2007 TEAM OUTLOOK: PITTSBURGH PIRATES

OFFSEASON OVERVIEW: The Pirates chose to give a few young players another year to develop rather than sign quality veterans to upgrade those positions. While this plan will most likely backfire, the Pirates could have a very good core group of guys if the plan does work. The one move that made headlines out of Pittsburgh was their trade with the Braves. They sent the talented but expendable reliever Mike Gonzalez to Atlanta for first baseman Adam LaRoche. If LaRoche plays as well as he did last year he will prove to be the protection for Jason Bay that the team has lacked. Their biggest signing of the offseason was pitcher Tony Armas Jr. The often injured ex-Nationals starter will most likely compete for a spot at the back end of the rotation. Pittsburgh is also hoping on newly signed reserves Einar Diaz and Jose Hernandez to add some depth to a lineup that needed it last season. Possibly the most interesting signing they made was that of reliever Dan Kolb. He was a quality pitcher in a small market before imploding as the Braves' closer. If he regains his old form, he could once again be a tremendous asset to the bullpen. The only two losses from last year's team are Jeromy Burnitz and Joe Randa. Neither veteran should be missed this season.

OFFENSE: Once again the Pirates offense may have trouble scoring runs this season. Part of the problem is the lack of production from the leadoff hitter. Chris Duffy, the team's center fielder, will once again be given a crack at the job. He has good speed but his .317 OBP last season could force him out of that position. The light hitting Jack Wilson will follow him and hit second. The shortstop is another poor hitter and together they make up the worst top of the order in baseball. The heart of the order is the strongest part of the Pirates lineup. Jason Bay is by far the team's best player, and he should have an even better season this year with the threat of Adam Laroche hitting behind him. Also some where in the middle of the lineup will be last year's NL batting champ Freddy Sanchez. Despite winning that title last year, Sanchez must prove that last season was no fluke to some of his skeptics like myself. In reality, he will probably still be a decent hitter who's average will be closer to .300 than it was last season. Xavier Nady is the last reliable bat in the lineup, and his ability to hit for power and get on base should make him one of the more reliable players on Pittsburgh. Catching this season will be Ronny Paulino. He appears to be a solid hitter that can hit for contact and play well behind the plate. He emerged as the favorite to catch after a year long battle with Ryan Doumit in 2006. Finally, Jose Castillo and Jose Bautista will compete for second base and the eight spot in the lineup this season.

PITCHING: The Pittsburgh rotation is comprised mostly of young starters looking to live up to their potential. The most experienced starter is Zach Duke, who is entering his third season with the Pirates. On any other team Duke would be a middle of the rotation guy, but here he is the staff ace. Second in the rotation is Ian Snell. Often considered the best of the young starters, Snell has enough talent to eventually overcome Duke as the team's best starter. The third and fourth starters are Paul Maholm and Tom Gorzelanny. Neither of these guys performed too well last year, but will once again be given a shot because Pittsburgh does not have any better alternatives. The final spot will be given to one of several guys who will battle for the job in spring training. Tony Armas Jr. is the favorite for the spot, but his chronic injuries could open the door for Shawn Chacon or Cuban defect Yoslan Herrera. The bullpen was led by Mike Gonzalez last season who did not blow a save all year. However, with his departure Salomon Torres will be counted on to fill his shoes. Torres has been a quality reliever over the years and should be a fine option at closer. The rest of the Pittsburgh bullpen features pitchers with experience. This suggests that the bullpen may actually be the strength of the team. Damaso Marte, Matt Capps, Dan Kolb, and John Wasdin all will have significant roles in middle relief.

X-FACTOR: Chris Duffy clearly has some of the best speed in the majors which was shown by his 26 steals in just 84 games. It was a truly remarkable statistic considering Duffy barely hit .250 in 2006. If Duffy can get his average closer t0 .300, he will be able to create runs for the heart of the order. A consistent leadoff man would be a big step towards a competitive baseball team in Pittsburgh.

BEST CASE SCENARIO: All of their young starters progress, Duffy becomes a tremendous leadoff hitter, and Torres is able to be just as effective closing games as Mike Gonzalez was. Pirates fans can expect their team to be in the Wild Card hunt for awhile if the Pirates play to the best of their ability.

WORST CASE SCENARIO: All of the Pirates starters are inconsistent, LaRoche takes a step back due to a change in scenery, and Jim Tracy is this team's manager. The Pirates are the favorite for last place in the NL Central, and a year like this will put them there.