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Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Ryan Roberts charges a slow roller hit by San Diego Padres' Chase Headley in the fifth inning of a baseball game on Wednesday, April 11, 2012, in San Diego. Roberts got the out on a close play at first. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi)
I hate reality checks. Sometimes, when my checking account balance is lower than I would like it to be, I refuse to look at it, because I simply don't want to see its hideously-low integers.

Such neglect on my part is, admittedly, foolish. But I do the same thing when it comes to my fandom. Don't tell me how many knee surgeries Chipper Jones has had. What Michael Bourn slump? Speed never slumps. I don't care how old Livan Hernandez is. Don't you dare show me his birth certificate.

(Yes -- I'm a Braves fan. Yes -- I write about the Diamondbacks. Sue me.)

Such has been a lifelong pattern. My optimism gives way to unrealistic expectations, which ultimately cause disappointment.

Maybe you have a similar plight. If so, I have good news and I have bad news. The good news: the following is intended to help you kick that horribly unhealthy habit called positivity. The bad news: you may not like what you see.

There's your fair warning. Onward...

The D-backs have won both of their first two division series. They're 5-1 and look like last year's D-backs. But please be careful with yourself.

• The two teams they have played -- the Giants and the Padres -- had the two worst offenses in the National League last season.

• In six games, the D-backs have a +6 run differential. They've won three games by one run and two by two runs. Call it grit. That's fine. Just fear that it may be a lack of dominance.

• Their best pitching outing -- a no-run, four-hit, seven-inning effort that was spoiled -- came from their fifth starter, Joe Saunders.

• Cory Luebke, who gave up six runs to the Dodgers in his first start of the season, held the D-backs to one run on four hits on Wednesday afternoon.

• Justin Upton has two hits on the season. Ryan Roberts and Paul Goldschmidt both have three.

• The middle of the D-backs rotation -- Daniel Hudson, Josh Collmenter and Trevor Cahill -- hasn't looked good. And that's who we'll see this weekend at hitter- friendly Coors Field, as the D-backs face the Rockies

• David Hernandez already has 1/3 of his loss total from last season, and he's given up 1/4 of the home runs he allowed last season.

On the bright side, the D-backs' bats are sure to break out in Denver, at least in part.

Chris Young and Willie Bloomquist have been sensational. Young is batting .364 with an elephantine 1.349 on-base- plus-slugging percentage and three [big] home runs. Bloomquist also has a .364 batting average, while scoring a team-best five runs (one for every game he's played in), with two stolen bases.

Ian Kennedy was dominant Thursday night and Jason Kubel got his key RBI.

Everyone in the bullpen has not only seen the mound, but looked solid. Closer JJ Putz already has four saves and five strikeouts.

I don't intend to alarm. And I'm not trying to be negative. I just know that panorama is valuable and, the fact of the matter is, Livan Hernandez is 37 years old, Michael Bourn is 3-for-24 with one stolen base, and Chipper Jones just had his sixth knee surgery. And let's not talk about my checking account... I haven't looked at it in a while.

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    bobrmonroe wrote...
    Wrong Perspective
    All the statistics you quoted are correct, but I see things completely differently. They way I look at it is that our starting pitching hasn't been great (other than Saunders and Kennedy last night), and J-Up hasn't started rolling yet (Coors field just might help him out) yet, in spite of that, they are still 5-1. Other than David Hernandez struggling a little bit, the bullpen has been amazing (especially Shaw). So, the way I see it is that the NL does not want to see this team running on all cylinders if they are currently 5-1, and haven't really even started playing yet.
  • Abuse
    JulesTompkins wrote...
    Re: D'Backs
    Agreed. And I wouldn't be concerned about Upton. Regarding the Braves, I'm not worried. Historically, in the month of April they've been under .500 as many times as they've been over .500 dating back to 1990. Slow starts are their trademark. I think they'll be just fine... But of course I do.
  • Abuse
    Scott W. wrote...
    This Article Is Pointless
    That is all.
  • Abuse
    HIGHrolla wrote...
    Jules Thompson
    No one come to this particular website to read negative stuff about our home team.. Im pretty sure out of towners do not view this site so why make such a disquisting article about our own team. I say go back home to atlanta n stay there, I hope you get replaced... What a stupid article...ur dumb peace
  • Abuse
    Rainex80 wrote...
    who?
    This guy needs his blogging priveledges revoked. And why is this arizona website posting this?
  • Abuse
    JulesTompkins wrote...
    Dear commenters,
    Wow. I appreciate your [kind] responses, but you ought to reread this. I don't call the D-backs 'bad' or 'worse than the Braves.' (On that note, I'd take Gibson over Gonzalez any day.) You can't draw conclusions after 6 games. And I didn't. I pointed out that, while the D-backs are off to a historic start, their wins have lacked dominance. Like any great manager, Kirk Gibson's scrupulously dissecting these 6 games, finding weaknesses. A win's a win, yes. I wanted to show that, as fans, we hate to look at the not-so-positives of our team. Thanks for demonstrating my point.
  • Abuse
    Autobohn wrote...
    I Support "Jules Thompson" (Jules Tompkins)
    He is simply pointing out areas that need to be improved if the D-backs want to continue their success against the better teams. What would happen if 3/5 of your pitching rotation is weak when you play against a strong team like the Phillies? Even the Braves have a pretty strong offense with their consistent and strong hitters. And with so many players not hitting well, how will they stack up against the Braves' pitching (which is what they are most known for). As for who is better, I guess we will have to wait until next weekend to find out.
  • Abuse
    MysterySock wrote...
    Confidence
    I like that this author has some balls to write what he thinks. It's true that his opinion will prove valid or not over time... but let's just hope the D-backs keep winning!!
  • Abuse
    x suns fan wrote...
    yep its early
    a good start beats a bad one..like to see some 8-2 wins though..
  • Abuse
    azdb wrote...
    Nothing Wrong With This Article
    I'm a dbacks fan but I do realize that sports fans are awfully biased and overly optimistic about their teams. He never said that the DBacks were in trouble or they are a terrible team. And did you miss the part of the article that mentioned some positives? What about this part of the article, "...I'm not trying to be negative. I just know that panorama is valuable..."? Or are you fans too blindly optimistic to even acknowledge a few downsides of the season thus far? I tend to agree with the author on this one, panorama, or being able to look at the whole picture, is quite valuable.
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