Another Day Off...Quick Team Take & Notes

The Pirates need to get a little killer instinct going if the early slog is any indication - they're batting .206 as a team (75 OPS+) with six extra-base knocks (four doubles, two homers, and a .304 slugging percentage) and more walks (22) than knocks (21). Looks like the Eckstein/Cruz data-driven learning curve hasn't sunk in yet, tho traditionally hitters heat up with the weather, so we'll see how that ends up over the course of the season. They are getting runners on and the lineup has proved fairly balanced throughout the order, but a few more gappers and bombs are sorely needed to take proper advantage.

The pitching is as projected; good starting, good back end (except for Ric Rod so far) and the long men are a dice roll. The infield glovework, well...nobody looks like they're blocking Cole Tucker or Ke'Bryan Hayes yet. The biggest disappointment early on is Erik Gonzalez. It could be he's just got to relax (we suspect that's one reason he was given the early nod) or it could be that the Indians had him pegged right and the Bucs were too rosy.

The Bucs need a little Assassin's Creed 'tude.

Three games doesn't a season make, but the Pirates look like the team they were predicted to be, for better or worse.

Notes:

• Clint sat JHK and Melky down yesterday because they were a combined 2-for-20 against Adam Wainwight. Of the two replacements, Redbeard was 1-for-2 with a homer against the veteran righty while Pablo had never faced Waino in their careers, so it was more a gut call than data-driven decision by the skipper. Moran panned out pretty well; Pablo, not so much.
• The Bucs used all eight of their relievers in the game, and Jake Stallings was the only Pirate not to get on the scorecard. The Redbirds emptied their bench and used six bullpen guys. 
• Once-upon-a-time Pirates prospect IF Alen Hanson was part of the Kevin Pillar trade, going from the Giants to the Jays.
• The Rangers have brought up 27-year-old righty Adrian Sampson, who was sent to Seattle in 2015 for JA Happ.
• Clayton Kershaw snapped his string of Dodger Opening Day starts at eight, but will toss the OD game for AAA Oklahoma City on Thursday while on the rehab trail with a balky shoulder. 
• Hey, another extension: Ronald Acuña and the Atlanta Braves are finalizing an eight-year/$100M contract extension, league sources tell ESPN. The deal includes two club options and further degrades the current free agency model. That should be quite an issue in the upcoming CBA.