The first random afternoon game of 2009

Yes! It’s time to whine incessantly about there being a Thursday afternoon game with a pitching matchup that I really, really want to see!

Anyways, Ross Ohlendorf, who dominated the Grapefruit League, and Chris Carpenter, who also looked quite good this spring in his return from Tommy John surgery and more nerve problems in his arm, take the mound at 1:40 today in the final game of this odd season-opening four-game set. Things to watch for Ohlendorf this afternoon are how well he can maintain velocity, something he had trouble with once he got into the Pirates’ rotation last year, and how effective any pitch other than his fastball is. I’ll certainly have the GameCast up this afternoon in lab to try and keep an eye on those things.