NEWS AND NOTES

--That John Van Benschoten-Runelvys Hernandez pitching matchup wasn't quite as bad as advertised, at least by their standards. Both pitchers allowed 10 baserunners out of the 25 batters they faced, but allowed just three and two runs, respectively, in a 9-3 Pirates win over the Houston Astros.

Down 3-2 entering the 9th, the Buccos exploded for seven runs and three home runs, including an inside-the-park variety from Freddy Sanchez, giving a one-night hiatus to the "blow up the Pirates" theories that have surfaced the past week.

Tonight's matchup: LHP Paul Maholm (6-6, 4.10) vs. RHP Jack Cassel (1-0, 6.28), 8:05 p.m., Minute Maid Park. I'm sure you'll be watching.

--USA Today ranked the NFL's best quarterbacks, and Big Ben came in at #8, behind Manning/Brady, McNabb, Hasselbeck, Brees, Palmer, and Romo. And when I thought we were making progress in this department last year.

--The Steelers Super Bowl rings sold for $66,000 on eBay, but an uncorrected error was discovered....30+ years after they were produced.

--Check out this charity raffle and try to win a signed Geno Malkin hockey stick. Benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

--I somehow missed this on Sunday, but Bob Smizik said that Penguin fans who boo Marian Hossa are "knuckleheads".

--Here's some great moments in demolition derby history.

--Stealing an idea from Jimmy Kimmel, Jay Leno posed as a reporter at his NBC exit press conference.

Send your interesting links to mondesishouse@gmail.com for these fun little buffers between "real" posts.

ON TO HOUSTON...

At the risk of alienating more readers who I can hear clicking out with any mere mention of the Pirates, the comedic value of the early second half must be acknowledged. Thank you, Awkward Ryan Doumit Picture, for reassuring me that I need to talk some Pirates this morning.

The Battlin' Bucs are coming off of a four-game sweep at the hands of the Colorado Rockies in which they were outscored 28-9, a Bronco-esque total with no assistance from John Elway.

The Rockies sported a record of 39-57 before the series, proving that the Pirates were just the elixir that the schedule doctors ordered. I guess this is that "weak 2nd half schedule" Pirate fans were talking about a few weeks ago.

Usually, I would think John Van Beethoven's presence on the mound in this situation would guarantee the post-All-Star-Game losing streak to five, but check out his opponent tonight: Houston's Runelvys Hernandez. That's an ERA of 9.77 (JVB) and 10.29 (Hernandez) as your starting pitchers in a "Major League" game; it's not exactly Koufax vs. Gibson. There may be more balls leaving the yard tonight than last week's Home Run Derby. And yes, to answer your question, Hernandez was Pirate property as recently as last year. You don't forget when your team acquires a guy named "Runelvys".