Friday, April 15, 2011

Pre Game Notes

Hey, who knows? Maybe the Bucs will be road warriors this season. Let's hope so; they're off to start a four game visit to Cincinnati, the team to beat in the Central.

Charlie Morton (1-0, 2.08 ERA) will face old warhorse Bronson Arroyo (2-0, 2.08) at 7:10 PM. The game will be radio only tonight.

The Lineup: Andrew McCutchen CF, Jose Tabata LF, Lyle Overbay 1B, Neil Walker 2B, Pedro Alvarez 3B, Garrett Jones RF, Chris Snyder C, Ronny Cedeno SS, Charlie Morton P.

McCutch is back to leadoff. How dropping the league's best number one hitter to the two hole is supposed to help produce runs is a mystery to us, but hey, maybe Clint Hurdle thinks McCutch is trying too hard in the three spot. Neil Walker's hitting cleanup.

-- If you're wondering about Jeff Karstens, it looks like he'll go Sunday. That way, the four rotation pitchers keep to their regular schedule.

-- BTW, when Joe Biemel rejoins the team - and that could be as soon as today - someone on the 40-man roster will have to go to clear space for him.

-- Tim Williams of Pirate Prospects had a long chat with Anthony Rendon earlier in the week, going over injuries, intentional walks, wooden bats and all that jazz.

-- And if you think that Pittsburgh may decide the coin-toss draft selection of 3B Anthony Rendon/RHP Gerrit Cole by signability, know that the both of them are represented (sorry, being "advised" right now) by the Boras Corporation.

-- Pittsburgh isn't the only town with attendance blues. Greg Couch of Sporting News/AOL Fanhouse takes a look at the April attendance.

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