First number, last word

3.57: The Pirates' team spring ERA, with one Grapefruit League game remaining; the Bucs staff had a spring ERA of 4.74 last year prior to posting a regular-season figure of 3.26, the third best in the Majors.

"I want to make sure to go out there for 33-35 starts, not just two or three and then get shut down. I want to be healthy for the whole year, not for one game." -- Scheduled Opening Day starter Liriano, on being smart, not rash, about the tight groin muscle that still has the assignment in question.