Tuesday: Rainy Day Of Rest & Notes

Shhh...don't wake up the Pirates; they deserve some shuteye on this drizzly day. After a 14-inning Opener, a twinbill that barely gave them time for a nap before the Home Opener, a pitcher already on the DL and playing in Steeler weather, the boys of summer have had a hectic few days.

The off day is right on time as the Bucs can reset the bullpen now. The middle guys are largely untested, and it would help the situation if the starters could carry the load a little longer. It does appear that early on, with that extra arm in the pen, Clint has them on an 85-90 pitch count, so into the fire they go.

Off to the races... (photo WFMJ Radio)

Four games is a small sample season for the season, but it looks like the Bucs may have a little more bop spread around the lineup. They have five long balls in four games from five different players, and are still waiting for J-Bell, Corey Dickerson and S-Rod to lose their first baseball. However, the fielding and base running blunders continue; those blips seem hardwired into the Bucco DNA during Clint's era. And Clint will be Clint; he still drives us batty with his bullpen usage & static roles, bunt love and running Josh Bell into suicide missions on 3-2 pitches.  Still, the guys play for him and communicate fairly well, so fostering that clubhouse vibe is worth at least as much as tactical chops.

So far, so good even with the warts; can't get better than undefeated. If the pitching develops, this team could be fun.

Notes:

• Jordy is day-to-day; his jammed finger isn't broken but is still swollen.
• The word from the Buc medicos is that Joe Musgrove has a shoulder sprain and he'll be shut down for a five-to-seven day period before getting reevaluated. Sounds like Steven Brault could be in line for a second start, although if the schedule holds up, after Thursday there won't be a need for a fifth starter until April 15th. 
• Jamo's nine K's yesterday tied his personal best, set on July 4th last year in his shutout win over the Phils. 
• The Bucs are gunning for their best season start since 1983, when they went 5-0.
• MLB.com picks 2017 HS draft pick, 19-year-old RHP Cody Bolton, as the Pirates biggest minor league breakout prospect.
• A new nest: The Dodgers signed Daniel Hudson to a minor-league deal.