Scott Olsen To Begin Season On DL

Pirates pitcher Scott Olsen will begin the season on the disabled list. The Pirates claim that he is "not hurt," only that he isn't ready to pitch after missing the first couple weeks of Spring Training with hamstring trouble. Olsen appeared in a couple of Grapefruit League games and didn't look good at all, so this move makes some sense.

The Bucs signed Olsen to a major-league contract to compete for their fifth starter job, but it appears that job has been won by Charlie Morton, who has pitched well this Spring. If Olsen failed to win the rotation job, the idea was that he would compete for a role in the bullpen, but that too is on the shelf for the time being, and it now appears that new acquisition Garrett Olson (no relation!) has a decent chance of making the team as a lefty reliever. It's just like Full House - when one Olsen is unavailable, you can just grab the other one. Thanks, folks, tip your bartenders.