Carlos Silva had it today as he went to 8-0 to open the season. Take it away, Paul Sullivan of the Tribune:

PITTSBURGH — Carlos Silva had a new and unusual approach to pitching Monday afternoon at PNC Park.

"I spent pretty much the whole game trying to throw up," he said.

Cubs fans know the feeling well.

As Mariners fans might too . . . meanwhile, how's Milton doing? Well, his OBP (.284) would be a respectable BA. Cliff Lee is proving he's the real deal yet again with today's CG win, and the Mariners' take a "diamond in the rough" pitcher with their earliest draft pick. USS Mariner has the analysis you so desperately want as opposed to my snarky anti-Milton bias. And if you follow the link on Lee: check out that left elbow tendon in the photo of his delivery. Wow. Pitching is the most unnatural motion in sports, and it's amazing that every power-pitcher's arm doesn't just explode.

Meanwhile, anyone think the US has a chance against England in the World Cup? Maybe if Wayne Rooney doesn't learn to watch that potty mouth of his. But if you bet with Paddy Power, and he scores against the US, your losing bet will be refunded. Gotta love the Irish bookies. So freakin' civilized.

But back to baseball. Sullivan continues:

But the story was Silva, who has turned his career around as a Cub after going 5-18 with a 6.81 earned-run average in his two years in Seattle.

He pitched on eight days' rest because the rotation was rearranged, but if the rotation stays on track, he'll pitch against the Mariners on June 24 at Safeco Field.

June 24 is the game I rearranged my teaching schedule this summer to fly to Seattle for. See you at Safeco. Yeah, I'm talking to you, Slake.