PITTSBURGH — One minute they’re on their way to an opening day embarrassment. The next, they’re blowing opportunities left and right to pull off an improbable comeback win. Welcome back, Buccos!

As hundreds streamed across the Clemente Bridge — apparently more interested in confronting rush hour traffic instead of staying the course inside PNC Park — the Pirates and Cubs were showing no signs of ending an opening day marathon, a nearly five-hour affair that extended into early evening.

Of course, we won’t know for weeks how much progress this team has made from the one which lost in excess of 90 games last season.

However, some disturbing early signs appear just cause for concern. Tom Gorzelanny, Monday’s starter, did not survive the third inning in an erratic performance.

The soon-to-be 26-year-old who compiled a more than respectable 14-10 record with a decent 3.88 ERA last summer, is being counted on to reach an even higher level this season.

In two starts and eight innings of work, Gorzelanny is a disappointing 0-1 with an ERA over 10.00. Granted, it’s much too early for new skipper John Russell to sweat bullets over his starting southpaw.

But the Pirates are definitely hoping Gorzelanny’s next start this weekend against the Reds produces much better results.

Another potential red flag, though yet to be raised, involves left-hand slugger and heavily counted on RBI producer Adam LaRoche who collected two hits in the season opener and has since gone 0-for 21 including a failed pinch hit appearance Monday.

As Bucs’ followers will recall, LaRoche endured a miserable start in 2007. As Memorial Day approached in late May, the 28-year-old LaRoche was hitting .191 and considered a primary reason the Bucs were well on their way to being buried in the N.L. Central.

The Pirates can ill afford another stinker of a start like that from a guy projected to hit 25 or more long balls and drive in upwards of 90 runs.

Fan favorite and long-time Bucco Jack Wilson, meanwhile, is on the 15-day disabled list, relegating 28-year old journeyman Luis Rivas who appeared in three games for the Indians last season, to full-time duty at shortstop.

In a bold and generally unexpected off-season of relative inactivity (with regards to player personnel) it’s clear Bucs’ brass is pinning its hopes on the Gorzelannys, Dukes, Snells and Maholm’s of the world to return a once-proud franchise to some semblance of respectability.

Again, we won’t get anything resembling an accurate gauge of progress for several weeks. Until then, the Bucs’ young pitchers must continue to come of age.

EXTRA BASES

AN EARLY bright spot is a productive start from leadoff man Nate McLouth who hammered three hits Monday. “The more at-bats, the more playing time, the more comfortable you become,” theorized McLouth, hitting .441 over the Pirates’ first seven games…

THE BUCS obviously, need a return to form from ex-all-star Jason Bay who hopefully, bottomed out at .247 last season. Bay reached on an infield hit Monday and was robbed of a potential RBI single by diving Cubs’ shortstop Ronny Cedeno….

ROOKIE reliever Evan Meek walked five (two intentionally) in a 12th inning meltdown which allowed the Cubs to score twice and secure a 10-8 triumph….

NICE to see eastern Ohio native Bill Mazeroski at PNC Park who threw out the first pitch Monday…

THE series continues Wednesday evening (7:05) with Zach Duke facing Chicago’s Ryan Dempster. On Thursday night, Matt Morris opposes Cubs’ southpaw Rich Hill….

LEADING Kansas by nine (60-51) in the final minutes of regulation, Memphis appeared primed to capture the school’s first-ever NCAA title Monday night in San Antonio. But the Jayhawks managed to fight back, greatly aided by the Tigers’ inability to convert clutch free throws at crunch time.

CBS’ Bryant Gumbel declared it “one of the great NCAA championship games in recent memory.” Other than Kansas’ dramatic late comeback, I didn’t see anything over the course of 45 minutes to classify it as a great game. Better than average, I’ll agree. But great? Hardly…..