the NL Wildcard.  Actually, numbnuts, the Rockies are aiming a little higher this season.  
• Chip also informs us the Rockies are like so many other NL teams that are looking for a leadoff man.  Folks, I wasn't kidding, Chip Caray is a blithering idiot.  Can't wait to hear what else he has to say.  
• CarGo "the leadoff man experiment for tonight" does what he does so often, leads off the game with a hit (double). 
• Fowler moves CarGo to third, Helton walks, and Tulo sac flies.  Good start for the offense.  
• Even better start for Jimenez, who wipes out a walk with a DP grounder.  
• Rockies 1, Braves 0
  

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Looking Ahead: To A Better Today

Because yesterday sucked. And so did the day before that.

Jimenez vs. Kawakami

When times are rough, who's the person you always turn to? Your ace in the hole, right? Well, thank God the Rockies actually have one of those, and they're going to need him to live up to the billing in full for the third straight outing.

The Braves counter with Kenshin Kawakami. Kawakami is a very much underrated right-hander who came over to MLB last season from Japan. I suppose it's easy to understand why he would be underrated or overlooked when you look at the quality arms Atlanta has in their rotation.

At 34, he's also not a young prospect with endless amounts of hype surrounding him. He's just a solid, veteran arm that knows how to get hitters out without being overpowering. Josh Fogg might be a decent comparison to make, though I'd consider Kenshin to be more polished and talented.

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