Pirates Go for Sweep of Cubs, Best Tweet, Links, Lineups

Wandy Rodriguez gets to prove that his strong spring was not an illusion.  The left hander will get the start against the Chicago Cubs today.  We predicted a sweep, and today the Pirates can get it done.  Well, if Mother Nature cooperates.  There is an 80 percent chance of rain, but I think it is 3pm when the skies are going to open up.

Some great tweets last night, but Jimmy Chick won twitter:

Walker moves up to the five spot.  Travis Ishikawa bats sixth.  Tony Sanchez, who is pictured in the Pirates lineup tweet as the hero from last night bats seventh.  Jordy Mercer is at short.

The Cubs will go with Bonifacio in center, Castro at short, Ruggiano in right, Rizzo at first, Lake in left, Olt is back at third, Barney returns at second base, Baker will catch and Hammel is on the mound.

Bonifacio has been Ted Williams squared in this series.

Colin Dunlap brings up a good question.  Is Gaby Sanchez healthy?

We saw JAL post three nice links today.  Here they are for you in case you missed them.

Strauss: Baseball’s numbers game drives lots of decisions.  I like his thoughts here.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/joe-strauss/strauss-baseball-s-numbers-game-drives-lots-of-decisions/article_128b0a3c-3043-5197-a033-3a1dcf017295.html

Fangraphs took a look at the 2014 Top 50 Prospects by Projected WAR

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-top-50-prospects-for-2014-by-projected-war/

SB Nation talks about some instant replay failures.  Good article here. 

http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2014/4/2/5574402/instant-replay-baseball-mlb-giants-diamondbacks