Atomic RoadRunners | Andrew Flynn’s High-Energy Fantasy Baseball

This explains it.  Brett Myers is sporting a mohawk.  (Bugs & Cranks)

Seamless thinks I should sell high on Brandon Phillips in a StockWatch article. (Seamless Baseball)

Wet Willies - someone at ESPN listed deceased former major-league pitcher Cory Lidle in its transactions the other day. Seems ESPN thinks Lidle is a Toronto Blue Jay who was just activated from the DL. Sorry, but that’s tasteless and somebody needs to lose his job for that mistake.  (Bugs & Cranks)

Joe Posnanski has a review of the Bill James appearance on 60 Mintues. (JoeBlog)

Tango has the segment embedded. (Inside the Book)

Frankie Piliere has a new starting pitching statistic: PTO% (SaberScouting)

Studes points us to a nice post over at Yahoo! about Brandon Phillips and tacos (Big League Stew)

Dodgers OF Andruw Jones went 1-for-4 with a single in his first game with his new team Monday against the Giants. He showed no signs of the leg cramp that bothered him in the spring finale.  Jones struggled for consistency all season during his last campaign with the Braves in 2007. He hit .222, and his 26 homers was his lowest total since hitting 26 in 1999, his third full season in the majors. Jones will be motivated for a big season after a disappointing sendoff in Atlanta. Consider him a comeback candidate in Fantasy.  (CBS Sports)

Corey Hart went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI at the Cubs on Monday. Hart has been kind of a free swinger at the plate this spring, and while he has some nice power numbers, his high-strikeout rate is alarming. Brewers manager Ned Yost is expecting another big year from Hart after his breakout 2007 season. Hart remains a top 25 Fantasy OF heading into the season since he can do a little bit of everything.   (CBS Sports)

Reds 2B Brandon Phillips, hitting cleanup on opening day, went 1-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored Monday against the Diamondbacks. He also struck out three times. Phillips joined the 30-30 club last year — an accomplishment that makes him one of the top Fantasy second baseman going into this season. We rate him just behind Chase Utley, so keep him active, obviously. (CBS Sports)

The Mets opened the 2008 season Monday against the Marlins and a familiar face was atop the lineup — All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes. The speedy shortstop gave the team a scare Friday when he was hit on the hand by a Daniel Cabrera pitch, but the injury didn’t faze him and was active Monday. He was productive at the plate with two singles and one RBI in four at-bats. However, he was caught stealing.  Reyes gave the Mets a few scares this spring with injuries, but he has toughed it out. That’s good news because he was a little injury prone early in his career. Reyes looks healthy to start the season and is already swinging a mean bat. Keep him active in all Fantasy formats.  (CBS Sports)

Ryan Theriot went 0-for-5 against Milwaukee Monday. He struck out twice also. Theriot showed off his base-stealing ability in 2007, swiping 28 bags with 537 at-bats. Unfortunately, he doesn’t contribute much else in Fantasy. He has virtually no power, and at age 28, he doesn’t figure to develop any. He is a useful player for versatility and speed.

Completing the Diamondbacks/Reds, Brewers/Cubs, Mets/Marlins, Nationals/Phillies, Rockies/Cardinals, and the start of the Pirates/Braves.

14:56:38 The Pi Train: Webby made Jr. look bad on a 3-pitch K.

14:58:49 AaRr: Unless the Giants have a miraculous comeback and Brian Wilson closes it out, my pitchers are done for the day. Colorado/St. Louis rain delay. After 3 innings, hope it doesn’t last too long for Wainwright to qualify for the win. Drew got his 4th homer - Willingham. kerry wood, blowing the game - HBP, IBB, single 1-0 Milwaukee, top of the 9th

15:09:01 The Pi Train: Bring on the Goon!

15:09:11 AaRr: goon?

15:09:15 The Pi Train: Eric Gagne

15:09:20 AaRr: ah

15:09:44 The Pi Train: no, its “eh”, he’s Canadian.

15:09:53 AaRr: well, corey hart is up now, and he’ll hit a 3-run homer, so it won’t be a save situation!

15:10:07 The Pi Train: good luck with that

15:12:04 AaRr: close: Hart doubled to right, Fielder and Braun scored, Hart to third.

15:14:43 The Pi Train: Inbound Goon - in the save situation.

15:14:57 AaRr: try not to blow it

15:15:09 The Pi Train: from your mouth…

15:15:18 AaRr: this would mean that Guillermo Mota would get the win, I believe

15:15:37 The Pi Train: Is he yours?

15:15:47 AaRr: nope, I don’t think anyone has him. Back in a moment.

15:22:56 The Pi Train: My guy Fukudome hit a 3-run HR off my guy Gagne to tie the game. Now I need Gagne to “Cockroach” the win. Gagne finally got out of the inning, still Cockroach eligible…

15:33:05 AaRr: The catcher for Florida - Treanor has 2 CS - Reyes and Wright. Wow, Tom has fallen to 9th. He had moved up to 2nd earlier today. I kinda like “cockroach” - vulture is a guy who is the pitcher of record when a team takes the lead, through his own dumb luck.

15:41:23 The Pi Train: right - vulture is result of dumb luck, Cockroach is result of incompetence that happens to work in his favor. Mil leads 4-3. D-backs just won on my machine, I saw your win and your save. Cockroach win…I guess that makes me even for yesterday.

15:59:30 AaRr: Yeah, I was sweating when Brandon Lyon had 3 balls to Dunn. Hmm, I’m now tied for 2nd. Update: COL/STL postponed - no Wainwright win for you - sucks. Now my team is 7-for-36 - hot streak! Nice - I still have the only save. Atlanta / Pittsburgh about to start.

16:04:10 The Pi Train: Watching LA vs SF. Is Atlanta game on TBS?

16:04:25 AaRr: checking - no, looks like only FSN PIttsburgh - glavine vs. snell

16:06:54 The Pi Train: Angels / Twins is the next ESPN game. Houston / SD isn’t for a few hours yet on ESPN2.

16:39:25 AaRr: Oh, btw, Alex Cintron signed a minor league deal with Baltimore. he had been cut by the Cubs - just an FYI on a dback alum.

16:40:13 The Pi Train: I always liked him, dissapointed that he never really did anything

17:01:06 AaRr: STL/COL update: The game will be made up in its entirety on Tuesday night. The rain will cancel out a homer from Albert Pujols and a two-run double from Rick Ankiel. Wainwright allowed one run in three innings. He should be available to start on Friday if the Cards want to go in that direction. Tom got lucky: Jeff Francis was fortunate to have his start rained out Monday after heallowed five runs and walked five in 2 1/3 innings aganst the Cards.

17:01:47 The Pi Train: I forgot that I’d lose half of my HRs in that deal. Where are the Cards on Friday?

17:03:24 AaRr: hosting the Nationals

17:03:45 The Pi Train: that works - vs. Perez?

17:04:14 AaRr: Right now they have Lohse scheduled, so you “win” either way. I don’t know man, the Nats are 2-0, and have defeated the Braves and Phillies consecutively - they’re in first place.

17:04:54 The Pi Train: Yep, I already have pitchers going head-to-head…great. BTW: I just realized, my top pitcher for 2 years ago had a meltdown also…not quite the same as Carpenter last year, but Oliver Perez (now of the Mets was my top guy that year wasn’t he… )

17:06:20 AaRr: give me a sec, I’ll check - you might have to define “top”

17:06:38 The Pi Train: perhaps, most expensive

17:08:52 AaRr: 2006 Pi Train Draft: Bill Mueller $10 - retired, Randy Winn $26, John Thomson $12, Eric Gagne $30, Oliver Perez $18

17:11:23 The Pi Train: Escobar - 2 RBI triple for the Braves, RBI ground-out for Larry. your-guy. The Braves announcers think something is wrong with Kelly Johnson’s leg. He was just pulled from the game.

17:17:52 AaRr: earlier today I read that he said that his knee has been bad since 2007 spring training.- good thing they picked up Ruben Gotay, even if Prado is in. wow, looking at the 2006 draft, I didn’t realize that Reyes for $38 was my DH spot (that would have been in the first round.) Must-draft-at-any-cost indeed.

17:07:35 AaRr: Oh, here’s the funny line I read on the Giants - BP 2008 Giants preview: “the Giants are hideous, a mix of players too old to play and players who are never going to get the chance to be too old to play. There’s also Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum, who will combine for 400 innings, 425 strikeouts, a 3.62 ERA . . . and 9 wins.”

17:08:10 The Pi Train: ouch

17:25:56 AaRr: wow, my AaRr blog has 30 posts this month. and I started on Friday. I wasn’t happy with the auto-formatted email from CBS, so I’m looking for a different option.

17:27:14 The Pi Train: McCann just went yard. Solo. McCann has now hit 3 HR in 11 ABs off Snell. pwned

17:28:20 AaRr: first I’ve ever seen you use that term

17:29:01 AaRr: Tom has moved back from 9th place to 5th now. Re: Hendrickson: With Jeremy Hermida and Alejandro De Aza out, the defense the Marlins ran out today may be the very worst we’ve seen a team field on Opening Day. (this is from rotoworld) Ignoring the catcher, Matt Treanor, all seven guys behind Hendrickson qualified as below average and everyone except Cody Ross and Mike Jacobs would rank among the five worst at his position in baseball. Ross is a pretty good corner outfielder, but he’s stretched in center. There’s just no way a pitcher should be expected to experience consistent success with such a poor group supporting him.

17:30:40 The Pi Train: News - Braves signed Scott Spezio to a minor-league deal. What did he do in the off-season?

17:31:03 AaRr: Spiezio: I belive he had six felony counts for drunk driving, evasion, resisting, etc. Oh, here it is - from rotoworld, when the cardinals released him: They should know by now that only the manager is allowed to drive drunk in St. Louis. Ouch. From late February: An arrest warrant has been issued by the Irvine Police Department for Scott Spiezio on six charges stemming from a Dec. 30 incident. The warrant alleges driving under influence, driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or more, hit and run, aggravated assault, assault and battery. Spiezio was on the restricted list for a time last season because of substance abuse problems.

17:35:14 AaRr: I think I’m done for the day. After this braves/pirates game, I have no Astros, and my only Padre is in AAA.

[end of the experiment]

Part 2 - picking up where The Pi Train and the Atomic Roadrunners left off. Currently viewing Brewers/Cubs, Nationals/Phillies, Diamondbacks/Reds, and now Rockies/Cardinals and Mets/Marlins. Yikes.

12:46:55 AaRr: Snapshot: I lead the league in K’s, ERA, WHIP. It’s not likely to continue over the course of the season.

12:47:09 The Pi Train: in addition, I proposed a new name for what that guy that filled-in for the “stiff” Cordero. Rauch. Yes, what Rauch did last night (blow the save/get the win). Those shouldn’t be called vulture wins, they should be called Cockroach wins. Rauch “cockroached” the win…

12:49:17 The Pi Train: Chris Young!!! Upper Deck Shot. He swung, put his head down, and ran around the bases. Thank you Matt Williams. Byrnes, back-to-back! Mark Grace: “Dusty Baker is going to have to go to the bullpen for the sore-arms out in left field throwing those balls back onto the field.”

12:55:07 AaRr: Ha! Hey, how did STAN jump into 2nd? Oh, Byrnes’ HR.

13:08:05 AaRr: rain delay - Cubs/Brewers at the end of 3 innings. Weather in Philly: “51 degrees, drizzle.”

13:27:52 AaRr: Interesting - all of the major stats and playXplay services have stalled - all of them have a 1-1 count to Brandon Phillips in the bottom of the 4th. Meanwhile, I turn on the TV and see that it’s later and the inning is over. All of them, CBS, Yahoo, ESPN, SI, etc.

[The Pi Train returns following a meeting]

14:03:02 AaRr: Pujols HOMER

14:03:14 The Pi Train: My 1st of the year, solo shot though

14:03:29 AaRr: get used to those in St. Louis

14:03:33 The Pi Train: I’m still in the middle of the 3rd in the D-Backs game though

14:03:43 AaRr: You still have it paused? Jeez. In STL, Wainwright has a 5-1 lead after one inning.

14:04:50 The Pi Train: Javier Valentin just legged a triple into a single. Mark Renolds with the web gem

14:05:02 AaRr: heh, he’s not active for me this week.

14:05:06 The Pi Train: …well, he did so a while ago in the bottom of the 3rd.

14:08:25 AaRr: ugh - my squad is 1-for-19 today. Drew leads with 2 HR, 5 RBI, and 7 Runs already. Mark has Sheets and Zambrano dueling in a 3-hitter (total - accumulated in 11 innings) - bottom of the 6th

14:08:55 The Pi Train: I’m 3-9…but Hanley is on-deck

14:10:28 AaRr: My season’s over - I’m in 7th now. Zito’s getting lit up. Your boy Mark Hendrickson holding his own - 0-0 in the 3rd. He was on my watch list this spring - I would have picked him in the minors but he was selected before I could get to him CARLOS RUIZ with a double - 2nd hit of the day - now I’m 2-for-22! Woo-Hoo!

14:14:17 The Pi Train: …but you got Pena to back-up Lyon… seems fair.

14:14:40 AaRr: ’spose so - not my fault you filled your roster so quickly - Holy crap - TIM’S IN FIRST! Troy Tulowitzki with the first official steal of the year!

14:15:38 The Pi Train: Let me guess, Rauch was his only pitcher that has thrown yet…

14:15:49 AaRr: yes, - he’s first in wins and steals - 20 points! - as only 1 game has been completed thus far

14:16:12 The Pi Train: I’m back up to 4th

14:16:25 AaRr: I’m tied for 6th now. Sensing a comeback. Where are you in the Dbacks game?

14:17:00 The Pi Train: bottom 4

14:17:23 AaRr: right now they’re in the top of the 8th - you’re behind

14:17:27 The Pi Train: Webb just walked Jr. My hitter Pagan is up with 2 on against my pitcher Hendrickson

14:17:58 AaRr: ah, you’ve just entered where the game froze up in the stats services, I think. What’s the score?

14:18:23 The Pi Train: 3-0. Oof - Young just blew-it. let a ball get by him and go to the wall, Griffey scored from first.

14:18:47 AaRr: Brandon Phillips? gotcha - yep, this is the spot where there was a big stats blackout for 20 minutes. they scored that a triple

14:19:26 The Pi Train: generous - he never did touch it and the ball did kind of skip on the (wet?) grass. Dunn just drove in Phillips, 3-2. Pagan doubled in a run, I move into 3rd Place. I’m now 4-10 today.

14:20:54 AaRr: Phillies tie it up at 6. Drew just tied Tim in the standings for 1st. Corey Hart at bat - I’m still 2-for-23 thus far. Weird - pitching change - Zambrano out, Marmol comes in (while there’s a 2-2 count on Hart). Big Z may have been hurt picking off Bill Hall on second. (guessing by the box score). Braun popped out, Hall doubled. 2-2 count to Hart, Hall picked off at second, pitching change? He was cruising.

14:24:08 The Pi Train: interesting. that could be large. could be a hard pitch-count, but I think your suggestion is more probable…

14:29:12 AaRr: Reyes with an RBI. Pagan with an RBI.

14:29:24 The Pi Train: Corey Patterson, nice catch in center on O-Dog. Fukudome singles, squad now 5-11. Yep, Pagan’s was about a 1 1/2 pages ago in this conversation!

14:30:43 AaRr: hey, Pi Train in 3rd place! Drew got a 3rd HR (Rollins, chris Young) - oh, that was a while ago. Hey, I’m up to 4-for-27 today! Andruw Jones also with a hit. Uh oh for Hendrickson - bases loaded and David Wright up.

14:33:35 The Pi Train: So Jones now has almost half as many hits as he had all last year?

14:34:18 AaRr: well last year 26 of his hits were homers, even though he hit .222. D. Wright doubled to deep center, R. Church, L. Castillo and J. Reyes scored.

14:35:28 The Pi Train: Ohhh, Castillo got a steal!

14:35:59 AaRr: Soto’s up, and Fukudome got another hit, and a walk today also, I see.

14:36:43 The Pi Train: Yep, Soto is about to drive him in!

14:37:01 AaRr: Dbacks game is in the top of the 9th. I’m back up to 5th place. I’m slated to get 12 starts from my pitchers in the next week. 8 starters, 4 with 2 starts this week.

14:37:41 The Pi Train: I’m in the top of the 6th. Numbers 1-3 starters…thats probably good. Although 2 of my #1 starters were purchased in the minors…

14:40:30 AaRr: According to Rotoworld, Zambrano left during the seventh inning of his start against the Brewers with an apparent injury to one of the fingers on his pitching hand. After picking off Bill Hall at second base, Zambrano was clutching his pitching hand before being immediately replaced by Carlos Marmol. He pitched 6.2 shutout innings, limiting the Brewers to just three hits while striking out five and walking one on Monday.

14:42:04 The Pi Train: My squad already has 8 BBs (hitting)

14:42:43 AaRr: i don’t have any - only basestealers are allowed to walk! Oy! Can I tell you what’s going on in the dbacks game or not? [Brandon Lyon goes to a 3-0 count versus Adam Dunn. Gets him out. Then strikes out Encarnacion and Hatteberg. Impressive.]

14:46:42 AaRr: YES! and YES! Add up the points! Passed you! I’m back in 3rd. UGH: X-Men’s pitching line today (Tom Gordon: 20 PC, 1/3 inning, 4 hits, 5 ER, 135.000 ERA, 15.000 WHIP. Nice.

14:55:16 The Pi Train: sorry, got called-away for actual work there for a minute. Still in the bottom of the 6th in the D-Backs game. No updates there please.

14:56:35 AaRr: Ok. I have a meeting in a few minutes, so I’ll be offline for a bit

Welcome to the first full day of baseball for the 2008 season. My WBRL league-mate and owner of The Pi Train will be live-chatting during the course of today’s NL games, as we watch them unfold (mostly) online, with some slingbox and radio as well.

Other than the rain delays, the chat log is truly dizzying, covering Diamondbacks/Reds, Brewers/Cubs, and Nationals/Phillies, all at once.

10:58:13 AaRr: opening day! 10 minutes! I’ve got 2 starters going today (Webb and Myers)

10:59:16 The Pi Train: I’m already way ahead of where I was last year at this time, I only had a win vultured from me, not my best starter gone for the year (Chris Carpenter).

10:59:39 AaRr: true enough, and fewer runs allowed as well

11:15:51 The Pi Train: I am also offended (not) that guys with an indeterminate era and whip (0 IP) are considered higher than a 1.00 whip and 1.80 ERA.

11:16:27 The Pi Train: Fortunately, that issue goes away for the season as of today (probably)

11:20:18 AaRr: why is the DBacks game delayed? And why exactly is the team with the retractable roof and 84 degrees starting IN Cincinnati? and Milwaukee (also with a dome is starting IN Chicago)

11:22:12 The Pi Train: Rain Walsh: “They hope to have 1st pitch between 2:30 and 2:45 local time”

[35 minutes later]

11:57:11 The Pi Train: SSB in Cinci

11:57:20 AaRr: SSB?

11:57:28 The Pi Train: your term, from the blog - Star Spangled Banner

11:57:51 AaRr: ah, thanks- sorry I didn’t invent it - it’s a band term

12:02:03 AaRr: looks like they’re underway for brewers cubs as well. How did I fall into 3rd place already? Mark got an RBI.

12:06:03 AaRr: back in 2nd place - ok, live blogging the standings pitch-by-pitch is a losing proposition

12:06:41 The Pi Train: yeah, iffy with 1 game going on, impossible with more

12:07:15 AaRr: with zambrano allowing a hit, Mark’s WHIP was destroyed for that instant

12:07:54 The Pi Train: Naw, the system probably still saw it as incalculable, and therefore 0.00. Reds take the field

12:08:16 AaRr: “Prince 0-1, but Advances Runner” [more]

12:08:34 AaRr: tony gwynn stole 3rd!

12:09:07 The Pi Train: I still have no stats for today

12:09:09 AaRr: Brett Myers: 2-2 to Christian Guzman! Next Pitch: popped out!

12:09:59 The Pi Train: Strike 1 to Chris Young

12:10:35 AaRr: I’ve got Theriot up, and Myers pitching- 8 PC thus far -

12:11:00 The Pi Train: Let me know when Fukudome is up. Young - Backwards K

12:11:15 AaRr: Theriot 1-1 count, Myers (to Milledge: lineout). R. Theriot flied out to deep right. O. Hudson safe at first on third baseman E. Encarnacion’s throwing error. That’s Cubs game, Phillies game, Cubs game, Diamondbacks game. I have 3 tabs open, play-by-play for each current game, plus a 4th for CBS

12:12:57 The Pi Train: Nice play by Encarnacion to get it, then bad throw. Good job by O-Dog to avoid the tag. I have CBS live stats and SlingPlayer, watching on my DVR at home. I can pause it for my 1pm meeting

12:14:02 AaRr: oy, now Tom is in 2nd (I didn’t lose points - the strikeout from Harang) - 1 K affects the standings

12:14:24 The Pi Train: Harang looks pretty good, nasty slider. Where is Fukudome in the lineup?

12:17:11 AaRr: 5th. he’ll bat 2nd next inning - D.Lee K’d

12:17:22 The Pi Train: base hit, rbi for Co-Jack

12:17:34 AaRr: Yay, dbacks, Boo Hersh!

12:17:54 The Pi Train: 2-out RBI on the 1st opportunity of the season. Nice.

12:17:55 AaRr: Both victorino and hart are up now, in two different games. S. Victorino sacrificed to third, J. Rollins to third. Thanks a lot, Mr. Unselfish - doesn’t pay your salary! CBS Live scoring is lagging behind Yahoo feed. C. Hart flied out to deep center. I’ve lost 7 points so far today!

12:19:21 The Pi Train: I’m down 2.5 points. Inning over, 1-0 D-Backs. D. Sutton referred to Co-Jack as “…future hall-of-famer” - I think only partially tounge-in-cheek

12:20:38 AaRr: Tom went from 2nd to 5th already today. C’mon webby, 1-2-3. with 3 K’s. Nice - Phillies up on an Utley sac fly - Myers pitching with a lead. If Webb walks Corey Patterson, I’m sending him down. Phew. Why does Webb always seem rough on opening day? (Usually it’s against the Rockies).

12:23:00 The Pi Train: Sinkers, harder to get a feel for them in cold weather

12:23:15 AaRr: new blog post, btw, on the bad schedule

12:23:40 The Pi Train: be sure the mention the Big-10s influence in the suck NCAA baseball schedule

12:23:50 AaRr: Myers 2-1 count to Nick Johnson, Webb 1-2 count to Keppinger. With that K, I gain 3 points. Crap, Nick Johnson hit a double.

12:24:16 The Pi Train: filthy. Brandon threw Keppinger a change-up and made him look like a little-leaguer!

12:26:20 The Pi Train: Fukudome…let me know

12:26:34 AaRr: he’s up

12:26:44 The Pi Train: CBS says double. Steal third!

12:27:03 AaRr: yahoo has nothing - but I watched you jump from 40 points to 48 in a page refresh. K. Fukudome doubled to deep center - must have been first pitch. I’m back in 2nd place now. P. Lo Duca hit by pitch - argh - 1 out, 2 on for Brett Myers.

12:28:34 The Pi Train: Lo Duca <smirk>, cost me a win last night

12:29:18 AaRr: I’ve got $56 of starters out on the hill right now. Did you get willy harris again this year? Elijah dukes on the DL after last night, Willy is the starter in LF. Ooh - he’s a free agent - pick him up, pick him up! Full count to Willie Harris. And an Intentional Walk to pitch to Matt Chico with the bases loaded

12:31:42 The Pi Train: Geovany Soto walked

12:32:01 AaRr: 2-0 to Matt Chico! (having a heart attack)

12:32:12 The Pi Train: Who got Chico this year, is he active?

12:32:16 AaRr: 2-1 to Matt Chico. Let me check. Of course - Goodfellas - not active. Strikeout with bases loaded, thank goodness.

12:32:55 The Pi Train: why “of course”

12:33:19 AaRr: Drew is in Bowie Maryland, and typically defaults to Nationals players. Jesus Flores, Ryan Zimmerman, Christian Guzman, Elijah Dukes, Matt Chico - I guess that’s it.

12:34:42 AaRr: Of course, please refer to my post “I have No Nationals”

12:35:40 The Pi Train: Both of my Cubs hitters were stranded. My Encarnacion is hitting against your Webb. Webby’s change-up looks great - Walked him

12:46:08 AaRr: I agree with you on the standings - I have a 1.69 ERA, but that’s “fifth” b/c 4 other teams have no pitchers going. Same with WHIP - so instead of 5 + 5 points, I should have 10 + 10

[Coming up - Part 2 of Opening Day Live Chat]

Chicago Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano left Monday’s opener against the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh inning after injuring a hand while making a pickoff throw to second base.  We’ll keep you posted as his injury status becomes clear. Jon Lieber could see a start if needed. Lieber is old and an injury risk, which are the primary reasons he starts the year in the Cubs’ bullpen. Consider him a sleeper in deeper leagues if he gets starts for the offensively potent and contending Cubs.  (CBS Sports)

Brett Myers worked five innings and allowed four runs — three earned — Monday in a no-decision versus the Nationals. Myers was in trouble just once through four innings and got out of that by striking out the pitcher in the second. However, he allowed three hits, walked one and hit a batter while giving up four runs in the fifth. He didn’t come back out for the sixth after throwing 86 pitches. (Rotoworld)

“I didn’t have my best stuff,” Myers said. “Hopefully I do better next time.” Thanks - good insight.  (CBS Sports)

. . . have been sacrificed in reference to Scott Hatteberg.

Scott Hatteberg went 0-for-4 after getting the nod over Joey Votto at first base on Monday. None of the Reds’ hitters had much luck against Brandon Webb. Still, perhaps Hatteberg’s hitless day will result in Votto being inserted into the lineup on Wednesday. The Reds probably will go with the hot hand for now.

Brandon Lyon pitched a perfect ninth with a two-run lead to earn a save Monday against the Reds. Lyon struggled to a 13.50 ERA this spring, allowing 19 hits and striking out three in 8 2/3 innings, but he fanned two of the three batters he faced today. Tony Pena set him up with a one-two-three eighth inning. (Rotoworld)

Brandon Webb limited the Reds to two runs and three hits over six innings to pick up a victory on Opening Day.  The Reds started the fourth with a Ken Griffey Jr. walk, a Brandon Phillips RBI triple and an Adam Dunn RBI groundout for their only runs in a 4-2 game. Webb wasn’t quite in midseason form while walking four batters, but it was a nice change from a month of March in which he posted an 8.50 ERA and allowed 34 runs in 18 innings.  Webb threw 56 of his 91 pitches for strikes and avoided trouble outside of the Reds’ fourth inning. Webb is in line to make his second start of the season against the Rockies at Coors Field on Saturday. (Rotoworld)

The schedule makers once again have flunked the big assignment - Opening Day.

For example, the following teams have domes:

• Toronto Blue Jays
• Tampa Rays
• Arizona Diamondbacks
• Milwaukee Brewers
• Houston Astros

And these teams are considered “warm climate”:

• Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• Texas Rangers

Which of course makes sense.  Except they’re all opening the season ON THE ROAD.

So, one hour into Opening Day, here are the box scores:

• Arizona at Cincinnati (Delay)
• Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs (Delay)
• Toronto at New York Yankees (Postponed)

I understand that Cincinnati, as the oldest franchise, wants to open the season at home.  But Marge Schott is dead, and the Reds aren’t that special any longer, now that half the league is over 100 seasons old.

And I get the concept of not having both teams of a metro area be at home at the same time, so Chicago, Bay Area, Los Angeles, and New York has to have one of their teams on the road.

Here’s how it should have been (minimal changes over the existing schedule):

National League:

• Move the Arizona-Cincinnati series to Arizona, which has a dome (and it’s 84 degrees).
• Move the Brewers-Cubs series to Milwaukee, which also has a dome.  They’re division rivals, so this is easily swapped with a series in June/July.
• You have two NL Central vs. NL West series.  Simply swapping the participants would help.  Instead of Astros at Padres and Rockies at Cardinals, make it Rockies at Astros (warm, dome), and Cardinals at Padres (warm).  St. Louis’s weather today might not be bad, but I’m betting San Diego’s is better.
• Why do the Nationals open the season at their park for one game, and then travel to Philadelphia.  At least have Philadelphia come down - it’s cherry blossom time, and it’s probably a few degrees warmer in DC.
• Rounding out the NL, Giants at Dodgers, Pirates at Braves, and Mets at Florida remain unchanged

American League:

• Boston is in Oakland for the continuation of their series in Tokyo.  They start tomorrow.  Since the Giants are on the road in LA, this works.
• While they’re underway in Detroit, Kansas City might be slightly warmer (or it could be snowing - that’s a crap-shoot)
• Move the Rays-Orioles series to Tampa. Again, division rivals, and Baltimore is nicer in the summer, though not according to The Wire.
• Texas at Seattle isn’t the best use of resources, but it’ll do.

After that, it’s more complicated.

Three teams that share markets are locked into their fate:

• Chicago White Sox must host a game with the Cubs on the road.
• Los Angeles Angles must be on the road, with the Dodgers at home.
• New York Yankees must host a game with the Mets on the road.

Meanwhile, it begs the issue but one of these domed teams will likely NOT be able to open at home:

• Minnesota Twins
• Toronto Blue Jays

So, we have six remaining teams.  The Angels could play at New York, instead of Minnesota.  Cleveland could play at either Minnesota or Toronto, with the other team visiting Chicago.

Ok, the rain delays are over, and it’s time for some baseball.  I’m glad I solved absolutely nothing whatsoever.