Tuesday: Day Off (Already!), Minor League Rosters Take Shape, the Brrs & Off-Day Vids

The Bucs and Bosox catch their breath and will butt heads again tomorrow and Wednesday when Jameson Taillon takes on Chris Sale followed by a matchup of Chad Kuhl and Eduardo Rodriguez; both Boston hurlers are lefties. Perfect baseball weather due too - 42 and cloudy, with Wednesday forecast to be mid-40s, rainy and windy. Welcome to Eastern Home Openers.

Bored already? Maybe You Gotta Believe...




Notes:

• On a quiet day, we took a quick peek at the minor league rosters today. We note that the arms are well represented, but the position players, especially outfielders after last year's housecleaning, are in short supply (plus there are some promising guys in the lower levels not mentioned here). Triple-A Indy is pitching heavy w/prospects Nick Kingham, Clay Holmes, Edgar Santana, and Jason Creasy, along with late cuts AJ Shugel, Steven Brault, and Dan Runzler. Also rostered are returning-from-rehab guys Brandon Cumpton and Casey Sadler. Only 12 position players are listed, mostly depth/injury insurance, with Elias Diaz and Austin Meadows at the head of the class.
• The AA Altoona Curve feature Angel Sanchez and Jared Lakind on the hill. There are several interesting guys in the field - Kevin Newman, Kevin Kramer, Joe Connor, Erik Wood, Eric Weiss, Barrett Barnes and Jin-De Jhang.
• Hi-A Bradenton has Mitch Keller, Taylor Hearn and Gage Hinsz on the bump with Cole Tucker, Ke'Bryan Hayes and Will Craig as everyday guys.

Still need hyped?

• Dunno if the Bucs will be running hot or cold for the Friday Home Opener, but you folk with tickets will need some foul weather gear. The forecast calls for blustery, cold weather with a high of 42 (wind chill in the 30s), and scattered rain/snow showers. Here we go, Ste...um, Pirates, here we go... Saturday nite will be cool and clear while Sunday should be a grand weather day; just a typical early April weekend in Pittsburgh.