The Sports Monitor

Now we know what really happened in Ian Snell's first start of the season for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Snell gave up six earned runs in a loss to the Cardinals on Tuesday. We were left with this offering from the Associated Press: Snell, who came down with a severe case of the flu during the final week of spring training, said he had his first full meal on Thursday night. The illness left him incapacitated for several days. "I've never felt like that in my life," Snell said before Friday's game was postponed. "I really got sick. That was the worst." That might have explained Tuesday's game. Was he sick all of 2008?

A key for the Pirates this year will be starting pitcher Ian Snell. Tuesday, he proved it. Snell was shelled for eight runs in four innings in a 9-3 loss to the Cardinals, bringing back memories of many starts in 2008. He finished last year with a 5.42 ERA after sporting a 3.76 ERA the previous season. One problem Snell had last year was with left-handed hitters, who combined to hit .314 off him. That, and Snell's road ERA last season (6.22) was a recipe for disaster. And a disaster it was. The Cards' Chris Duncan proved Snell's not over his lefty problem with a two-run shot. Then the Bucs showed they weren't over their Albert Pujols problem when he sent a Snell pitch over the wall. It was Pujols' fifth career blast off Snell. Let's remember one thing: It's one start, so a lot can change. Many pitchers have been hammered in their first start this season (CC Sabathia, Tim Lincecum, Brandon Webb), so things can turn around. However, with a poor season from Sne...