Battle for Basement II

[Durango53]

GAME: Colorado Rockies (1-5) at Arizona Diamondbacks (4-3).

TIME: Tuesday, 9:40 p.m. EDT.

Already off to a horrendous start, the Colorado Rockies got even more bad news on Monday.

The Rockies will look to shake off the distractions following the drug-related suspension of one of their minor league players when they resume their three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Rockies outfielder Jorge Piedra was suspended for 10 days on Monday for violating baseball's new policy on performance-enhancing drugs, becoming the second player to be publicly identified under the new rules. Piedra was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Wednesday to replace injured outfielder Dustin Mohr, but was sent back down the next day.

He was subject to the major league policy, rather than the minor league rules, because he is on Colorado's 40-man roster.

"I think if you asked everybody in here, everybody would say he's a good guy," Colorado second baseman Aaron Miles said. "I guess it shows that no matter if you're in the minor leagues or the big leagues, you're name is going to come out."

On April 4, Tampa Bay outfielder Alex Sanchez became the first player to be publicly named and suspended under the new policy.

The Rockies are coming off a 2-0 loss in the series opener. At 1-5, the Rockies are off to the worst start in franchise history, and their 0-4 road mark is also a team record to start a season.

Todd Helton had three singles, and was the only Colorado player with more than one hit on Monday.

Troy Glaus doubled in a run for Arizona, but his franchise record-tying streak of four straight games with a home run came to an end. Shawn Green went 2-for-3 and also drove in a run for the Diamondbacks.

Arizona's Jose Cruz Jr. missed his second straight game with tightness in his lower back.

[Durango53]

ROCKIES PROBABLE STARTER: Shawn Chacon (1-9, 7.11 ERA in 2004). Chacon, who battled a hamstring problem during camp, is making his first start since Aug. 16, 2003. He had 35 saves as Colorado's closer last season, but blew nine opportunities. Chacon, who won 11 games and was named an All-Star as a starter in 2003, is 2-4 with a 4.58 ERA in 14 career appearances, including five starts, against the Diamondbacks.

COL: RHP Shawn Chaconhttp://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/276336.jpg
• 1-9, 7.11 ERA in 2004
• 0-1, 5 saves, 4.70 ERA vs. ARI in 2004

ARI: RHP Brandon Webbhttp://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/425630.jpg
• 1-0, 3.38 ERA in 2005
• 1-2, 2.66 ERA vs. COL in 2004

DIAMONDBACKS PROBABLE STARTER: Brandon Webb (1-0, 3.38 ERA). Webb allowed two earned runs, five hits and three walks over 5 1-3 innings in an 8-3 win over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. The 25-year-old right-hander led the NL with 16 losses and the majors with 119 walks last season. He is 3-3 with a 3.67 ERA in seven career starts against the Rockies.

[Durango53]

OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Rockies - Helton, .400 avg.; Clint Barmes, 2 HRs and 6 runs; Barmes, Helton and Preston Wilson, 4 RBIs; Helton and Matt Holliday, 1 SB. Diamondbacks - Luis Gonzalez, .385 avg.; Glaus, 4 HRs and 9 RBIs; Glaus and Green, 8 runs; Glaus, Craig Counsell and Royce Clayton, 1 SB.

[Durango53]

SEASON SERIES: Diamondbacks, 1-0.

[Durango53]

STREAKS AND NOTES: Rockies - INF Desi Relaford, currently out with a knee injury, has completed a rehab assignment but was stuck in Denver on Monday because of a blizzard. He could be activated Tuesday. ... 1B Helton has 25 career home runs against Arizona, more than any other player besides Barry Bonds (33). ... Helton is hitting .333 (5-for-15) with two doubles, a homer, three RBIs and seven walks in his career against RHP Webb. Diamondbacks - The Diamondbacks placed RHP Oscar Villarreal on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a right rotator cuff strain and recalled RHP Lance Cormier from Triple-A Tucson. ... Monday's crowd of 18,742 was the smallest at home in team history. ... RHP Brandon Lyon picked up his third save in four chances on Monday.

[Durango53]

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Rockies - 0-4 on the road; Diamondbacks - 4-3 at home.

[Durango53]

In name, at least, Shawn Chacon is back. His name shows up when the Colorado Rockies' starting rotation is listed, one year removed from serving as the closer.

Being in the rotation in name only though isn't his idea of being back, of course.

Chacon hopes Tuesday night's start at Bank One Ballpark against Arizona is his first step toward returning to his early 2003 form, when he won 11 of his first 13 decisions and was selected to the National League All-Star team. That was a long time -- not to mention an elbow injury in late 2003 and a 1-9, 7.11 ERA ordeal as closer in 2004 -- ago.

It's only seemed that long since the Rockies' Opening Day victory. They've dropped the last five and are off to the worst start in their 13 seasons.

"I think people remember the last thing they see," Chacon said. "Obviously, the last time they saw me, I was closing and struggling a little bit.

"I think a lot of people, maybe fans more than people in baseball, have forgotten I was a pretty darn good starter. That's kind of a goal of mine, to come out and refresh some people's memories. This is where I belong, in the rotation."

One doesn't have to be a paying customer to have mixed opinions of Chacon.

Before signing Chacon to a one-year, $2.35 million contract with incentives during the offseason, the Rockies listened to trade offers to see if someone would give up enough prospects to make dealing a homegrown pitcher worthwhile. The offers came nowhere near what Colorado required.

"It's like people have forgotten about me a little bit," Chacon said. "I've got a few question marks on my head. That's fine. The only one that's going to answer that question is myself. So I'm going to do that."

BOB is a good and bad place for Chacon to begin his attempt to rebut any negative opinions of him.

In his career, he is 1-4 with a 6.00 ERA at Arizona's home ballpark. The experience as a closer obscures some of that. He has three starts there, and is 1-2 with a 4.00 ERA.

But the freshest memories are of success. In his third start of 2003, Chacon held Arizona to an unearned run on four hits in a 12-1 Rockies victory on April 15, just a little less than two years ago to the day. Even last year as a closer, he earned five of his 35 saves against Arizona. He also had five saves against San Francisco.

Chacon suffered a hamstring injury early in camp, giving the Rockies cause to delay his first start until now. He also battled a sinus infection last week. He said he felt week in a Minor League tuneup game at the Rockies' complex in Tucson, Ariz., last week, but said his curveball -- his signature pitch but usually the last one to come around -- is where he wants it.

Controlling his emotions will be as big an issue as controlling his pitches.

"I know how tough it is, the first game," he said. "I've seen guys go out there too hyped up and it gets them into trouble. I'm telling myself leading up to that game to relax. I've been there before. Nothing's changed."

His goal is for anyone watching to compare his form to that of his hot streak early in 2003 and agree that all is the same.

[Durango53]

On television
• COL: FSN Rocky Mountain
• ARI: 3TV

On radio
• COL: KOA 850 AM
• ARI: KTAR 620 AM, KSUN (Español)

On deck
• Wednesday: at Arizona, 1:10 p.m. MT
• Friday: vs. San Francisco, 6:35 p.m. MT
• Saturday: vs. San Francisco, 6:05 p.m. MT

[Timberwolf]

Rockies will win tonight.

They will go on a 10-game winning streak.

They are playing very hard. Good things will happen.

[Durango53]

Hope you are right.......

[Durango53]

I am happy that Shaq is starting again. He is much better starting. Was a All-Star two years ago starting and gave it a shot closing but just didnt have it. I think he will be a bright spot if he can stay heatly starting for a full year.

[Timberwolf]

Arizona leads 1-0, but it's only the third inning.

[Durango53]

It shouldnt worry people to much but for some reason the Rox cant hit on the road. Most Rox fans think that it is in the head of the players only. Helton is a monster where ever he hits. Like most players he hits better at home but he also is a great hitter on the road also. But that is the problem there is really no one to back him up.

I am just hoping Shaq shows us what we saw two years ago.

[Timberwolf]

How come the Rockie hitters stink on the road? It's been that way since inagural year.

[Durango53]

It is just in the Rox head. The true good hitters do fine on the road. Others just take advatage of the great pasture out there in Coors. People think the ball flys out of Coors like mad. But then I bring up this. How many Rox have lead the league in HR?


None it is the field that gives the hitters such a high avg. That field is huge so much for a fielder to cover.

It is just in there head.

[Durango53]

Shaq has looked real good tonight getting out of some jams....

[Durango53]

Rox tie!!

Arron Miles should be a All-Star this year. That guy has proved he is on of the best second basemen in the game last year.

[Durango53]

Shaq has looked VERY good.

As bad as the Rox have been wanting to trade him I fear this might be his ticket out...

[Durango53]

Helton is a MONSTER!!!!!!!

Great hit and comes in for the leading run...

I also think Matt Holliday is going to be a great player. He is hitting on the road also and in places where the Rox have hit very bad...

[Durango53]

Now what scares the hell out of me is that Bullpen. Bases loaded and they are bring up the pitcher because the Rox are so scared of the bullpen.

[awefullspellare]

Gosh damn it. Friggin bullpen (Miles is excused because he rocks). O well this team sucks and I'm starting to (sadly) get used to it.

[Durango53]

I am with you Jon. I have said all off season this team is going to suck and the wins they get enjoy because they are going to be few.

Shaq had a GREAT game. Nice to see him pick up right where he left off as a starter. But to turn the game over the the bullpen is a lost game. This pen hasnt held a lead yet in any game. Last year they set records in blown saves and lost games and this year they are going to break that recrod by June.

I didnt think a pen could be as bad as this but it is.....