Yeah, this isn't so good. All three hitters the Pirates sent to the offense-friendly AFL - Neil Walker, Brad Eldred and Craig Stansberry - have been horrible. None of them has an OPS above .600. Eldred also missed about ten days with a shoulder strain. I'm not sure whether his injuries are affecting him, but it's becoming just about impossible to see him starting the 2007 season with the Pirates.

The pitchers have been better, but only Jesse Chavez and Brian Rogers are putting up unambiguously encouraging numbers - Chavez has been terrific, allowing only one run and striking out nine in ten innings. Josh Shortslef has kept runs off the board but has issued more walks than strikeouts. Dave Davidson has just been bad.