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Josh Johnson facing off against what has so far been an extremely strikeout-prone offense ought to be interesting. A few links while you wait for the game to start:
-P- Buster Olney compares the Pirates to the Mariners, in that both teams' new GMs inherited weak farm systems. It's funny - I recall that particular point about the Pirates being really hard to get into the mainstream conversation a couple years ago, and now it's entering the national media landscape as a way of explaining what's wrong with the Mariners. Weird.
-P- I know some of you have no particular patience for responses to dimwits like Bob Smizik, and I certainly understand that point of view. But if you want to read my response to his recent article about the Nate McLouth trade, have at it.
-P- Kevin Hart has joined the Pirates in Miami. He's still on the 60-day DL, and obviously he won't be pitching in any games.
-P- David Todd, a.k.a. dtoddwin, is writing a blog over at the new Extra Innings site.