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Beyond the Cards drubbing of the 'Stros, there were actually two other games of note involving the other four NL Central teams today, making it a pretty good day for the division.

It took a week, but the Pirates finally got the 2006 NL batting champ back into their lineup today in Cincy and Freddy Sanchez picked up where he left off last year. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and Zach Duke pitched very well for six innings (before getting shelled in the seventh) while the Pirates did one of the very few things they're good at, beating Eric Milton and by extension the Reds, 6-3. To build on to Red's Canadian meme from earlier, BC native Jason Bay hit his 2nd homer of the year to finish the Reds off and Pittsburgh's Brad Eldred made the most of his first playing time this year by homering and doubling in another run. Ken Griffey Jr. had 2 RBIs for the Reds and Xavier Nady went a full nine innings without batting any flyballs over the fence with his glove.

Meanwhile in Milwaukee, Wade Miller made his first start in Cubbie blue and he didn't look much like the Wade Miller of old, giving up six earned runs in less than 5 innings of work. Geoff Jenkins and Gabe Gross both went deep against Miller for the Brewers and Craig Counsell knocked in three runs to help the Brew Crew a 9-4 win to even off both teams' records at 3-3.

Pittsburgh and Chicago both move on to their home openers against the Cardinals and Astros, respectively, while both the Brewers and Reds will head on out towards warmer weather in Arizona and Florida.

Previously at the Fanhouse
Albert Pujols FINALLY Homers
Big Day for Canadians as Halladay and Bedard Win
Xavier Nady Finally Has Some Bad Luck

If you've been following what Bleed Cubbie Blue today calls the "Woodprior monster" for much of spring training, then you're aware Prior and Wood are both having pretty awful preseasons. Prior has been unable to pitch effectively at all, and Wood appears to be injured yet again. Yee-ha.

Into that wake steps Wade Miller, who beat Prior for the Cubs' fifth rotation spot, Lou Piniella confirmed today.

Considering how shaky Prior has been this offseason, this was an obvious move for the Cubs. That said, Miller isn't a huge improvement over the injury-prone Prior; since a 2001-2003 stretch when he averaged around 180 innings a year, Miller pitched a combined 200. He's not exactly a Carlos Zambrano-level workhorse.

On the other hand, the Cubs don't need him to be. If he can keep his ERA under 4, his lifetime average, in that fifth spot ... I think the Cubs will be mighty happy with that.

The tailspin of this story is that Prior -- onetime dominator -- will likely be a starter in the Cubs' minor league system. Wow. "Unhinged" was the word I believe we used a few weeks ago, and it's looking all the more accurate.

I knew Mark Prior had been shaky thus far this spring, but recent talk out of Cubs camp is that they're actually thinking about starting the season without him in the rotation.

With one start down and five to go, Wade Miller is the front-runner in his bid to capture the fifth spot in the Cubs rotation.

Just don't tell Miller.

"I've only had one outing," he said.

Coming into camp, it was believed the fifth starter's spot was Mark Prior's to lose. But after Prior's erratic outing Monday, he could be in danger of losing it.

If that's the case, Prior's spot on the team may actually be in jeopardy as Lou Piniella is hoping to only carry 11 pitchers to start the season. Miller will make his second start of the spring today against Greg Maddux and the Padres who will try to, umm, piss all over his chances. Sorry. Too easy.