INSIDE PITCH
Further proof that spring training means absolutely nothing: After leading the
major leagues with a .325 team batting average and pacing both leagues with 233
runs, the Diamondbacks rank at the bottom end of both with a .229 average and a
grand total of just 23 after their first seven regular-season games.
Three everyday starters are struggling offensively: right fielder Shawn Green is
batting .150 (3-for-20), catcher Johnny Estrada is batting .167 (3-for-20)
second baseman Orlando Hudson is batting .222 (6-for-27).
"We have some guys who are struggling with the bat right now," manager Bob
Melvin said. "We're going to swing better than this, I believe. I think we're
going to tax the other team a little bit more."
Left fielder Luis Gonzalez isn't terribly concerned, either.
"Our offense isn't where we want it to be right now," said Gonzalez, who is
hitting .259. "We want it to get back to spring training, where we were
manufacturing runs and putting up big innings, but we'll be there. We're not
worried about it."
REPLAY: The Diamondbacks lost a one-run decision to the Rockies on Tuesday, and
their 6-5 defeat can be traced back to a first-inning base-running blunder in
which a base-loaded, one-out situation turned into an inning-ending double play.
Conor Jackson hit a fly ball to shallow left field, which Matt Holliday appeared
to catch, but it was ruled a trap. That caught everyone off guard and resulted
in a 7-5-4 double play, with force outs at third and second base.
"He kind of shielded his body from us," said Luis Gonzalez, who was on first
base at the time. "By the time we picked up the umpire to get a safe sign, we
were already tracking back to our original base."
NOTES, QUOTES
--Arizona's 6-5 loss to the Rockies dropped the team's record to 3-6 in home
openers. The Diamondbacks have lost their past four openers at Chase Field,
formerly known as Bank One Ballpark.
--UT Andy Green's single in the sixth inning Tuesday was the first by a
Diamondbacks' pinch hitter this season. The club was 0-for-8 in pinch-hit
at-bats.
--RHP Orlando Hernandez lasted only 4 2/3 innings against the Rockies, the
shortest stint by a Diamondbacks starter in seven games. The rotation has gone
seven innings twice, six innings three times and five innings once.
--RF Shawn Green, who was 3-for-14 in his career against Colorado LHP Brian Fuentes, hit a solo home run off the Rockies closer in the ninth inning Tuesday
to pull Arizona within a run. But the Diamondbacks' rally fell short as they
dropped to 3-4 on the season.
--RHP Brandon Medders will pitch one or two more outings on an injury-rehab
assignment with Triple-A Tucson before the Diamondbacks make a decision on when
to call him up.
BY THE NUMBERS: 7 -- Earned runs allowed by Arizona's starting pitchers after
their first four games.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Guys in this game are always looking for some kind of edge, some
kind of advantage. I don't know if he did or didn't use steroids. But he
wouldn't be the first or last guy to look for some kind of chemical edge to
enhance his skills." -- Diamondbacks reliever Terry Mulholland on Barry Bonds,
although he think the Giants' slugger is the victim of a witch hunt, seeing that
steroids weren't officially banned by baseball until recently.