Running Thoughts: Cook vs. Stammen

New day.  I'm completely over what transpired yesterday.  When you look at the play a few times in real speed and slo-mo, it's close.  Do I think it was an out?  Yes.

However... Do I think Clint Barmes caught the ball last year against the Cardinals?  No.  Do I think Matt Holliday touched home plate?  Maybe.  Things even out.  The Rockies will get another call this season that will likely decide a game in their favor, too.  It's frustrating, but it is what it is.  Pound the Nats tonight and we'll all feel better everything related to baseball.

Seth Smith starts for Dexter tonight.  That shifts CarGo over to center.  Olivo catches again.  The back and forth continues there,

Monday night baseball in the nation's capital.  Should be fun.

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Looking Ahead: To Tasty Nationals Pitching

First on the menu: Craig Stammen (15.63)

Alright, so that ERA is quite a bit misleading. Both of Stammen's starts have come against Philadelphia. Not exactly a receipe for success. Would you care to guess what his win-loss record is based on that ERA?

It's 0-0 of course.

Meanwhile, guys like Kevin Millwood (2.89), Roy Oswalt (2.37) and Jeremy Guthrie (3.15) all have two losses to their credit in the early season.

Indeed, stats can be very misleading, and while I fully expect the Rockies to put runs on the board tonight and this entire series, we will most definitely find out that Stammen is better than those numbers indicate. I just hope he doesn't go all Jair Jurrjens on us en route to restoring his credibility.

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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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