NL Central

On behalf of the ever-suffering Pittsburgh Pirates' deck crew, I'd like to offer a small proposal. This flagship has had some dreadful leadership in the past, but as the new skipper, let's not start out by making mistakes, alright?

As the Reds said goodbye to Ed Smith Stadium Pittsburgh sent the away with another loss to end their spring in Sarasota Florida.

All-Star pitcher Edinson Volquez struggled as he gave up three runs (two earned runs) and walked three and gave up five hits in 3.2 innings pitched. Volquez had four K's.

It's the final stretch, the fourth quarter! It's time to find out how the Cubs will perform in 2009, or at least according to my projections.

With Opening Day of the 2009 baseball season just around the corner, it is time for the obligatory comments about how the start of the season is so great, because every team starts at the same place, with a renewed sense of optimism and hope.

The NL Central is one of the weaker divisions in all of baseball. Because of that, I have decided to go with a bland pick and say that the division winner will be...

1st place

Chicago Cubs

Despite the injury concerns and the dipping performances of Derrek Lee and Big Z, this team is still the best in the division. 

A rotation of Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Ted Lilly, Rich Harden and Sean Marshall is probably the best in the Central, though the team pictured above could give them a run for their money. 

After today’s game against the Red Legs, Chris Johnson was informed that he will be sent down to AAA Round Rock following the Astros contest against the Corpus Christi Hooks.

The Cardinals didn't lose any key players in the off season, and look to have a surprisingly strong starting lineup for opening day.

The lineup for opening day will be lacking the former all-star Troy Glaus, but he is expected to return sometime in May. So, at third base will most likely be David Freese, who according to the Cardinals staff, has had an exemplary spring training and preseason.

So let's go around the horn.

C: Yadier Molina.

1B: Albert Pujols.

2B: Skip Schumaker.

SS: Khalil Greene.

3B: David Freese.

LF: Chris Duncan.

Roy tossed fpur innings in his last start before the season opener (woohoo!) and Chris Johnson isn’t going out without a fight…even though, in reality, he doesn’t have a chance.

'Stros at the Plate

“Michael Bourn led off the third with a double, stole third and scored on a base hit by Kazuo Matsui. Darin Erstad knocked a solo homer in the sixth. Chris Johnson drove in a run with a triple in the seventh and scored on a Reggie Abercrombie sacrifice fly.”

Astros 7, Reds 2

The Cincinnati Reds lose again, dropping four straight games heading into their final game tomorrow.

Reds pitcher Homer Bailey looked very impressive, as he pitched six innings of four hit ball with two earned. Bailey had eight K's to only one walk.

Mike Lincoln came in the seventh inning and gave up two runs on two hits.

Micah Owings was on the mound as he pitched his last game to audition for the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation. Owings pitched into the sixth, but was pulled out with the bases loaded. He gave up four runs (one earned), five K's, three walks, and six hits. A Jay Bruce three-run error in the fourth with two outs buried the Reds' hopes for good.

Nick Masset pitched up and down in two innings of work.