I live on the east coast and just got up.  That will tell you something about my evening yesterday.  A few thoughts I need to share so I don't institutionalize myself:

1.) I know this is a baseball blog, but don't you think the Penguins defense should pay slightly more attention to Ovechkin when he's on the ice?  The guy is unquesitonably fantastic and I've never seen anyone who can get a shot off quicker, but I'm thinking I might always wanna have a general idea of where he is on the ice rather than have him skating down the left side wide open five times a game.

And, as a interesting side note, both he and Crosby had hat tricks last night.  If you add up the distance from the goal of each guy's three goals, Crosby's probably totals less than five feet.  Ovechkin's is about sixty.

2.) Most people on this site agree that Dejan does a great job as a beat writer for the Pirates.  I do as well.  But, I find it hilarious when he says he doesn't advocate, as he said in his chat yesterday.  He advocates all the time.  Last spring he was bascially outraged that Sean Burnett didn't come north with the Pirates after throwing NINE (italics mine) scoreless innings in spring training.  Yesterday in his chat he advocated repeatedly for Craig Monroe but denied that was what he was doing.  Then this morning he links to Smizik's article on Monroe using bold italics (italics mine).  Of course he is advocating, he is screaming that the Pirates should play Monroe.

I don't mind that Dejan has a opinion, I just find it remarkably funny that he thinks he never expresses it, that he only "reports the facts."  He expresses his opinion all the time.

3.) Here is Craig Monroe's page at baseball-reference.com:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/monrocr01.shtml

Let's stop talking about his eight spring training home runs and also note that the guy is 32.  Bob Smizik, Dejan, lumberco and everyone else need to step back and seek a moment of clarity.  I'm sure he's a great guy.  We aren't going to win 90 games or learn anything of value by giving him 400 at bats.  Give it a rest.  Please.

4.)  How can anybody justify John Russell's handling of the pitching staff?  A week ago he brings Ian Snell out to pitch the seventh inning of a 0-0 game after he has thrown 107 pitches.  He lets Snell finish the inning after giving up a home run and a walk, throwing a total of 131 pitches.  He is quoted as saying he wanted to give Snell a chance to "win the game."

Yesterday he pulls Maholm after a walk in the eighth inning.  Maholm had thrown 98 pitches.  I haven't seen the quote but I'm sure Russell wanted Maholm to have a chance to win the game.  With one man on and up 3-1 that was the only thing that could happen.

Yates comes in and gets an out against the right handed batting Richie Weeks.  Russell then decides to go matchup and brings in Grabow to pitch to the left handed batting Prince Fielder.  Okay fine.  Single.  Right handed Mike Cameron up.  No more matching up, he leaves Grabow in.  I guess I can handle that.  Walk.  Bases loaded.  Ryan Braun, right handed batter, pinch hits.  One of the five best hitters in the NL.

If you are EVER going to use Matt Capps for more than one inning this is the time.  Listen, I don't love Capps.  He has a fastball that is probably a 65 on the scouts' scale, but it has very little movement.  He doesn't have anything else other than great command.  At best he is Papplebon light.  But he's your closer and now is the time.  Nothing.  Braun doubles.  Tie game.  Capps gets blown up in the ninth and the Pirates lose.

I've said this before.  Russell manages to his players statistics first, the action on the field second.  It is mindblowing to me that this is not the lead issue with the team thus far.  The Pirates may not have won either game referenced above.  But Russell certainly put them in a better position to lose both.  His decison making is unconsciounable.