Just good enough to lose

Ian Snell pitched decently,but not well enough to win as the Reds won the rubber game of the three game series 3-1 as they left town.
Snell was handed a 1 run advantage in the first inning as Andy LaRoche singled home Freddy Sanchez.
That was as good as it got for Pittsburgh on this evening.
Javier Valentin took Snell deep in the second to tie the contest and Snell allowed the eventual winning run to score in the sixth on a Chris Dickerson double.
Snell (4-10) was through after six,allowing just six hits to go with an alarming 5 walks and a just as alarming 2 strikeouts.
The Reds added an insurance run in the ninth off T.J. Beam.
Snell just doesn't seem to be throwing as hard as last year for some reason and that (I think) is what is keeping the numbers down.
This makes a pitcher that is more of a power pitcher even more vulnerable and you see the results in action.
The Mets come to Pittsburgh for 4 starting tonight.

The signing deadline is now hours away and the Pirates are still dealing with Pedro Alvarez and his pain in the ass "Advisor" Scott Boras.
The Buccos are reportedly going down to the wire with Alvarez,second round pick Tanner Scheppers and a undisclosed player of the "tough sign"picks.
Here is hoping that the undisclosed player is a pitcher and that is likely the position of the mystery player.

Two players that Pittsburgh fans will not have to wonder about are Robbie Grossman (6th) and Drew Gagnon (10).
The good news was that the Pirates landed Grossman by far exceeding his "Slot" position and paying for his college education.
That was enough to have Grossman sign and renege on his commitment to the University of Texas.
Grossman will finish the season with the GCL Pirates in Florida.

Gagnon announced that he will pass on joining the Pirates and will instead honor his commitment to Long Beach State.
It would have been nice to sign Gagnon,but if the Pirates can nab another of the harder sign pitching draftees such as 20th rounder Quinton Miller,the loss would not be that major.

Good news and Bad news on the Robbie Grossman signing.
Good:It looks like the Pirates are telling the truth about spending money in the right manner.
They drafted a top 45 player in the 6th round and then brought him into the fold.
Nothing there that is not to love..

Bad:If this is used as a reason to not sign Pedro Alvarez and then pass off Grossman as their "actual" first rounder,then I take back all that I said and the commitment to winning can again be questioned.
The answer gets posted tomorrow.

Yahoo's Jeff Passan looks at Frank Coonelly,his past issues as the MLB draft enforcer and how they could be affecting the dealings with Scott Boras.

A few words on the Reds as I had to watch last nights game on the Reds broadcast,due to FSN Pittsburgh's breathless showing of pre-season football.

One,the Reds hats need to be all red and toss the black billed versions in the trash.
Two,I really like their road gray uniforms.
Three,I hate watching the Reds network because between every inning,they show spots for Skyline Chili (which I love) the official chili of the Reds.
This tends to make me want Skyline very quickly and with no possible way to have any!!!

Pitching Matchup
New York:Mike Pelfrey (10-8 4.11 ERA) at Pittsburgh:Jason Davis (1-1 1.38 ERA) 7:05

Photo Credits
Snell;Keith Srakocic-AP Photo
Grossman:Upper Deck