Did the pressure get to the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday night?
D-backs manager Chip Hale suggested the media hype surrounding the team heading into the regular season played a role in the D-backs' 10-5 Opening Day loss to the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.
"You guys built it up really good. You did a nice job of it," Hale said in his press conference after the loss.
"I said it before the game: You guys really hyped it up. Every Opening Day is every Opening Day. It means no more than tomorrow's game.
"Are we happy that we lost? No. We're disappointed that we lost. But it's just one of 162 (games). The goal is always to win the series, so (Tuesday) is a pivotal game."
Hale said the Rockies did a great job of hitting star pitcher Zack Greinke, who had allowed just one run in his previous four starts at Chase Field but allowed seven runs Monday -- his worst performance in four years.
A report Tuesday said Greinke was battling the flu, but Hale made no mention of that Monday night.
"Zack was just up with too many pitches, but they hit him," Hale said with a laugh. "It's just baseball.
"I think sometimes you guys want to read too much into it. He didn't pitch well and they swung the bats really well, so let's give them credit."
The D-backs' other major offseason pitching acquisition was Shelby Miller, who is slated to start Tuesday night's game.
Hale said the media will probably put as much pressure on Miller as they did Greinke.
"(You'll) probably build it up just the way tonight was built up. I'm sure you'll do a good job of that, too," he said.
