"It hits me hard," Roansy Contreras was saying late Monday night at PNC Park, and no, cynics, that's not because he'd just been carved up for seven runs in the Pirates' 8-2 annihilation by the Astros.
He was referring, of course, to Oneil Cruz.
And I've no doubt after witnessing this especially dismal display that it's hit everyone hard to lose a foundational, freakish talent -- not to mention a friend and teammate -- for at least four full months following the leg surgery of which they'd all learned on this same day.