I know that the game is already in the fourth inning, but I’ve finished my Webkinz obligation for the evening and my workaholic tendancies won’t let me put down the computer. All of the other teams played during the day (stupid day games), but the Pirates are to the rescue. Nate McLouth already had an awesome catch in center field.

Boxscore

The Pirates (1-1) lost to the Braves (1-2) in a game that was close until the Pirates bullpen collapsed magnificently in the 8th, allowing 7 runs. Shades of last year’s Reds bullpen.

The two finish their series today as Zach Duke starts against Mike Hampton.

Opening Day is here, and I know you don’t feel like concentrating on work. It’s time to get out the fun!

This awesome Who Wants to be a Millionaire-style quiz tests your knowledge of NLC teams: current trivia, history, and Red Hot Mama lore. Well, I think it’s awesome. Whether you do is about to be seen, I reckon. I bet you will. After all, it’s not work.

Thanks to the Crack Technical Staff for making this quiz work. Now go play!

Who Wants to Be an NLC Expert?

(Game modified from a Flash template provided at Flash Kit.)
Get the latest version of Flash here.

Opening Day is nearly here. Or technically I guess it’s already done, since it apparently happened on the other side of the world when I was getting ready to drive to work. What the hell is wrong with Bud Selig?

But the real Opening Day is nearly here, and after following these teams for a spring, it’s difficult to predict who will be the worst in the coming year.

I mean, there’s the perennial winner, the Cardinals, who are just awful. They’re counting on Rick Ankiel and Chris Duncan for all their offense other than Albert Pujols, and their rotation is empty without the great Chris Carpenter to anchor them. But on the other hand, Ankiel and Duncan do have some potential and they have rid themselves of David Eckstein.

They don’t look so bad when you look at the Astros. The Astros, not content with the worst farm system in the league, have completely dismantled their major league pitching organization to bring in the likes of Miguel Tejada and Kaz Matsui. Then again, they’re just starting this push for homers.

The Reds have been going down this ill-fated path for years. That won’t be a problem this year. The Reds promised to search the corners of the earth for just the right manager, and then hired the first guy who walked through the door. A guy who prefers lead-off hitters who get out more. A guy with a history of running young pitchers into the ground. A guy who really understands that black and Hispanic players are better than white players in day games.

But at least the Reds have some talent. How about those Pirates? There’s a team that wouldn’t know how to sign a number one draft pick even if they could manage to perform enough below mediocre to get one. And talk about a history of losing: 2008 is going to be consecutive losing season number 16 for this franchise.

Of course, no one can outdo the Cubs for losing. Losing their minds to blow all that money on Kosuke Fukudome, leaving them with no choice but to include Jason Marquis in the rotation. At least Ryan Dempster didn’t make it. Oh wait.

Which brings us to those Brewers.

Well, they’re pretty OK actually. I mean, they’re no Big Red Machine, but at least their fans don’t sit in such a constantly deranged state that they think just now cutting Mike Stanton heralds good things for the team.

So, yeah, I’ll go with them.

News broke Saturday concerning Pirates 2nd baseman Freddy Sanchez that brings dread to any fans heart. Sanchez will be flying to Alabama to be examined by Dr. James Andrews.

Sanchez had shoulder surgery in September 2007, and this is supposedly unrelated. But judging by these quotes that Pat rounded up, it doesn’t sound good.

Perhaps the Pirates DFAed Ray Olmedo too early.