Bucs - Bosox

OK, the Buccos are ending the month with the Beaneaters at McKechnie Field. Jameson Taillon gets the nod to start on the bump today. John Lackey, returning from Tommy John surgery, takes the ball for Boston. No radio this afternoon.

Lineup: Alex Presley CF, Jose Tabata LF, Travis Snider RF, Brandon Inge DH, Clint Robinson 1B, Jared Goedert 3B, Josh Harrison SS, Tony Sanchez C and Chase d'Arnaud 2B.

Raise your hand if you thought you'd see the day when Josh Harrison bumped Chase d'Arnaud off SS.

Pitchers: Jameson Taillon, Jonathan Sanchez, Justin Wilson, Ryan Reid, Kyle Waldrop, and Tony Watson.

With Taillon and Wilson on the hill, two of Pittsburgh's brighter prospects are on display today. Sanchez has been sharp in camp, too, as he looks to be recovered from an injury-filled 2012 campaign while he looks for a spot in the rotation.

• Michael Barr of Fangraphs discusses the Pirate pitching depth; doesn't sound as if he's all that impressed with the back end.
• Tim Williams of Pirates Prospects reports that OF Josh Bell, out with a bum knee all of last season, is 100% now. He started training without limitation in December and looks good to go this year. 
• Brock Holt, traded to Boston in the Hanny deal, is batting second and is getting a long look as a bench guy for the Red Sox. Drew Sutton is in the lineup, too.
• Beat reporters Bill Brink and Rob Biertempfel report that MLPA Exec Director Michael Weiner has no problems with Bob Nutting's pocketbook, saying "Over the last couple of years, the Pirates have made a sincere effort to compete, payroll has increased and projects to continue to increase."
• This day in history, 1903 - Pirate owner Barney Dreyfuss and James Potter led a syndicate to buy the Phillies from John Rogers and A. J. Reach for $170,000. It took another seven years before owning more than one team was prohibited by baseball.
• And in 1986 - Commissioner Peter Ueberroth gave seven players who were admitted drug users, including Pirates Dave Parker and Dale Berra, a choice of a year's suspension without pay or heavy fines (10% of their salary) and career-long drug testing‚ along with 100 hours of drug-related community service as a result of the Pittsburgh Cocaine trial.