D-Backs in Extra Innings

I don't know how many of you caught the game last night but I thought I would write down a few observations I had after watching it.

Thus far this season the D-backs have really struggled to hit the ball consistently. Felipe Lopez has been the lone brightspot on a team of strikeout prone youngsters. The most embarrassing of these players has got to be Justin Upton who despite reaching three times last night is currently 1-18 this season.

The starting pitching has been solid despite the injury to Brandon Webb. The relief pitching has not been good. Though last night Doug Slaten was very good and Tony Pena has had his moments.

In the field Felipe Lopez has been a pleasant surprise. He has made a couple of plays that make it seem that Orlando Hudson never left. Hudson hit for the cycle for the Dodgers on Monday but Lopez leads the D-backs in multiple offensive categories.

I guess I didn't realize how tense the d-backs dugout has been during this opening homestand until Eric Byrnes (1-17) got off the snide with a game winning line drive in the 10th last night. I'm not sure if the celebration was all about Byrnes, a fan favorite and presumably lockroom favorite, finally doing something that justifies his enormous contract (he was booed after stranding runners earlier in the game) or if the dogpile was a sign of a team feeling relief after pressing themselves to futility in the first two weeks. We have the talent to win our division but have looked like we might finish in last place.

Could last night's win be the sigh of relief the d-backs need to relax and start playing well?