Friday Warmup Tosses

Hey, with the first pitch not due in San Diego until sometime around 10 or so, it's almost like another day off in the blogger world. Here's a coupla tidbits to tide you guys over until the action starts:

-- Tonight's game will pit Ian Snell (1-2, 4.24) against RHP Kevin Correia (0-1, 4.09). Saturday will match Zach Duke (2-1, 2.95) versus RHP Shawn Hill (1-0, 3.60), and the series closer will feature Ross Ohlendorf (1-2, 3.00) and RHP Jake Peavy (2-2, 5.13). Here's the MLB.com dope on the six scheduled hurlers.

-- Joe Frisaro of The Fish Pond and Dejan Kovacevic of the Post Gazette report that the Pirates have lost LHP Dave Davidson to the Florida Marlins, who claimed him off waivers and assigned him to Class AAA New Orleans.

Davidson, who turns 25 this week, was replaced on the 40-man roster by Delwyn Young late last week. He had a 4.15 ERA in three appearances with Indy so far this season, and went 4-2 with a 3.34 ERA for Class AA Altoona in 2008. Man, we just can't seem to keep those Canadians on the roster.

-- John Perrotto of the Pirates Report has a piece on new Bucco Delwyn Young and his baseball bloodlines. His dad was a long-time minor league player, and his grandpap played in the Negro Leagues and then worked as a scout.

-- The Pirates announced that their staff, players and fans raised $76,103 for the Fallen Heroes Fund from donations gathered during the club's home opener and through an online auction of autographed, game-worn caps and jerseys.

-- In this week's "Prospect Hot Sheet," Baseball America has this to say about Andrew McCutchen:

Triple-A Indianapolis CF Andrew McCutchen (Pirates) is doing the things he needs to do to earn a callup. In his repeat of the International League, the 22-year-old leadoff man last week batted .391/.417/.783 (9-for-23) with two doubles, two triples, a home run and six runs scored. On the year, McCutchen is batting .322 with power, walks and a perfect 3-for-3 stolen base ledger.

Ya hate to mess with a good thing, but GW wonders what the Pittsburgh lineup would be like with Cutch in center, Nate McLouth in right, and Freddy Sanchez batting sixth while Ryan Doumit is out, with Morgan and McCutchen topping off the order.

Yah, we know Craig Monroe and Brandon Moss offer a lot more pop. Just sayin'...