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Worth noting

By Tom Singer

• Do-everything John McDonald was identified by manager Clint Hurdle as the Bucs' emergency No. 3 catcher, behind Russell Martin and Michael McKenry. McDonald has never actually caught, either in the Minors or the Majors. It may never come to that: the Pirates were the only big league club to use only two catchers all last season -- Rod Barajas and McKenry.

• McDonald (80 to 17), Jonathan Sanchez (36 to 57) and Brandon Inge (78 to 2) had their uniform numbers changed from their Spring Training issues.

• Monday marked the first time the Cubs visited Pittsburgh for a season opener since April 7, 1978 -- when John Candelaria hurled a seven-hitter to decision Rick Reuschel, 1-0, in front of 39,028 at Three Rivers Stadium.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer.
Read More: Pittsburgh Pirates, Gaby Sanchez, Andrew McCutchen, Garrett Jones, Brandon Inge, Travis Snider, Russell Martin