Pirates-Phils, Notes

The weekend beat...

• The Phils visit McKechnie today, with AJ going against Stolmy Pimentel (with Tony Watson & Jason Grilli to follow) beginning at 1:05. The game is on 93.7 The Fan. Today's lineup: Chris Dickerson CF, Russ Martin C, Travis Snider RF, Pedro 3B, Andrew Lambo 1B, Travis Ishiwaka DH, Michael Martinez 2B, Jaff Decker LF and Clint Barmes SS.
• Forgot to mention that Dan Marino tossed out the first pitch yesterday. He wore a Yankee jersey (oh, the humanity!) and threw out both a baseball and football. 
• ESPN picked its Top Ten lefties, and Francisco Liriano made the list.
• Tim Williams of Pirates Prospects reported that a couple of top guns are down and out. OF Austin Meadows has a hammy issue that will keep him in Pirate City for awhile while 1B Stetson Allie is just coming back from an oblique injury.
• The Dodgers and D-Backs opened the 2014 season in Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground this morning. LA won 3-1 as Clayton Kershaw outpitched Wade Miley. And yes, March 22nd is the earliest a MLB season has ever started. 
• Ex-Bucs: RHP Chris Young was ready to retire until Nat docs determined his injury was a nerve problem in his neck, not a shoulder issue. Now he's competing for a spot in the rotation.
• Be happy with what you've got: Chris Jaffe of The Hardball Times did his history homework and noted that it's been 25,000 days since the Cubs played a World Series game...and they lost.