One can't assume that the pitching is going to be there, which you almost have to.

Same goes, maybe doubly so for the offense.

Good morning to you.

Good.

Tuesday morning, I'm Dan Kovach, which to you. Good. Tuesday morning.

I'm Dan Kovach, which of D.K. Pittsburgh Sports.

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Pirates versus Mets in the franchise's 145th opener will come Thursday. It'll be a 115 p.m. first pitch

from Freddie Peralta inside City, and it'll represent, well, the start of what might be a pretty quick game.

Let's begin with that, because Paul Skeen's will be gone for the visitors, and I'm not expecting a whole lot of lumber or lightning from either side.

But the roster on Ben Charinger, a whole lot of lumber or lightning from either side.

But the roster on Ben Charrington's end is done, and surprisingly so.

These usually don't get completely settled until the day before the opener or even the morning of the opener.

To have it done three days in advance is unusual,

but I'm not going to complain because it allows me to do a couple of extra episodes

that lead more accurately into the season as opposed to speculatively. And I feel pretty

comfortable doing that with the lineup as well.

Now, I'm on record for several weeks now as saying this lineup isn't complete until Connor

Griffin is A on the team and B at leadoff. He has lead off all over him, at least at the outset of his career.

He can eventually move to a number two where the math shows you you're going to get the most

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