The Pirates have split their first two games in Chicago,winning Friday 3-0 and dropping a 5-1 decision on Saturday.
Jeff Karstens (1-0) was very impressive in his first Pirate bow as he fired six shutout innings and
was never seriously threatened.
It was pretty clear that Karstens has pretty ordinary stuff,but he was able to work in and out on this day and that is what a pitcher needs to do when you are a back of the rotation starter.
On this day (at least) Karstens showed the ability to at least be a inning eating 4 or 5 starter and that is what he was acquired for.
The Bucs gave Karstens all he needed in the second inning with two runs in the second inning on back to back singles by Jason Michaels and Jack Wilson.
Michaels would add the final run in the sixth with a solo shot (6) into the seats.
John Grabow pitched the ninth to earn his first save in the closer role vacated by the injured Matt Capps and the traded Damaso Marte.
The next game started promisingly for Pittsburgh as their most consistent starter was on the mound in Paul Maholm and Maholm's second inning single gave him a
1-0 lead and his first RBI this year.But the Bucco offense could dent the Cubs no further except for Ryan Doumit,who rapped out three hits.
Maholm would hand the Cubs the lead back in the bottom of the inning with two runs and Chicago would add three more off Maholm before sending him from the game after the sixth with the loss (7-7).
All the runs were earned off eight hits and the lefty walked and fanned two each.
Jason Davis mopped up with two scoreless innings.
The series concludes today at 2:20.
Pitching Matchup
Pittsburgh:Ian Snell (4-8 6.04 ERA) at Chicago:Carlos Zambrano (12-4 2.80 ERA) 2:20
Bullpen Notes
In an interesting note that I read from my favorite Devils blog In Lou we Trust, the New York Rangers will be paying Bobby Holik more money this season than the Devils will.
The Rangers will have to pay 3.5 million to Holik from a contract dispute over his bonus,which the Rangers claimed that they did not have to pay since it was during the strike/lockout year.
SO the Blueshirts will be paying Holik $ to beat them and overpaying him to get him away from the Devils to begin with!
Sometimes life is not so bad.
And in more news to make me smile,Peyton Manning is on the shelf!
Now I know he will likely be back for the opener,but grant me a bit of happiness on this.
Long time readers will remember that "Roll Over" Dungy played the Colts horrible backup Jim Sorgi in their finale against the Titans in a game that had the Colts won would have sent Cleveland to the playoffs.
And in this post on "Roll Over" we wished that if there was justice that Dungy would have to spend some time playing Jim Sorgi for a prolonged period-I just never thought it would happen this soon!
I like Peyton and my apologies to those of you that own him in fantasy leagues or are just a huge fan (Cherie),but no one deserves this more than Tony Dungy.
On the signing front
The Lexington Legends were in town for four days and generally were a good signing team as I was able to get every player except one.
The Legends are in last place and are part of the horribly weak Houston system,so one would think that they would be good and with one exception they were.
Second baseman Matt Cusick had rubbed a few collectors the wrong way with an attitude during Lexington's earlier visit,but I had no problems with him as he signed the one card for me during that road trip.
I had heard bad things though and was wary as I asked him on the first night to sign the two cards that I had.
He was not overly talkative,but signed with no problems.
The story came after the game when I was outside the stadium with another collector,who was attempting to get the Legends then as he had no time for the rest of the series.
I usually don't have time to work the bus area as I have to get to work,but I was off on this night,so it worked out.
After a few players signed,a player came out wearing a USC Trojan baseball polo shirt and he was asked his number.
This made sense as he(collector) had not been in the stadium and I had seen them in uniform only.
When I saw the shirt,I told him that was Matt Cusick because of the USC shirt.
Cusick then claimed he was "Brett Robinson" and the two had "Switched shirts".
One problem-Robinson had signed about 3 minutes earlier........
On the next day,with only me and another collector in attendance at 10 AM for a 11AM start,Cusick was greeted with a good morning and other salutations.
Cusick could not be bothered to respond and seemed to be pained to do a quick"Chop stick" style scribble.
That evening,he was sent to the Yankees for LaTroy Hawkins and was assigned to High A Tampa.
I would say Cusick should fit right into the Yankee organization and has been the grumpiest player that we have seen in the SAL this year.
Back tomorrow.
Photo Credits
Karstens:Charles Arbogast-AP Photo
Maholm:Jerry Lai-AP Photo
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