This team was dissected and psychoanalyzed throughout its rough early going. During the weekend, the Rockies climbed onto their own couches and examined themselves.

Hey, I’ve done my share of delving in stories throughout the start of the season:

• Rox go quietly vs. Braves, drop 9 of last 10
• Blackmon, Arenado ready for Rox to get right

But a conversation with Ian Desmond gave some insight into what seemed to be internal tooth-gnashing, but what turned out to be figuring out how to adjust to losing three regulars (Daniel Murphy, David Dahl and Ryan McMahon), two starting pitchers (Antonio Senzatela, who is back, and lefty Tyler Anderson with left knee inflammation) and two veteran left-handed relievers (Chris Rusin, who hasn’t pitched this season because of a back strain, and Jake McGee).

“There was no groundbreaking formulation,” Desmond said. “The realization is that we lost some really important pieces to our team, and we have to find our identity, find out how we do things. That’s important. It seems like we’re moving in that direction. It’s a long way to go, and times like these make you better.”

As injured players return, those who were forced into action and struggled at first could be more comfortable and then used in more advantageous spots. Garrett Hampson began 1-for-20, but he’s hitting .286 in his last nine games. Raimel Tapia has had some bad at-bats at big times and a defensive lapse or two. But in the 11 games he has entered as a substitute, he’s slashing .313/.353/.563, and the ability to perform in such a role is his ultimate value.

Dahl, who has been out with a core injury, arrived in Denver in Wednesday, along with McMahon, who has missed time with a left elbow sprain. Both are expected back in the lineup on Thursday night against the Phillies if evaluations go as expected.

If he picks up where he left off, and manager Bud Black said in recent days that Dahl looked healthy and effective while refreshing his swing in extended spring training, it’s a great time for the left-handed hitter to come back. Who can forget last September, when Dahl popped four home runs with 11 RBIs and had a 1.696 OPS in a four-game set as the Rockies made their final push to the postseason?

I don’t know that there is a fix. Firstly, it’s not as if all the injures are the same. And, don’t forget, with the minimum stay on the injured list at 10 days instead of 15, teams are more likely to freeze a player and call up someone so they’re not playing short.

Dahl had a number of injuries in the Minors and the bug has followed him to the Majors, but there doesn’t seem much connection between them and some have been freakish. Murphy broke a finger accidentally jamming it into the ground while making a play, and McMahon was crashed into by another player trying to field a throw.

Some news: Catcher Chris Iannetta (right lat strain) said this week that the Rockies would do an MRI in Denver, rather than on the road. More will be known about his injury in the coming days.

After Senzatela's latest outing on Monday at San Diego, there is no reason to go away from him. Even before his infected right heel blister (no training regimen for that one, by the way, just proper care), the Rockies were preparing Senzatela strictly as a starter and would have put him in relief only on an as-needed basis.

This is a guy the Rockies trusted with Game 1 in last year’s National League Division Series. They’ve groomed Senzatela to be one of their workhorses.

Rockies manager Bud Black said this week there is no timetable for Murphy, and we’ll see once he is involved in games in extended spring.