One fine Day!

For all the great things in sports,the first week of April might be the best week of all.
Hockey races towards the excitement of the playoffs,the NCAA determines the basketball champion,the Masters starts and most of all -Opening Day for baseball....
Combine all of that with the absolutely gorgeous weather up and down the East Coast and you have maybe the best Opening Day in years,but one thing made it a great day-a Pittsburgh Pirates victory.
The Pirates smacked the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-5 and for one day looked like a team on the rise.
Zach Duke earned the win (1-0) with a five inning stint.
Garrett Jones hit two homers and Ryan Doumit added another.
The Bucs take today off and face the Dodgers tomorrow at 7:05.

Pirate Hooks

1) Those of you wondering about the long term performance potential of Garrett Jones had to feel better for a little while after his two homers.
The long bomb to right that left the ballpark and rolled into the river was the most visually impressive,but I was more impressed with the second shot that he hit to left.
Opposite field power is real power and if Jones can be more than a pure pull hitter,his chances of being a star power hitter go up substantially....

2) Ryan Doumit's homer gave me hope for the catcher having a good season.
Doumit's issues have never been one of production,only health....

3) John Russell and his silly "lets bat the pitcher 8th in the lineup" bit him in the ass yesterday in the fifth when Zach Duke had to be pinch hit for when he came up with the bases loaded and two out.
Now Russell's move worked out when Ryan Church ripped a bases clearing double,but had the lineup card been made differently,he would not have had to use his best pinch hitter and take out his pitcher after five.
This team is far from good enough to have make pitching decisions after five innings a few times a week.

4) One more word on this-I think Tony LaRussa is a great manager,but no one is mistake free and every time LaRussa tries something,it gets copied even if it doesn't pan gold.

5) The bullpen does not give me tons of confidence,even with a sizable lead,
The Buccos were up 8-2 and even before the Dodgers pulled within 8-5,I had the feeling that this game was far from over.

6) I wonder what the Dodgers reasoning was in starting Vincente Padilla of all people?
It could have been to relieve any pressure from Chad Billingsley or Clayton Kershaw,but I my guess would be that it was more along the lines of saving one of them for the home opener and the schedule didn't set up for someone to pitch in both games....

7) Brandon Moss did clear waivers and was assigned to Indianapolis.
I cannot say that displeases me as Moss could work things out there and return upon the inevitable injuries that occur.

8) Great day as I watched them with Ryan and Corey with grilled brats and ham and plenty of seamhead talk.
Looks like a weekend trip is in the works for July that sees 3 games in 2 days and also some stops for some of my favorite foods in Skyline Chili and my favorite pizza from Donna D's!
More on that down the road.
Thanks for coming over guys!

Bullpen Notes

The minor league rosters are out and I hope to have a look at the Pirate teams over the next few days.
The Pirate Top 15 prospect series will start when I have time over the next few weeks.
I also hope to have time to do a Indians season preview as well.

The Hagerstown Suns are having a meet the team party at the Muni on Wednesday.
Admission is two dollars and this seems to be a great way to get the new Suns cards signed,so I can work on the visiting teams from Hickory and Lakewood this week.

I also will be contributing some work for the new NationalsProspects blog at times over the season,so I will be sure to tell you when I have that coming up.

Devils in Atlanta tonight,so will be back then....

Photo Credit
Gregory Shamus-Getty Images

Devils pummel Hurricanes 4-0

Sorry this is late,but I spent most of Easter at work,so here is the makeup session.
Martin Brodeur earned his eighth shutout of the season as the Devils cruised to a 4-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes at Mount Pilot.
Devils goals to Zach Parise (36),Patrik Elias (16),David Clarkson (10 empty net) and Dainius Zubrus (9 Powerplay).
The Devils continue their road trip tomorrow in Atlanta in a big games for the Thrashers,who are fighting for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference....

Hell Raisers

1) Martin Brodeur continued his recent run of excellent play with a shutout,but I think that Carolina contributed to the shutout with a lack of offense.
Both things deserve equal credit.

2) If you want to look up the term mailing it in,the Hurricanes might have written the definition.
A lack of effort would be being far too kind to Carolina,if I was a Canes fan and paid to see this type of performance,I would be furious.

3) We mentioned recently that Anssi Salmela had not played and he still hasn't, but I forgot to mention Mark Fraser,who hadn't been seeing much action either.
Fraser did play against Carolina and led the team with nine hits on the night..

4) Jamie Langenbrunner sat the game out along with Paul Martin as part of Jacques Lemaire's plan to rest some of his veterans before the playoffs.
I am fine with that against Carolina,but the Devils should play all of the best and healthy players on Tuesday against Atlanta because that game has playoff implications for other teams.
No roll over for my teams either!!!!

5) The Atlanta game is the return of Ilya Kovalchuk to Georgia and it will be interesting to see how the fans react to him.
They could be positive for Kovalchuk putting the team on the map,but it could be negative considering the contentious contract talks.
We will see....

Photo Credit:Gregg Forwerck-Getty Images

Pittsburgh Pirates season preview-the arms

The 2010 Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation looks pretty similar to the 2009 version,but the bullpen sure looks different after an off season spent looking around the junkyards and flea markets of baseball.

The top four are the same as much of last season,although the Pirates have made a decision to not go with a numbered rotation,but instead mix the lefties and righties up a bit.
Zach Duke gets the opening day start and hopes to duplicate his 2009 ERA (4.09) but improve a 11-16 record that could have been better with some luck.
Ross Ohlendorf holds down the second slot after a 11-10 first full season and a respectable under four ERA.
Ohlendorf was pounded in spring training,but most of the time that is insignificant.
However,watch for a slow start from the righthander.
Paul Maholm had a rough time earning decision last season,finishing just 8-9 which is a low number when you consider that the former Mississippi State Bulldog started 31 games.
Maholm is the best pitcher on the staff ,in my opinion,but honestly he would be a third starter at best on a good team.
Hard throwing Charlie Morton has the best toolbelt of the starting five,but has never seemed to put it together on the field above the AAA level.
Morton could be the breakout star,if he can harness the stuff that he possesses,but that is far from a sure bet.
Daniel McCutchen beat out Kevin Hart for the final spot and I was glad to see that.
Hart has the superior arm,but lacks control and McCutchen was the safer pick.
If the Pirates can get a workmanlike season from him,I would be pleased...

The Pirates return just one arm from the 2009 bullpen (two counting Joel Hanrahan,who will start this season on the IR) in Evan Meek with the remaining pitchers coming from around the league.
Octavio Dotel has been given the closers job after two strong seasons as the White Sox setup man.
The righthanded Dotel should be pretty solid in the role,although he hasn't been a closer very often over his career.
Brendan Donnelly will be the righty setup man after an excellent comeback season with the Marlins in which he posted an ERA under 2.
D.J.Carrasco likely will be the late inning lefty,Carrasco is another arrival from the Windy City and pitched well for the Pale Hose last season.
The final four spots are split between righthanders and southpaws as the southpaws are led by former Red Sox Javier Lopez and Jack Tachner.
Lopez was awful last season,but the Pirates are hoping that is an aberration as Lopez pitched well for Boston over the three seasons before that.
Tachner is a player that I don't have a ton of hope for,but being the likely long man shouldn't damage the team too much.
The aforementioned Evan Meek and recent waiver claim Hayden Penn round out the pen.Meek has closer stuff,but needs time to mature into the role,while Penn was once a highly touted prospect that has never pitched well in brief big league appearances.
Penn was worth a flyer though and is the type of gamble that I would rather see the Pirates take than on the Jack Taschners of the world....

Overall,this is a worse team than that the one that started last season,but hope should begin arriving around midseason as then the Pirates should begin the dealing off of veterans of any value and begin to bring up the young bucks,Alvarez,Lincoln,Tabata etc....

Projected record:65-97

Photo Credit-Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Weekend Cleanup

Time for a little housecleaning and we lead off with the Cleveland Browns bringing in two likely defensive starters from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Corner Sheldon Brown and linebacker Chris Gocong are Browns after being obtained for reserve linebacker Alex Hall and 4th and 5th rounders in this year's draft.

The 31-year-old Brown has never missed a game due to injury and instantly upgrades the Browns on the corners as Brown and Eric Wright look like a good tandem to me.

The trade takes the Browns out of the fourth round, but the addition of a third for Kamerion Wimbley makes up for that and the Browns still have three picks in the fifth round.

Gocong should step in as a starter at linebacker and is reported to be a solid special teamer, which always seems to be an Eric Mangini plus!
Alex Hall seemed to be a workout warrior, so I won't sweat his loss very much.

This trade could lessen the Browns' interest in Florida corner Joe Haden and increase their interest in Tennessee safety Eric Berry or Texas safety Earl Thomas if Berry is off the board.
I think it shows in my writing that I really want Eric Berry as it seems that anyone that reads here asks me about Berry!
This deal also could mean that the Browns might trade down if Berry would be taken before their pick as Haden would not be as pressing of a need with the addition of Brown.
All and all -I like the deal although I wish Cleveland could have kept their 4th rounder, but obtaining a quality corner for that cost is quite cheap.....

The Browns have another issue to deal with as Shaun Rogers was arrested for carrying a concealed weapon.
Rogers claims that he didn't realize the gun was with him and who knows if that is true, but I do know this- Any chance of Rogers being traded on draft day just went flying out the door.
It is possible that the NFL could sanction Rogers for this incident with a fine and/or suspension.

The Pirates made a few moves, nothing of significance as Virgil Vasquez was shipped to Tampa Bay for a player to be named later or cash.
Bet on cash......

Most teams made their minor league cuts as well and a few names caught my eye.
The Pirates cut quite a few, the most notable to us is Bradley Clapp, who was one of the Hickory four from the ice bowl series in Hagerstown a few years back.
Other names of note (to us) were the Reds cutting outfielder Stephen Chapman, the Mets cutting a few former Hagerstown Suns in Caleb Stewart and Rafael Arroyo, and the Nationals dropping Chris Lugo.
Chapman is notable for his line drive that bounced off a sleeping Jeff Heimberger and left a huge black mark off Jeff's helmet on the baseball.
Lugo was a super nice guy and it always is tough to see those guys go.
Clapp missed last season with Tommy John and must not have bounced back quickly enough for the Bucs...

Sorry to hear about the passing of former Oriole ace Mike Cuellar at the age of 72.
The Cuban-born master of the screwball was a star of my early childhood and always reminded me of the Red Man tobacco logo that my grandfather chewed.

The four-time All-Star won the Cy Young in 1969 and won 185 games in his career.
Cuellar was far from a fireballer, but for those of you that like the crafty veteran-type hurler, Mike Cuellar was for you!

ESPN's Rob Meyer has a nice article on Cuellar here...
I am really kicking myself as Cuellar was at OrioleFest over the winter and I forgot to dig cards out to be signed as a collector offered to get him for me.
Dummy.

One new arrival on the mail front as former Indian pitcher
Eric Raich signed two cards and enclosed a note thanking me for asking him...
Very nice..

Devils shot down in shootout

The New Jersey Devils played nearly a flawless game for 59 minutes and a handful of seconds.
However,an inability to clear the crease allowed Chicago to tie the game with the Blackhawk net empty and the Devils fell in the shootout in a 2-1 loss.
The Devils only goal goes to Ilya Kovalchuk with his first period tally (40).
The Devils travel to Mayberry tonight to face the Hurricanes...

Hell Raisers

1) The Devils played very well and should have earned two points,not one.
The glaring hole in the evening was Mike Mottau dancing with Jonathan Towes instead of clearing the net in the waning seconds.
Mottau didn't and between Towes and Mottau essentially setting a double screen,Martin Brodeur had no chance against the Kris Versteeg shot.

2) Only Jonathan Towes scored in the shootout as the Devils went 0 for 3 with Jamie Langenbrunner,Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk.
All used similar moves and it seemed like Antti Neimi was cheating to his right and was prepared for the shot..
Perhaps the Devils should mix up the shootout moves or at least mix up the shooting list of those using the same deke?

3) The game was unusual in another fashion as it was the first game to have no penalties called since 2001.
The refs missed two calls for sure as Vladimir Zharkov had his stick lifted into the Chicago bench and Jamie Langenbrunner was high sticked,but for the most part the game was clean..

4) Putting the Mottau miscue aside,the defense played very well.
The Devils didn't allow Chicago to camp inside and screen or offer a ton of rebound attempts,which was encouraging.

5) The point allowed the Devils to creep back into a tie for the Atlantic Division lead with Pittsburgh.
As of now,the Devils would win the tiebreaker.
The Devils have five games to play-three in a row on the road against Carolina,Florida and Atlanta before finishing next weekend with home games against the Islanders and Buffalo...

Photo Credit-Andy Marlin-Getty Images

Pittsburgh Pirates season preview-the position players

The Pittsburgh Pirates have not cut to the final 25 players yet,but I wanted to get started on our season preview anyway.
When you look at the final few decisions,it shouldn't make much of a difference anyway as far as wins and losses go,so lets get started.

By my count,the Buccos are currently at 27,so two players will have to go and the rumor is that the team may still do some shuffling between now and Monday.
If I had to venture a guess,I would bet that one player cut will be Steve Pearce,since he still has one option remaining and the other could be Ramon Vasquez,as Bobby Crosby can fill his utility spot and do it as a cheaper option.
Pearce would be sent to Indianapolis,when Vasquez will likely be placed on waivers.
However,it is appears that non-roster invitees D.J. Carrasco and Jack Taschner have made the team,so two more must go to make space for them.
That is not as tough as it looks as it could be as simple as putting Jose Ascanio and Joel Hanrahan on the DL.

The Pirates return both of the catchers that were the mainstays of 2009 with Ryan Doumit starting and Jason Jaramillo backing him up.
Doumit battled injuries for the third season in a row and his numbers weren't as solid as the two before.
Doumit could carry some trade value,if he can stay healthy and get off to a good start as the Pirates may have tipped their hand when they announced that Jason Jaramillo was considered to be sent to Indianapolis as the team thinks he is a viable future starter.
Jaramillo was decent enough in his time last season and would not be a awful option,if Doumit were to be moved.
This could happen as power hitting catchers with a reasonable contract aren't easy to find.

Jeff Clement appears to be the choice at first,moving Garrett Jones to right field.
Clement will finally have the opportunity that he has been looking for years,although his bat would have more value as a catcher.
Clement is going to fan plenty,but the Pirates are hoping to see some power production for a lineup that could use it.
Akinori Iwamura arrives from Tampa to hold down second,since the Pirates really had no other viable option.
The former Yakult Swallow should be roughly what the Pirates had in Freddy Sanchez with a little better glove and a few points lower with the batting average.
Shortstop looks like a mud hole with your choice of disappointing former prospects Ronny Cedeno and Bobby Crosby.
Cedeno seems to have the edge,but neither is going hit much and neither will bring back memories of Frank Taveras,let alone Gene Alley with the leather.
Andy LaRoche will attempt to solidify himself at third after a thoroughly average season that saw him hit well in May and September and not much over the course of the rest of the season.
He had better because the first few months will likely determine his future as a starter,a utility man,a position change or moving elsewhere with the arrival of Pedro Alvarez likely to take place sometime in the summer.
The outfield looks pretty set in stone with Lasting Milledge in left,Andrew McCutchen in center and Garrett Jones in right.
But even here there are questions as the Pirates have to wonder if Milledge is going to live up to his potential and if Jones 2009 was an aberration from a 4A player.
If one of them don't live up to expectations,Pittsburgh will be hurting,but if both of the corner flychasers fail,this could be a 105 loss team.
Ryan Church was brought in as a fourth outfielder and as some possible insurance against the worst case scenario and John Raynor looks likely to be carried for a while at least as the 5th outfielder/late inning defensive replacement/pinch runner.
The odd man out could be Delwyn Young,but he could stick,depending on how many pitchers the Pirates carry..

Back later/the weekend with a look at the pitchers.....

Cleaning out the Inbox

We start with a pre-Opening Day or opening day inbox cleaning with a tip to my favorite fan of the wrestling game-Rachel.
Rachel out picked Scott Bowden over at my favorite grappling page Kentucky Fried Wrestling at predictions for Wrestlemania.
I entered her (since I wouldn't have the slightest idea) and she earned a mention by the Colonel himself at KFR.
Rachel has become quite skilled at mat wrestling as she demonstrated during a recent visit to our home by the Masked Superstar in the picture shown.
Congratulations, Rachel!!

Time for a few Pirate notes as the Pirates added pitcher Hayden Penn off waivers from Florida and then designated Brandon Moss for assignment.
Moss would have to clear waivers to be assigned to AAA Indianapolis.
I can see Moss being claimed (and then the claiming team would have to make a deal with Pittsburgh) as he still could be looked at as having potential, but it would not surprise me if he made it through at this time of year as teams may not want to acerbate roster problems as they are down to their final few cuts.
Moss has been quite a disappointment as a Pirate and it could as simple as a player failing to handle the pressure of being (along with Andy LaRoche) the most visible part of the Jason Bay trade.
Perhaps a new city could turn things around for Moss.

Penn was a former highly touted arm from the Oriole system and was rocketed through the minors and made his Baltimore debut at 20, but the Orioles seemingly ruined him with the hurried move as his numbers were bad and arm injuries piled up as well.
Penn was one of a few that Baltimore ripped off the vine far too soon around the same period, zapping their young pitching in the process.
Penn spent last year split between Florida and AAA New Orleans and was primarily a reliever in Miami.
Penn is still only 25, so perhaps a comeback is not out of the question and these are the types of gambles that Pittsburgh should take occasionally.

The Pirates hammered out an extension with Fox Sports Pittsburgh for televised coverage of Pirate games and although I doubt they were battling any other bidders for the rights, one thing is a positive for Bucco fans.
FSN will increase its coverage from the 120s to a minimum of 150 games and add a winter "Hot Stove " show to the network as well.
This also should end the monthly Thursday afternoon home game that no one is ever able to see on TV and even though the Pirates are usually long out of the race, the days of next to no games being aired in September are history as well.
Maybe one year down the road, the Bucs could be good enough for FSN to show a baseball game instead of one of those wonderful Steeler pre-season scrimmages.
I won't hold my breath waiting for that one.

The Pirates have also added some new menu items at PNC Park.
Some of the additions seem pretty good, others are not as much.
Check out the new arrivals here.

I realize the Hagerstown Suns home opener is one week from today and the weather over the next few days is projected to be positively fantastic, but guess which day in the ten-day forecast is scheduled to have rain?
Yep, you guessed it-opening day.
One can hope the forecasters are wrong, considering the lengthy time for things to change, but such is a baseball fan's luck...

The end of the Super Six bout between Andre Dirrell and Arthur Abraham ended in controversy when Dirrell slipped to the canvas and Abraham knocked him cold in the eleventh round, giving Dirrell the win by disqualification.

Dirrell was far ahead on my scorecard, so the right guy won, but Abraham seemed to be coming on with a knockdown in the tenth (which was not scored as one by referee Lawrence Cole) and Dirrell seemed to be running out of gas.
The DQ and Dirrell being unable to continue seemed legit to me, but I do think Abraham's decision might have cost him a dramatic come from behind knockout.

One new mail arrival as former Brave pitcher Preston Hanna signed four cards.

Finally, check out the usually hilarious Bill "the sports guy" Simmons take on Wrestlemania.
Simmons's commentary is often great (his top 50 NBA draft moments is an all-time classic) and he delivers again as he looks at the circus that is Wrestlemania...

Photo Credits
Rachel-Cherie Heimberger
Penn-Baltimore Sun