Pirates split two with Florida,Alexander released

The Pirates broke even in two games against the Florida Marlins at home over the last two days in a museum like setting that has fewer and fewer fans by the evening.

The Pirates and their pink elephant Matt Morris were pummelled by the Marlins on Monday 10-4
Morris,who is the highest paid player in Pirate history,makes just under half of what the entire Marlin roster earns and was rapped for 8 runs in 4 innings in watching his already bloated ERA inflate to over 9 in the loss.
Morris was the losing pitcher and fell to 0-3 on the season and the cries from Pirate fans to move him to the bullpen continued to rise.
I don't feel that way.
Is Morris over paid?Yes
Is he a shot pitcher?Yes,most likely
But the Pirates do not have a viable alternative to replace him,so why not give him a few more starts to maybe increase any marketability for a possible trade.
Phil Dumatrait would likely be given first chance to replace him and that is not an upgrade.
John Van Benschoten is 3-0 at Indianapolis and as much as I would like to see JVB get another chance his story has been seen before-Great at Indianapolis and awful in Pittsburgh,so lets wait a bit longer on that.
I am as tired as anyone of seeing Matt Morris,but considering the options and choices-I have no problem with him in the rotation for a few more starts.
All of that said,the Marlins were smacking ball after ball over the outfielders heads and one could tell that Morris had nothing.
I mean really when Mark Hendrickson (1 for 47 over the last two years) has two hits off you and one is a smoked double off the wall,what else can I add about Morris.
Pirates RBI's to Xavier Nady with two and Ronny Paulino and Morris each added one.

The Buccos did snap their 6 game losing streak last night with a 3-2 win over the Marlins in a game most notable for the end of Nate McLouth's hitting streak at 19 games.
Paul Maholm earned his first win of the year (1-2) with an excellent outing of six innings with just 1 run and 4 fish hits.
All the Pirates scoring came in the sixth on a Ryan Doumit to score Freddy Sanchez and Xavier Nady's game winning single that scored Jason Bay and Doumit.
Matt Capps pitched the scoreless ninth for his 5th save.
The Pirates host the Cardinals tonight at 7.

Pitching Matchup
St.Louis:Todd Wellemeyer (2-0 3.24 ERA) at Pittsburgh:Ian Snell (2-1 4.07 ERA) 7:05

I missed the game as I watched the Lakewood Blue Claws hammer the Hagerstown Suns 10-3.
Kinda of an uninspiring game before very few fans.
Erik Arnesen pitched a few innings in allowing three runs and I saw what could be a future star.
Lakewood outfielder Dominic Brown looks to have all the tools to be a big leaguer and unlike many "toolsy" prospects can make contact.
Brown is blazing fast and looks to be comparable speed wise to former Blue Claw blazer Greg Golson and finished the night with 4 RBI.
Remember that name.
Skipping today's game and will be in Frederick on Saturday for their visit from the Potomac Nationals.
Next Suns game will be on next Tuesday when the West Virginia Power make their only appearance in Hagerstown for 2008.

Bullpen Notes

In an expected move,the Seattle Seahawks released Shaun Alexander.
Alexander was the league MVP in 2005,but his skills eroded quickly after that and was badly faded in 2007.
I am not sure the signings of Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett are the answer to the Hawks problems in the ground game,but I am certain that Alexander was not.
I will miss Alexander as he always appeared to be a nice guy and is noted in Seattle for his community work,but this time comes for all players and in the salary cap era comes faster than it used to.
I will try to remember that the back that once was the best in the game and try to forget the back struggling to turn the corner on the sweep and await the day that Shaun Alexander enters the Seahawks ring of honor.

In a hilarious note,the top returning offensive lineman for the michigan wolverines,Justin Boren has announced that he will be transferring and to of all places Ohio State!
Boren is from Columbus and will returning home to finish his career.
Boren's family will have to pay for his education at OSU due to Big Ten rules that transfers inside the conference are ineligible for scholarships.
The last Buckeye that was an inter-conference transfer was former linebacker John Kerr,who transferred from Indiana a few years back.
Boren and his father (a former wolverine) announced plans to transfer last month after being around new coach Rich Rodriguez and figuring out very fast that Rodriguez is one slimy guy!

Finally,Ohio State announced a deal with Navy for a two game series that will see the Buckeyes host Navy in 2009 and return the visit in 2014 in a game in either Baltimore or Washington.

Photo Credits
Morris-Gene Puskar-AP Photo
Maholm-Matt Freed-Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Alexander-Elaine Thompson-AP Photo