This is more like it!

This is John Lembo, sports writer with The Bradenton Herald, and I am sitting in the press box at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota for today's Grapefruit League game between the Reds and your first-place Pirates.

(Check the standings. At 6-1, they lead the Grapefruit League by 1 1/2 games).

After enduring a chilly homestand at McKechnie, I am sitting here in shorts and sandals and sunglasses, finally feeling like a Floridian.

Ahhh....

OK, let's look at the ol' lineups, shall we?

Pirates:
Nyjer Morgan, cf
Andrew McCutchen, lf
Brandon Moss, rf
Craig Monroe, dh
Andy LaRoche, 3b
Garrett Jones, 1b
Robinson Diaz, c
Shelby Ford, 2b
Brian Bixler, ss
Paul Maholm, p

The M-and-M-and-M-and-M boys front a lineup lacking the starpower of McLouth, Adam LaRoche and Doumit. But keep your eye on Ford and McCutchen - both are among the top 10 prospects in the Pirates organization, and Ford is having an impressive spring.

Reds:
Norris Hopper, lf
Jeff Keppinger, ss
Wes Bankston, rf
Brandon Phillips, 2b
Jacque Jones, 1b
Adam Rosales, 3b
Laynce Nix, cf
Alex Gonzalez, dh
Chris Kroski, c
Nick Massett, p

It was Keppinger who nearly grounded into a triple play earlier this week at McKechnie Field, while Alex Gonzalez hit a walk-off home run to help the 2003 Marlins beat the New York Yankees in the World Series.

We're about 2 1/2 hours from first pitch as we count down the final days of the Reds' stay in Ed Smith Stadium.

I'll be back...